Christophe Barriere-Varju is riding for Team Rally Australia in Dakar 2010. Follow Christophe's story and feel the emotion and inspiration through his blogs for SBS during his South American adventure. http://www.sbs.com.au/rss/Blog/108817 With only a couple of weeks to the 2010 Dakar Rally, competitors are putting the last touches on their preparation. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115142/Dakar-2010-Ask-Christophe http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115142/Dakar-2010-Ask-Christophe Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:00:00 +1100 The first and last few days of any race are probably the hardest emotionally. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/108990/Crossing-the-line http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/108990/Crossing-the-line Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +1100 During the administrative checks at the start of the event we are given several pieces of equipment to fit on our motorcycles. There is a GPS and an Iritrack in one unit, a Sentinel, and an emergency beacon. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/108980/Behind-the-Scenes-Motorcycle-equipment http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/108980/Behind-the-Scenes-Motorcycle-equipment Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +1100 Competitors have access to a number of facilities during the event. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/108979/Behind-the-Scenes-Bivouac-Facilities http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/108979/Behind-the-Scenes-Bivouac-Facilities Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +1100 An important part of everyday racing is the preparation of your road book. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/108976/Behind-the-Scenes-Road-Book-preparation http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/108976/Behind-the-Scenes-Road-Book-preparation Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +1100 My race is over. 50km before the end of Stage 8, I went wide into a right hand turn and entered a gutter full of boulder rocks. I managed to slow down but I had to take my left hand off from the handlebar to avoid it being crushed against the rocks. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/108971/My-race-is-over http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/108971/My-race-is-over Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:00:00 +1100 Christophe Barrier-Varju, Team Rally Australia rider, gives a first-hand description of what it has been like competing on the first seven stages of Dakar 2009. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/108961/Time-for-my-Angels-to-come-back http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/108961/Time-for-my-Angels-to-come-back Sun, 11 Jan 2009 10:00:00 +1100 Christophe Barriere-Varju and Team Rally Australia mechanic Steven Clarke complete their final checks before setting off on the 2009 Dakar Rally. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/108934/Admin-and-Technical-Checks-What-a-day http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/108934/Admin-and-Technical-Checks-What-a-day Thu, 01 Jan 2009 22:00:00 +1100 Christophe Barriere-Varju, riding for Team Rally Australia, has arrived in Buenos Aires ahead of the 2009 Dakar Rally. Here, Christophe explains just how difficult it is for privateers to prepare for Dakar in foreign surroundings. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/108919/All-of-Australia-racing http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/108919/All-of-Australia-racing Thu, 25 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +1100 Training for the Dakar Rally requires serious physical effort. This is a race that requires every ounce of energy available, but how do you train for the unknown? http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/108851/Training-for-the-unknown http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/108851/Training-for-the-unknown Thu, 11 Dec 2008 09:00:00 +1100 Dreams. Challenge. Inspiration. These are three powerful words that are with us from the moment we commit to enter the most gruelling race on the planet, the Dakar Rally. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/108823/Dakar-dreams-do-come-true http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/108823/Dakar-dreams-do-come-true Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:11:55 +1100