'You never leave a rider behind' - SA's Kirsten Landman explains Dakar comradery

No one said that the Dakar Rally was going to be easy. But on the opposite end, you also build friendships, and the general comradery among competitors is unlike anything you'll experience anywhere.

This is what South African rider Kirsten Landman experienced first-hand during the recently concluded event.

As is common knowledge by now, the race was one of the toughest in the Dakar Rally's history, and it took a massive toll on every participant. So it wasn't much of a surprise that riders and drivers, even if they are from different teams and countries, would complete stages acting as each other's support.

And for Landman, it came as second nature to jump in and assist a friend during Stage 4. Her selfless actions have caught the world's eye, with Race Organisers hailing her as one of their heroes for 2023.

But what happened?

Starting Stage 4, Landman was ahead of Saudi Arabia's Mishal Alghuneim. But being a local and using the dunes for his own preparations, Alghuneim soon passed Landman, signalling with one hand that she must follow him.

According to Landman, Alghuneim had the perfect lines as they navigated the outer edges of a massive sand bowl, passing 40 competitors inside it. And it worked out well because they still cleared all the waypoints, gaining time in the process.

READ: Flu, fatigue, death: How SA's Kirsten Landman conquered her toughest Dakar yet

But as they cleared the top of the bowl passing the waypoint, Landman saw how Alghuneim cleared a bump rather awkwardly, and soon after slammed on the brakes, falling off his bike.

"I knew exactly what had happened," Landman said, describing the incident to News24 Sport.

"And he said to me: 'My ankles, my ankles!' So I dropped my bike, lifted his off him, and he asked