While Cyril Despres is a hero to many, there are only a few people the four-time Dakar Rally champion worships himself. One of them is the legendary Thierry Sabine, the creative force behind both L’Enduropale and the Dakar - and Cyril got the chance to delve into some interesting artefacts surrounding the icon during some downtime at the Enduropale du Touquet this weekend.
It all started when Cyril got a phone call on Saturday afternoon from a friend who told him to meet him at a local antique shop. There was nothing exceptional about the store at first glance - apart from some great photos of Steve McQueen - but the good stuff was in the back as he discovered when owner Frederic Harrewyn granted him a rare invite into the inner sanctum.
What Cyril discovered left the reigning Dakar winner in shock. Not only is Frederick an antiques dealer, but he was also a close friend of Thierry Sabine and he's created a private museum in his honour. For Cyril, it was an Aladdin's cave of rallying memories as he poured over photos, books and an incredible number of mementos that belonged to the man who gave us both L’Enduropale and the Dakar.
If this incredible collection wasn't enough, Frederic asked Cyril if he’d like to give Gilbert Sabine, Thierry’s 90-year-old father, a phone call. Cyril, obviously, accepted without a second thought.
"Thierry was a press officer and he lived between Paris and Le Touquet," said Frederic. "One day, the mayor asked if he could come up with an event that they could hold during the winter.
“Soon after that, we went to the cinema to see a Steve McQueen documentary called Challenge One. When we came out, Thierry said, ‘Imagine a motorcycle race on Le Touquet beach where the start line is a great big straight line'... that was the birth of L’Enduro.”
“This man was amazing," said Cyril. "He mastered everything he knew, not only how to build race courses but also how to bring in sponsors and publicise the event. I have so much respect for him.”
When we asked if L’Enduro is still the way Sabine had envisaged it, Frederic replied: "Absolutely yes, the spirit is still there."
'Back in the day we’d set off with a map and compass.'
Inevitably, the discussion turned to the Dakar. "Back in the day we’d set off with a map and compass," said Frederic before Cyril continued: "It’s very different these days, but I would have loved to have been there."
Cyril explained that when they held the press conference announcing the decision to move the Dakar Rally to Argentina, the organisers revealed they also planned to make a movie in which Sabine explained that even though he had planned the route to go to Africa, he had no doubt that, one day, the race would go to another continent.
"He had already been on a reconnaissance trip to South America," confirmed Frederic.
Click here for a chance to win Cyril Despres and Marc Coma Dakar 2012 prizes
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Want more?
- Check out Cyril's blog
- Head to his official website at cyrildespres.com
- Enduropale du Touquet 2012 event page
- Six of the best: Off road races
- Facts and figures on L'Enduropale
- More Hard Enduro on redbull.com
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