Dutch rally veteran Kees Koolen has successfully completed the prologue of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (ADDC) without any issues. The experienced off-road rider, who has participated in this rally every year since 2011, has once again chosen to tackle the race on a motorcycle. For Koolen, the competition is now primarily about enjoying the immense dunes and the challenging terrain of the United Arab Emirates.
During the prologue, which this year featured a gravel route with large stones and difficult navigation, Koolen consciously took no risks. “I’m not here for the stones, so I took it very easy so that I can start the ADDC in the sand tomorrow,” said Koolen. He finished 34th out of 55 participants, securing a solid starting position for the first real desert stage.
Although Koolen previously aimed for top performances with a quad and buggy, he now sees participating on a motorcycle as a way to experience the rally differently. “With the bike, I take it easy and see it more as a nice week of riding through the dunes. At 59 years old, it’s neither wise nor possible to go all out,” he stated matter-of-factly.
The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge promises to be a tough edition once again this year, with no less than 70% of the route being new. The third and fourth stages together form a marathon stage, with the latter part of day 3 and the first half of day 4 leading through enormous dunes. According to Koolen, some routes significantly deviate from the expected waypoints because certain high dunes are simply insurmountable from specific angles.
Koolen finds it remarkable that there are still very few Dutch riders taking on the challenge of seriously learning how to ride dunes in Abu Dhabi. “Every year, I am surprised that more Dutch riders aren’t here to really learn how to ride in the dunes,” he observed.
With a relaxed and strategic approach, Koolen looks forward to the coming days in the vast sandy landscape of the Emirates. His experience and understanding of the terrain will undoubtedly prove valuable in the challenging stages ahead.
