Chile: Argentina - 2010: The Sand Asset

Argentina
A complete range
The extent of Argentina with over 3,500 kilometres from north to south gives the country the status of "other giant" of the continent. On a territory marked by the natural and cultural contrasts, the distances are always long: we are in the register of immensity. For the travellers, the amateurs of maps and more specifically those in love with off-road rallies, the study of the place sees new ideas spring up all the time. In Argentina, the competitors of the 2009 Dakar have the insurance of taking on an extreme endurance event.

While it isn't completely a "Tour of Argentina", the course imagined, taking off and heading back to Buenos Aires gives the bikers and drivers the opportunity to express themselves on all types of terrain. First of all heading south, those loyal to the rally will witness fast tracks with a lot of kilometres to cover as of the first days of racing. After having tasted the 'hard' part, the competitors will then discover the 'soft'. On the way back, several sandy stages will allow dune crossing experts to play their part. The crews that will make it to the finish will have visited a total of ten of the twenty-three provinces of the country: enough for the tastes of all.

The provinces travelled through
Buenos Aires - Federal capital
Buenos Aires province
La Pampa
Rio Negro
Chubut
Neuquén
Mendoza
Catamarca
La Rioja
Cordoba
Santa Fe

With a distance of close to 3500 kilometres between the Bolivian border and the extremity of Terra Del Fuego, Argentina has the aspect of a country-continent. Its dimension on the north-south axe as well as on the east-west line, gives the country several faces. On a climatic, mountainous and life style point of view, variety marks the many areas of Argentina. A welcome land for the Spaniards during the first waves of immigration in the XVIth century, and then for Italians, Germans and French attracted by the prosperity of the capital in the XIXth century, Argentina has through different periods invented a one-of-a-kind cultural model that the Europeans have easily acclimated to.

Argentina and sport
The whole country lives at the rhythm of the Albiceleste national football team, victorious of the World Cup on two occasions in 1978 and 1986 and also winner of fourteen Copa America trophies. While the nation's sport hero remains Diego Maradona, it was however the squad of Passarella, Ardiles and Kempes that for the first time led the blue and white team to a planetary success. And striker Gabriele Battistuta, Batigol, emblem of the after Maradona era holds the record for international goals scored with the national team (56). The passion for football doesn't await the big international events to express itself. The Buenos Aires derby between Boca Juniors and River Plate, in the Bombonera stadium is considered as one of the wildest of the planet.

Many other ambassadors have nourished the front pages of the newspapers around the World staring with Guillermo Vilas, a pioneer of the Argentinean tennis school who managed great performances on clay. While she failed to triumph like her elder at Roland-Garros, Gabriela Sabatini did however conquer the US Open title back in 1990. In the men's event, Gaston Gaudio lifted the Musketeers trophy at the French Open in 2004, 27 years after his mentor in a 100% Argentinean final against Guillermo Coria.

The patriotic pride of the Argentineans also found a way of expression during the Athens Olympic Games where the basketball team led by Manu Ginobili, overcame the American favourites and then the Italians on their way to conquer gold. Also in white and blue, the Pumas troubled the international rugby hierarchy when they finished third of the 2007 World Cup played in France.

In motorsports, Juan-Manuel Fangio, a five-time F1 World champion in the fifties, of course remains the reference driver in the history of the country. His successor is still to come but the master gave many, the desire to compete. Indeed, all disciplines put together, the Argentine Motorsports federation is one of the most important in the World. In off-road rallies, the Por las Pampas event has become one of the important dates of the season. On its record book are names such as Luc Alphand, Jean-Louis Schlesser, Bruno Saby or Marc Coma.

On the Dakar, the bunch of experienced Argentineans has for the moment failed to impress, despite the fact that the Sergio Gora - Pablo Gomes crew managed on two occasions to finish the event, with an excellent 45th spot overall in 2002. It is probably at home that the show will take place.

Brief info…
Population: 39 921 833 inh.
Surface: 2 766 890 km2
Capital: Buenos Aires (13 000 000 inh.)
Money: Argentine Peso
Official language: Spanish
Main cities: Cordoba (1 300 000 inhab.), Mendoza (1 100 000), Rosario (1 095 000), La Plata (857 800), Tucuman (833 100)