One of the most intense experiences in the Dakar Rally was when Jordi Juvanteny and I were kidnapped at gunpoint in Mauritania. This incident occurred in 1997, during the elephant passage area, a region known for its camel grass. As the sun began to set, we encountered three individuals armed with rifles who forced us to exit our truck.
They took us to a location behind a dune, where we found ourselves surrounded by approximately 100 people. The atmosphere was tense, and we feared for our lives. The kidnappers took us out one by one, forcing us to kneel and taking our belongings. I managed to hold on to a medal of the Virgin from my hometown, which they attempted to take from me.
A Narrow Escape
After the ordeal, the kidnappers left us in the dark, but we managed to start a fire using camel grass. This allowed us to see and organize ourselves. Fortunately, our truck was not taken, and we were able to form a convoy with other participants who had lost their vehicles. We carried additional passengers and were able to reach the camp, which was 20 kilometers away. We arrived at three or four in the morning, ate something, and continued with the next stage of the race at six.