N° 063 - TEAM BMW IBERICA DAKAR
 - MATESANZ MERINO
- Pedro
- ESP
- 30/11/1964
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Pedro Matesanz Merino: “The Dakar is actually a group project”
His life is the great outdoors, the wind, open spaces and sports. Pedro Matesanz, who lives in the Vall D’Aran, has created an adventure tourism company: rafting, mountain climbing, ski, kayaking, hydrospeed and trekking, among other activities that make up his everyday work. Three years ago, in order to do something different, he started the Dakar adventure. In 2006, he participated for the first time and had to withdraw after nine stages. However, last year he finished 63rd. “I was so happy to have made it to the end, especially because I wasn’t able to finish the year before. It was hard and wonderful at the same time. I’m happy of having been able to face the challenge”. Pedro Matesanz has raised a lot of interest in the mountainous area in the North of Spain where he lives. This is why the manager of Deportur considers his Dakar is actually a group project. “Last year when I was going through difficult times, and I did not know what to do, when I couldn’t pick up the bike and felt I had no energy left, in those moments I started thinking about all the support around me and it helped. The blog we created was crucial for my success. On the phone, in the bivouac I would give my report of the day and people back in Spain would read it. I sometimes received up to 300 messages in a day!” This year Pedro Matesanz is coming back because he loves this challenge against himself and the Dakar. “I am always eager to better myself. I am 42 years old and in the Dakar I realise that there are no limits, only those we impose upon ourselves”. The excitement of surmounting a personal challenge keeps motivating Pedro, as well as his group approach to his participation. Once again he will sell hundreds of t-shirts and wine and the blog will serve as a link between his region and him. The difference this time is that thanks to his results he will now be part of a team which is creating BMW Lerida. “The fact that they are starting with two riders is also motivating”. Anyway, Pedro is never alone on his bike in the Dakar.