Podmol appreciated the help of a compatriot, thanks to which he was able to finish the Dakar

After hitting a large rock and a subsequent fall, he damaged the front wheel, although he continued, but he probably would not reach the finish line. However, his compatriot Roman Krejčí saved him, who gave him his bike and sent him forward. In addition, he then reached the finish line alone on the damaged work.

“Mainly thanks to him, I reached the finish line today. I thought I would not give it up, but a friend saved me in need,” Podmol praised the Czech motorcyclist, who continued the rally out of order.

The tailor did not complete the 6th stage and then continued in the competition only in the “Dakar experience” category. “When he saw me, he stopped and told me if I didn’t want his front wheel, so I said I would,” said the former freestyle motocross world champion.

They changed the bikes in front of the organizers, so they knew that everything was fine from the point of view of the rules. “Roman and I became friends, we trained together in Hodonín. I brought him a motorcycle for the Dakar. I really appreciate his gestures, if we were in the opposite situation, I would do it for him too. The Dakar is not only about the results, but also about friendship, about experiences that we will not forget for the rest of our lives, and about fairness, “said Podmol, who finally took 31st place in the final evaluation.

In the end, Podmol was very happy that Krejčí also reached the finish line. Although with an interval of more than two and a half hours behind the fastest. “I was in shock at the finish line, as I waited for Roman to see him on my bike. As I saw him approaching too, I was already rejoicing. I wanted him to reach “I didn’t want to ruin it for him, even though he didn’t care about anything anymore. I’m grateful to have been able to experience this adventure,” he said.

The 36-year-old motorcyclist experienced everything imaginable at his Dakar premiere. “A big fall, technical problems and finally help from a friend,” said Podmol.

“I’m wearing a lot of bruises, a bruised shoulder, a thrown rib, brutal horses on both legs and an arm, I’m overgrown, I look like a thunderbolt. I’m really beaten, but I’m happy that the medal I came for will hang in my trophy room and I will definitely show her to my dad in the cemetery, “Podmol said.

One of the main reasons why he decided to embark on a Dakar adventure was the effort to complete the “work” of his father, who failed to complete the rally in 1994 after technical problems.

“I didn’t expect it to be so difficult. It’s very fast and dangerous. Stones lurk here for bikers at every turn. I saw several serious falls during the competition and one experienced myself. I was present when three riders resuscitated a young Indian. “It’s not really funny here,” Podmol added, noting that he doesn’t currently know if he will perform again in the Dakar in the future.