In the seventh stage, the Slovak Norwit Racing Team crew once again placed on the podium. Third place proved that Martin Benko and Marek Sýkora are among the best in the SSV category.
As we mentioned yesterday, the seventh stage of the Eco Africa Race 2026 was a bit different from the previous ones, but also from the upcoming ones. The reason was the fact that there was no connecting section, but the stage included only a timed section. The track measured more than four hundred and sixty kilometers and was more or less entirely in sand and sand dunes.
“Today was quite strenuous, both in terms of navigation and riding. The track consisted of a lot of camel grass, soft sand and there were a lot of small dunes on it. The surface resulted in higher consumption than we had expected and we reached the gas station with only about a liter of gasoline. In addition, there was a sandstorm in the morning and the road was almost invisible, so for the first thirty or forty kilometers we were looking for the ideal route. We are not complaining, the conditions were exactly the same for everyone. It was a difficult stage. After yesterday, when I caught the flu, which otherwise filled the bivouac, I took antibiotics and today I felt much better. It is warm here, the mood in the team is excellent and we are moving on,” Martin Benko assessed after reaching the bivouac.
Tomorrow’s eighth stage will take place around the town of Aidzidine, which will be welcomed by the accompanying teams, as they will not have to move from bivouac to bivouac for at least one day. As for the route, it will have a similar surface to today’s, with its total length being just under four hundred and thirty kilometers, of which four hundred and fifteen kilometers will be a timed section.