Behind the scenes of the bivouac: logistics

You know putting the bivouac in order as well as the restoration of this village of 3 people on the sidelines of the Dakar 500. Let us now look at the installation of the bivouac, via another major pole of this event: logistics.

If you need a mallet to stake the pegs in your tent while a wind of sand whips your eyes, they will be there to help you out. Just go see “the people of the lodge”, numbering 14, who live in a U-shaped space formed by three well-positioned semi-trailer trucks.

The first contacts with logistics workers are quite disconcerting, a world away from car competitions on the circuit. “Excuse me, was I told to come see you for a mallet?” » says the author of these lines as the group engages in… a game of pétanque.

Another time, while the clicking of computer keyboard keys resonates in the press room, a troop of men dressed in blue arrives among the journalists to arrange metal trunks for the media center managers.

Logistics lives at a different pace than the media, there is no doubt about it. Always equipped with a walkie-talkie and a telephone, Aurélien Labasque is on his 16th Dakar and is responsible for preparing the internal organization at ASO for the rally-raid.
“My Dakar starts in October and ends in March, explains the man who has constantly worked in logistics. We send the trunks of equipment at the same time as the rally vehicles from the port of Marseille in the fall. Every morning, I give my teams the equipment to provide to each sector of the bivouac (press room, racing PC, medical, TV, etc.). »

Aurélien and his trunks. © Medhi Casaurang

If the atmosphere seems so relaxed once all the trunks have been delivered, it is because the men and women of logistics give their all during the shots which take place in the morning and evening when repacking everything before leaving. head for the next bivouac.

“In this type of role, you have to involve people, for example by explaining to them what is in the trunk they are going to transportHe says. The little morning routine in the press room brings together something, it's quite symbolic of our state of mind. What I expect from them is not only that they are operational, but also proactive. They can take initiatives, with my agreement.

Teams like Alpha 1/2 (located at the start and finish of the special stages. Editor’s note), I almost never see them at the rally, so I need to get their feedback on what we should bring extra. »

To facilitate communication, Aurélien Labasque created a WhatsApp conversation, where he shares the progress of a typical day. He also formed pairs in his group, because 40% of his staff is replaced each winter. This allows novices to be accompanied by people who have been practicing for several years. And also to avoid storage errors.

“In Africa, we only had two containers because the bivouac was held on the airport tarmac. We didn't take much out of cargo planes. In Saudi Arabia, I manage 12 containers! »

It takes arms to carry each trunk, which is labeled to arrive at the correct destination. © MC

Aurélien Labasque then becomes the storage specialist, the model for any parent who cannot convince their child to keep their room in order. “It's a giant Tetris, because we transport 20 tonnes of equipment in trucks and another 3 in a cargo plane. You have to tidy up to find your way around. The trunks are labeled and there is also a color code on the trolleys. »