Gritty Dakar winner deserves household status

Toby Price claimed his second Dakar Rally winner's trophy last week. He deserves a higher profile than what he currently enjoys, writes Anthony Breeze.

MAKE THAT TWO: Toby Price won his second Dakar Rally winner's trophy in Lima, Peru on Thursday, January 17. Picture: Martin Mejia

IT HAS been a long, hot summer and the Australian public has been looking for someone to cheer on; someone who will fight until the end while facing some hard times. Unfortunately our cricketers have let us down this summer so far, but one sporting achievement didn't quite get the accolades it should have. The man I am talking about has toughness, determination and most of all a strong will to win. His name is Toby Price. Hardly a household name in Australia but to those that have followed his career, they rank him in our top echelon of sports stars.

Last weekend he won the toughest off-road bike race in the world - the Dakar Rally - for a second time. "It's only a bike race” I hear you say. Well let me set the scene from the starting line.

In front of you is 11 days and 10 stages of torture across the Peruvian Desert where you will have to ride roughly 800km a day across sand dunes, mud, camel grass and rocks in 40 degree heat. Toby or "Animal” to his mates won this year's race while suffering a broken wrist. He could have easily given up and pulled out, but this man is tough and his pain barriers are up with anyone in the world. Price has broken two femurs, numerous ribs, an ankle, a foot, fractured his thumb and broken bones in his neck. Those injuries are just between his two Dakar wins. Doctors didn't want him to compete, with nine giving him no chance to make the finish line. Well he made the finish line and timed his run perfectly, only taking the lead in the last stage to surgee to victory.

Toby Price we salute you.

'You will never walk alone'

They say success on the field will help dramatically with finances off the field. This saying is no more evident than at Liverpool, where the English Premier League club is flying both on and off.

On field they sit at the top of the League with a club record amount of points at the 23-game mark. Off-field the club is also taking all before them where on estimates, they look like becoming the first club to report an annual profit of over €100 million. The record was set in 2017 by Leicester when they had their fairytale season. For long-suffering fans (myself included), a title win is what we are after. The financial side of things will look after themselves. YNWA.

Hero of the week

Ash Barty gave her all but came up a little short. The huge improvement in her game will see her challenging for a Slam in the not to distant future, and all of Australia will be cheering her on.

Villain of the week

The FFA for their handling of the sacking of National Women's coach Alen Stajcic. We have no real answers as to why he lost his job. Senior players all were dumbfounded. Please explain in more detail.

Did you know?

There is a Pineapple on top of the Wimbledon Trophy. Have a look. Also, yellow balls were first used at Wimbledon in 1986, before that they were white.

Last chance

Quade Cooper and Karmichael Hunt have been given another chance with the Rebels and Waratahs. They must produce on the field now or both will go into the wasted talent category.

Bomber's best

Not much luck with my tips last weekend with one greyhound scratched and the other missing the start. This week I have found a horse that will win. Sunshine Coast R3, No 2.

Originally published as Gritty Dakar winner deserves household status