Compared to initial plans, biker Libor Podmol will not participate in the Dakar Rally in January next year. The former freestyle motocross world champion made his first start in the famous race this year, when he took 31st place. However, he has to postpone further participation for a year as he prepares for foot surgery in December, the screws of which will be removed by doctors after fall 2019.
Libor Podmol in the archive photo.
MCHphoto.cz
“After I started training headlong this summer, my legs started to get angry. In agreement with my doctor, I decided to remove the screws from my worst leg. one hundred percent ready for the next Dakar rally. I have decided to have an operation, thanks to which I hope to be better in the future, “Podmol said in a statement to ČTK. “Now I’m going to do it right and next year I’ll be healthier for next year,” he added.
According to initial plans, he was due to have the operation in November, but eventually extended the deadline by a month. On Saturday 27 November, he wishes to appear at the O2 arena in Prague on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the FMX Gladiator Games. “When I heard that the Gladiators would take place, we postponed the operation. So that I could jump the frontflip for the Prague spectators,” said the motocross, who has 43 screws in his legs after a severe fall in April 2019 in Munich. He broke both legs in Germany at the time.
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Podmol is currently in Namibia, where he is filming a new film “Life is a goal”. It follows the film “The road is the destination”, making its way to the start of the Dakar rally. “We are going to travel the world with him and try to ask the question of how to live properly,” said Podmol, who will continue to tour in Eastern Europe and Sri Lanka.
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The 37-year-old rider is already planning a racing program for next year. In the second half of March, he wants to compete in the Africa Eco Race, a race that follows in the footsteps of the original Dakar. “This will be the first preparatory race for Dakar 2023, which I would like to do in good health,” Podmol said. He had previously announced that he wanted to compete for the second time in the famous race in the Original by Motul category, reserved for unassisted riders.
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