HILLSTON-BORN Toby Price has become the first Australian to win a category of the Dakar Rally.
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Mr Price finished fourth on the final stage of the world’s toughest off-road race on Saturday night (AEDT) to easily finish top of the overall bike standings.
The 28-year-old rode at high speed for 9301 kilometres across 14 days in brutal heat over sand dunes, dry river beds, rocky tracks, wheel-high mud and gravel – without getting lost – a feat requiring concentration, endurance and courage.
However, it almost didn’t happen at all.
Mr Price broke his neck in a crash in California’s Mojave Desert in 2013 which led to six weeks in traction and seven months of rehabilitation. He had broken his C6, C7 and T1 vertebrae, leaving him close to paraplegia, but a perilous 14-hour flight to Brisbane saw spinal surgeon Paul Licina insert two rods and eight screws and fuse vertebrae in Mr Price's back to ensure he could ride again.
Messages of support from the Australian sporting community flooded Twitter on Sunday.