Triple winner of the Dakar, twice in motorcycles (1981 and 1983), then in cars (1992), Hubert Auriol died on Sunday at the age of 68 at Garches hospital after being the victim of a "Cardiovascular accident" following a long battle with the disease.
Emblematic figure of the famous rally-raid that he led as boss of the event between 1995 and 2004, will remain for many French people the courageous champion who finished a stage with both ankles broken after an accident twenty kilometers from the arrival of the special.
Gaston Rahier did not stop after the fall of Auriol
The footage showing him on the ground, crying, with both injured ankles in the hands of caregivers has been around the world.
During this video which helped to write the legend of the event, we see Cyril Neveu, his friend but nevertheless rival, upset by the state of the leader of the event.
But we also see another competitor, Gaston Rahier coming to Auriol's bedside and being energetically pushed back.
"Get out of the way", even loose the man who was nicknamed "the African", pushing back the hand extended by the Belgian and looking away (from 4'30 '').
An attitude that may have surprised.
Spectator of this scene, Cyril Neveu returned to the animosity between the two men at this time of the race.
“I was in the lead of the stage and already arrived at the end of the special and I had no idea what happened.
Gaston saw Hubert fall, but he didn't stop.
A good number of pilots stopped but not him ”, explains the five-time winner of the event on two wheels.
READ ALSO -
Cyril Neveu at Figaro: "Hubert Auriol, he was my great rival and my friend"
Some competitor helped Auriol get back on his machine.
Despite the injuries, the latter had wanted to defend his chances until the end, at the cost of excruciating pain, being several times on the verge of fainting.
On arrival, Auriol therefore did not want to hear about Gaston Rahier, double winner of the event (1984 and 1985) who had, for his part, plotted his route.
“Gaston didn't necessarily have a very good image on the Dakar.
In addition, there had been a conflict for a few years because they were BMW drivers and when he left for Cagiva, Hubert had experienced this departure as a relief.
Peace to his soul (he died in 2005 from cancer, editor's note), he was not what you could call a nice boy on the run, ”slips Cyril Neveu.
A fight between gentlemen with Neveu
“Gaston didn't have the same philosophy or the feeling that we could have with Hubert at all.
We fought like ragpickers, of course, sometimes cunning as much as possible (laughs), but on the evening of a special we could eat together and say to each other at the end of the meal: "Anyway, I'm going fuck you tomorrow ".
It was clean, between gentlemen, ”added the Dakar legend, now converted into the organization of historic rallies.
Read also
Hubert Auriol, former driver and director of the Dakar rally, has died
