STEPHANIE ROWE Makes History as First Woman to Finish Africa Eco Race Malle Moto

February 14, 2025

by Egle Gerulaityte // from www.advpulse.com

• STEPHANIE ROWE etched her name in rally history by becoming the first woman to complete the Africa Eco Race in the brutal malle moto category, where riders tackle 5,900 kilometers across Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal completely unassisted. The 37-year-old adventure riding instructor finished 14th overall in malle moto and claimed first in the women’s category, proving that self-reliance and determination can overcome even the world’s most punishing rally challenges.
• What makes ROWE’s achievement even more impressive is her total independence throughout the 12-day ordeal – she prepped her own KTM 450 EXC-F, carried all her tools and spare parts, and handled every mechanical crisis solo. When her navigation equipment started failing on day two, she MacGyvered repairs with cable ties and spare screws, even holding a broken plate together with one hand while crossing a finish line. This is what authentic rally racing looks like when you strip away the support crews and fancy team trucks.
• The path to this historic finish wasn’t exactly a sponsorship fairy tale – ROWE spent over a year hustling for funding, building partnerships, and running crowdfunding campaigns as an independent rider. Her progression from British enduro events to Rally du Maroc (where she crashed hard the first time but came back to finish) shows the methodical approach that separates dreamers from finishers. Now she’s got Rally Dakar 2026 in her crosshairs, following the blueprint laid by role models like Jane Daniels and the inspiration she found meeting Tamsin Jones.

africa eco race, ktm, malle moto, rally racing