Laia Sanz
Motorcycle racing // Corbera de Llobregat, Spain
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Laia Sanz, motorsport champion known as “Queen of the Desert,” dominates both two and four-wheeled racing with 13 Trial World Championships and remarkable Dakar Rally success.
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I don’t want to be the best woman; I want to be the best rider. If I ever stop dreaming, that’s the day I stop competing.
In the Dakar, you fight against yourself, your fears, and your limits. Winning is about overcoming all of that.
When you fall, the important thing isn’t how hard you hit the ground, but how fast you get back up and keep riding.
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FULL BIO: Laia Sanz
Laia Sanz stands as one of motorsport’s most versatile female competitors, dominating trials competition with 13 consecutive World Championships while establishing herself as the preeminent woman in the prestigious Dakar Rally.
EARLY YEARS
Born on December 11, 1985, in Corbera de Llobregat near Barcelona, Spain, Laia grew up immersed in motorsport culture. Her father, a trials bike enthusiast and mechanic, introduced her to motorcycles at age four with a modified 25cc bike. By seven, she was competing against boys in local trials competitions and winning. Weekends were spent at competitions with her tight-knit family, including her mother Rosa Rovira and brother Lucas, who was also a trials rider. The rugged Catalonian terrain became her training ground, where she developed the precision and fearlessness that would define her riding style.
EARLY SUCCESS
The first sign of Sanz’s exceptional talent appeared at age seven when she won her debut regional trial championship. Her father noted, “She was tiny, but she attacked obstacles like a veteran.” By 13, she had claimed the first of what would become an astonishing 13 consecutive Spanish Women’s Trial Championship titles. This early dominance foreshadowed her future success on the world stage, establishing a pattern of excellence that would continue throughout her career.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
- 2000-2013: Won 13 consecutive Women’s Trial World Championships (FIM World Trials Championship)[1].
- 2011: Became first woman to finish the Dakar Rally on a motorcycle, placing 39th overall[2].
- 2015: Achieved 9th overall in the Dakar Rally, the highest finish by a female rider at that time[3].
- 2019: Won the women’s category at the Baja España Aragón[4].
- 2020: Secured victory in the women’s category at the Baja España Aragón[4].
- 2021: Finished 12th overall in the Dakar Rally[5].
REPUTATION
Known as the “Queen of the Desert,” Sanz has earned widespread respect in the motorsport community for her reliability and consistency in the grueling Dakar Rally, which she has completed 12 times. Her technical skill, endurance, and determination have made her a formidable competitor across multiple disciplines. Sanz has successfully transitioned between motorcycle enduro, rally raids, and four-wheel competition in the Extreme E series, demonstrating exceptional versatility. Her groundbreaking achievements have significantly elevated the profile of women in motorsport, particularly in the demanding worlds of off-road and endurance racing.
FUTURE GOALS/PLANS
Sanz aims to secure a podium finish at future Dakar Rally events while establishing mentorship programs for young female riders. Her long-term vision includes “leaving a legacy that opens doors for the next generation” of women in motorsport. While focusing primarily on rally competition, she hasn’t ruled out returning to TrialGP in coming seasons. Through her role as a FIM Women in Motorcycling Commission ambassador, she plans to continue advocating for gender equality in motorsports and inspiring more women to compete at elite levels.
References:
FIM World Trials Championship Records
Dakar Rally Historical Results 2011
Dakar Rally Official Report 2015
Baja España Aragón Official Results Archives
Dakar Rally Official Rankings 2021
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