Laia Sanz was just two years old when she sensed that her life was going to play out on wheels. On two wheels, to be exact. She had hardly learned to walk when she go her first bike. Shortly before that she had her first experience with motorbikes: in spite of being so small, she rode behind her father on his motorcycle. Although it was at age four, when she tried her brother’s Cota 25, that she knew her future was atop a motorcycle.
She found support from those around her. Her mother encouraged her to take part in a race for children as part of the Catalan Junior Championship. Laia Sanz was six, and the contest was held in her hometown, Corbera de Llobregat.
In 1997, riding an 80cc motorbike, she had her first victory in a male championship. During that season she also participated for the first time in an international female trial competition, with another 50 riders from all over the world.
She loved it, and the following year, at age 13, Laia Sanz took part in the first edition of the Women’s Trial European Championship (unofficial). She won, beating older contestants with much more experience, which encouraged her to take part in the Spanish Trial Championship, the only girl in the race.
It was one of many competitions in which Sanz was the exception in a world of men. Her victory in 2000 in the Spanish Cadet Championship –again she was the only female rider– showed that talent isn’t a question of gender even in the biker world. Eighteen years after that victory she still says it is her most satisfying to date.
As it advanced, Laia Sanz’ career seemed unbelievable: at just 24 years old she had 10 world titles, 9 European crowns, and four victories in the team event of the Trial des Nations. It was at that age that she made her debut in the Women’s World Enduro Championship, one of the high points of her career and the step before the Dakar Rally, a childhood dream. In 2011 she was able to take part in the Dakar Rally for the first time, winning in the female class and finishing number 38 overall.
Season after season, Laia Sanz has continued to win titles without losing an ounce of her initial ambition and excitement. The titles in the Women’s World’s Enduro Championship, the medals in the prestigious XGames, her excellent placings in the Dakar Rally, as well as the many raids and rallies she contested, constitute an impressive record that shows no signs of ending.
Laia Sanz BIO
. Name: Laia Sanz Pla-Giribert
. Date of birth: 11/12/1985
. Age: 32
. Place: Corbera de Llobregat (Barcelona)
. Current residence: Seva (Barcelona)
. Present team: KTM
Laia Sanz list of records
From time to time Laia parks her motorbike and takes a spin on four wheels. In 2015 she took part in several events such as the Barcelona RX of the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit, the SEAT Eurocup, the 500 Kilómetros de Alcañiz and the 24 Horas de Barcelona de Automovilismo. And everything indicates that there will be more in the future. In fact, Laia Sanz has said one of her big dreams is to contest the Dakar in a car.
Besides her impressive list of trophies, Laia Sanz has many accomplishments that make her one of Spain’s best athletes. One of them is to have become the female driver who has completed the Dakar Rally, the toughest test, the most times (seven). And she has suffered during that race. In 2016, because of a throat infection, she had to drive with a fever and dizziness, which caused her a serious fall. In spite of the resulting torn collar bone ligaments, she finished the race in a more than dignified 15th place. Laia demonstrated one of the maxims that has governed her career: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Text: Gema Sanz
