JANUARY16th 2020: STAGE 9 TIDJIKJA / TIDJIKJA: 469,11 km Liaison: Tidjikja / Nimlane: 27,16 km SS: Nimlane / Nimlane: 415,07 km Liaison: Nimlane / Tidjikja: 26,88 km This will be the only loop stage of this 12th edition. Probably the most beautiful special stage of the Rally with a route never taken by the AFRICA ECO RACE. The participants will be really spoiled by what they will see during this unique day with even a little surprise revealed only at the bivouac the day before. After a first half-sand / half-pebble portion, the route will become entirely sandy in a huge corridor alternating between dunes and large sublime spaces. Even if the route will avoid the large dunes, the crossings will not be easy, especially at the end of the route with a long sandy climb between large narrow rocks which could cause a lot of problems in the event of a crash because it is almost a unique track. The last 35 kilometers will be on the same part as that taken in the morning, in reverse.