Dakar Rally: an epic finale to this year's race - in pictures

Stage nine took the competitors from Tucuman to Cordoba in Argentina via some thrilling off-road tracks Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Spectators came out on horseback to watch as racers flew past Photograph: Victor R. Caivano/AP

Competition was rough - here, South African Giniel de Villiers (right) is unforgiving as he passes Frenchman Ronan Chabot Photograph: Felipe Trueba/EPA

The terrain wasn't much kinder either, taking its toll on both the racers and their machines. Jeremias Israel of Chile had the foresight to wheelie his way through this creek Photograph: Victor R. Caivano/AP

US pilot Robby Gordon had the armory necessary to combat any obstacle Photograph: Felipe Trueba/EPA

By stage 11 from La Rioja and Fiambala, sand was the new trap. Dutch pilot Caspar van Heertum fell from his motorcycle as the going got tough Photograph: Felipe Trueba/EPA

Argentina's Gaston Gonzalez practically demolished the route with his Honda quad Photograph: Jacky Naegelen/Reuters

Ruben Faria of KTM Red Bull Factory Team competes as the dunes grow in scale Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Czech Ales Loprais competes on his Tatra, proving that no vehicle is too ugly to tackle the dunes Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

This creek is so vast and so deep it's practically swallowed up this French car ... Pascal Larroque, the co-driver of Pascal Thomasse, is pictured trying desperately to rescue their car with a cable ... Photograph: Bertrand Metayer/AP

But his efforts are in vain. It's a total wreck Photograph: --/AFP/Getty Images

Argentina's Victor Mastromatteo is also swallowed up by a flowing gorge Photograph: --/AFP/Getty Images

Stage 12 to Copiapo was undulating Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

... and then some. Here, Robby Gordon steers his Hummer down a huge bank in front of enthusiastic crowds Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

The shadow of a helicopter is projected over KTM rider Cyril Despres Photograph: Victor R. Caivano/AP

KTM rider Francisco Chaleco Lopez is dwarfed by a huge dune Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

These riders are barely a speck on the landscape Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

By the end of the stage, the mechanics are as knackered as the pilots Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

A new day, another challenge Photograph: Victor R. Caivano/AP

... this time from Copiapo to La Serena across Mars-like terrain Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

As the surface becomes dustier and dustier, the riders seem to be enjoying themselves even more Photograph: Felipe Trueba/EPA

South African Riaan van Niekerk hammers it down a dune Photograph: Felipe Trueba/EPA

... while spectators watch from on high Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Two riders compete on their way to La Serena Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Stephane Peterhansel and Jean Paul Cottret, both of France, leave a trail of dust behind their Mini ... only one more stage to go Photograph: Victor R. Caivano/AP

Now's definitely not the time for getting lost Photograph: Victor R. Caivano/AP

Cacti line the route as Poland's Kuba Przygonski races towards his final destination - Santiago, Chile Photograph: Ariel Marinkovic/EPA

One by one they cross the finish line. Here, the motorcycle winner, France's Cyril Despres, sprays champagne on his team-mate, second-placed Ruben Faria of Portugal Photograph: Jacky Naegelen/Reuters

Argentinian Marcos Patronelli celebrates after winning the quads category Photograph: Felipe Trueba/EPA

The following day there's a huge podium finish in Santiago Photograph: Ariel Marinkovic/EPA

Every man and his dog has come to cheer them along Photograph: Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images

Yamaha rider Frans Verhoeven of The Netherlands performs a wheelie as he comes down the podium Photograph: Victor R. Caivano/AP

It's been an exhausting adventure for everyone involved Photograph: Ivan Alvarado/Reuters