MotoGP
AMERICA’S “MAIN STREET” WINS BEST PLAINS & DESERT ROAD
Key Takeaways
- Route 66 wins Best Plains & Desert Road
- Three finalists now selected - champion to be announced soon
Route 66. One of the most famous roads in the United States, the historic Route 66 earned the title “Main Street of America” because it passed right through the main streets of hundreds of small towns across the country’s Midwest and Southwest. Stretching some 3,940 kilometers (2,448 miles) from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, Route 66 was one of America’s original highways.
Long before it was named and paved, the route was part of the National Old Trails Road, and since then it is deeply rooted in American history. During the Great Depression, thousands of farm families, displaced by the Dust Bowl, made their way west to California along the route, and after World War II it became part of the now historic demographic shift from the Rust Belt to the Sun Belt.
Today, riders pass through a marvelous cross-section of American scenes, from the cornfields of Illinois to the Oklahoman Ozarks to the Grand Canyon in Arizona and ending at the golden sands of Santa Monica. It is a biker’s dream.
And now it is the winning entry in the Plains & Deserts Road category of the DHL World’s Best Road contest.
Nothing inspires the iconic idea of “Road Trip” like Route 66
John Winter from Canada
“Nothing inspires the iconic idea of “Road Trip” like Route 66,” writes John Winter of Canada in his entry. “It’s iconic status still motivates people far and wide to visit the USA year after year…the thrill of ’66 is not to be missed!”
Yes, there’s no doubt that America’s Main Street has inspired many. Countless movies and songs – from John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath to Bobby Troup’s “(Get Your Kicks) on Route 66” – are about or take place along this historic stretch. The question is: will it be crowned DHL’s World’s Best Road? After Australia’s Great Ocean Road was selected as the Best Coastal Road, and Pakistan’s Karakoram Highway won the Best Mountain Road, the winner is not a foregone conclusion.
WATCH: What is Mark Webber’s Best Road?
A rivalry of routes
After Route 66 it was Argentina’s Route 40 and Chile’s Route 5 with the most entries. Also known as the Patagonian Highway, the Ruta Nacional 40 in Argentina stretches more than 5,000 kilometers (3,100 mile) along the Andes mountains. It is one of the longest routes in the world. Crossing 20 national parks, 18 major rivers, and 27 mountain passes, the southern section is mostly flat and famously remote. Those who have experienced it say that the people you meet along the way make the ride unique and authentic. Many villagers still farm their ancestral lands and live traditional lives. Riders are treated to local delicacies and artisan crafts.
“It is home to some of the oldest cultures in Argentina,” writes Gergana Stoyanova from Bulgaria. “But the countryside itself is without a doubt the main attraction…it has got to be seen to be believed!”
At 3,364 kilometers (2,090 miles), Ruta 5 is the longest road in neighboring Chile. Running from the Peruvian border in the north to Puerto Montt in the south, it is also part of the Pan-American Highway. A notoriously dangerous drive, the route is often void of any distinguishing characteristics – especially in Chile’s almost featureless Atacama Desert, making it easy to lose concentration. The Atacama Desert is no place on earth, with geysers and hot springs, volcanoes and sand dunes, salt mountains and flats, flamingos and llamas, and so much more.
“It’s a place I’ve ridden in my dreams but I’ve loved to do it for real,” writes Rosh Gaind from London.
Riding motorbikes is something I really enjoy…it’s the ultimate machine.
Mark Webber
And the winner is…stay tuned!
Now that we have our three winning roads – the Great Ocean Road, the Karakoram Highway and Route 66 – it’s time to pick a champion. Be sure to follow @DHL_Motorsports and #DHLWorldsBestRoad to find out which of these roads becomes DHL World’s Best Road and which one of our contestants wins the ride of a lifetime: a ride on the winning road on their very own motorbike alongside nine-time Formula One Grand Prix winner and bike enthusiast Mark Webber, delivered by DHL!
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