Dakar Rally 2026 - Stage 1 and Stage 2
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2026-01-05
Author
João Pereira
Prologue (Yanbu): Ford lands the first blow! Mattias Ekström put Ford on the front foot by winning the Prologue and leading a Ford 1–2, with Mitch Guthrie close behind.
On two wheels, 20-year-old Edgar Canet set the pace and made Dakar history as the youngest bike stage winner. 
Stage 1 (Yanbu loop): Stage 1 flipped the early narrative: Guillaume de Mévius moved into the car lead as Al-Rajhi was hit with major penalties (including for a missed waypoint and speeding).
In bikes, Canet stayed ahead of KTM teammate Daniel Sanders; Ross Branch’s quick run was undone by a speeding penalty.
In bikes, Canet stayed ahead of KTM teammate Daniel Sanders; Ross Branch’s quick run was undone by a speeding penalty.
Stage 2 (Yanbu → AlUla): On bikes, Daniel Sanders responded immediately, taking the Stage 2 win and seizing control of the general classification after two days of racing.
In cars, the official overall standings after Stage 2 show Seth Quintero now leading, with Henk Lategan and Yazeed Al-Rajhi close behind in a tightly packed top group.
In cars, the official overall standings after Stage 2 show Seth Quintero now leading, with Henk Lategan and Yazeed Al-Rajhi close behind in a tightly packed top group.
Current results (General Classification) — after Stage 2
Bikes — Top 10 overall
1. Daniel Sanders (KTM) — 04h 13’ 37’’
2. Edgar Canet (KTM) — +00h 01’ 35’’
3. Ricky Brabec (Honda) — +00h 01’ 46’’
4. Skyler Howes (Honda) — +00h 03’ 15’’
5. Tosha Schareina (Honda) — +00h 03’ 34’’
6. Martim Ventura (Honda) — +00h 03’ 53’’
7. Ross Branch (Hero) — +00h 03’ 56’’
8. Michael Docherty (KTM) — +00h 05’ 48’’
9. Luciano Benavides (KTM) — +00h 07’ 11’’
10. Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) — +00h 08’ 58’’
2. Edgar Canet (KTM) — +00h 01’ 35’’
3. Ricky Brabec (Honda) — +00h 01’ 46’’
4. Skyler Howes (Honda) — +00h 03’ 15’’
5. Tosha Schareina (Honda) — +00h 03’ 34’’
6. Martim Ventura (Honda) — +00h 03’ 53’’
7. Ross Branch (Hero) — +00h 03’ 56’’
8. Michael Docherty (KTM) — +00h 05’ 48’’
9. Luciano Benavides (KTM) — +00h 07’ 11’’
10. Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) — +00h 08’ 58’’
Cars — Top 10 overall
1. Seth Quintero / Andrew Short (Toyota) — 03h 57’ 16’’
2. Henk Lategan / Brett Cummings (Toyota) — +00h 01’ 42’’
3. Yazeed Al-Rajhi / Timo Gottschalk (Toyota/Overdrive) — +00h 01’ 56’’
4. Toby Price / Armand Monleon (Toyota) — +00h 04’ 36’’
5. João Ferreira / Filipe Palmeiro (Toyota) — +00h 04’ 56’’
6. Simon Vitse / Max Delfino — +00h 05’ 46’’
7. Sébastien Loeb / Edouard Boulanger (Dacia) — +00h 06’ 07’’
8. Nasser Al-Attiyah / Fabian Lurquin (Dacia) — +00h 06’ 31’’
9. Michal Goczal / Diego Ortega — +00h 06’ 42’’
10. Saood Variawa / François Cazalet (Toyota) — +00h 07’ 30’’
1. Seth Quintero / Andrew Short (Toyota) — 03h 57’ 16’’
2. Henk Lategan / Brett Cummings (Toyota) — +00h 01’ 42’’
3. Yazeed Al-Rajhi / Timo Gottschalk (Toyota/Overdrive) — +00h 01’ 56’’
4. Toby Price / Armand Monleon (Toyota) — +00h 04’ 36’’
5. João Ferreira / Filipe Palmeiro (Toyota) — +00h 04’ 56’’
6. Simon Vitse / Max Delfino — +00h 05’ 46’’
7. Sébastien Loeb / Edouard Boulanger (Dacia) — +00h 06’ 07’’
8. Nasser Al-Attiyah / Fabian Lurquin (Dacia) — +00h 06’ 31’’
9. Michal Goczal / Diego Ortega — +00h 06’ 42’’
10. Saood Variawa / François Cazalet (Toyota) — +00h 07’ 30’’
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