Australian rider Daniel Sanders (KTM) has maintained his overall advantage at the top of the 2026 Dakar Rally standings after putting in an excellent ride to third place on the long stage six of the event.
American Honda star Ricky Brabec won stage six and he is running second overall after six of the 13 stages.
Stage six of the 2026 Dakar Rally was the longest day of the event so far, taking riders from Ha’il to Riyadh over a total distance of 920 kilometres, including 331 kilometres against the clock. The entire timed special ran through the sand of the Qassim region, placing a heavy emphasis on navigation, endurance, and pure dune-riding skill.
Sanders delivered an absolute masterclass of rally racing on today’s stage. Setting off as the third rider to enter the all-sand special, the Australian caught Luciano Benavides by kilometre 78 before opening up a gap at the front.
Navigating perfectly through the dunes, Sanders continued to extend his advantage all the way to the finish, where he posted a time four minutes and 43 seconds faster than the next best rider.
Unfortunately, a six-minute penalty for speeding cost the rally leader dearly, dropping him down to third on the stage and reducing his overall race advantage to just 45 seconds.
Daniel Sanders: “It was a tough day out front, especially with the navigation, and it felt like an emotional roller-coaster at times. I picked up a speed penalty early on, which was disappointing, but I just pushed as hard as I could all day. Opening in the sand is never easy, but the riding felt good and the speed was there.
“I’m not happy with how I’ve put the first week together, as there were too many small mistakes. It’s frustrating but that’s rally racing. I’m glad to reach the rest day and now the focus is on cleaning things up and having a strong second week.”
Tasked with opening the dunes for much of the stage, Luciano Benavides delivered another assured performance in the relentless sand. After being caught by Sanders early on, the Argentine settled into his own rhythm, prioritizing navigation and consistency through the long special.
Increasing his pace as the stage progressed, Luciano Benavides ultimately placed sixth, aided by nearly two minutes of bonus time. He heads into the rest day third overall, just over 10 minutes behind Sanders.
Riders will now enjoy a well-deserved rest day in Riyadh, before the Dakar Rally resumes tomorrow with the long stage seven.
The 876-kilometre route will include a gruelling 462-kilometre timed special as the second week of the rally gets underway.
Provisional Results – 2026 Dakar Rally, Stage 6:
- Ricky Brabec (USA), Honda, 3:41:33
- Tosha Schareina (ESP), Honda, 3:42:47 +1:14
- Daniel Sanders (AUS), KTM, 3:42:50 +1:17
- Skyler Howes (USA), Honda, 3:45:36 +4:03
- Adrien Van Beveren (FRA), Honda, 3:46:54 +5:21
Provisional Standings – 2026 Dakar Rally (after 6 of 13 stages):
- Daniel Sanders (AUS), KTM, 24:41:00
- Ricky Brabec (USA), Honda, 24:41:45 +0:45
- Luciano Benavides (ARG), KTM, 24:51:15 +10:15
- Tosha Schareina (ESP), Honda, 24:52:56 +11:56
- Ignacio Cornejo (CHI), Hero, 25:10:50 +29:50
Photo courtesy Helena Clancy, KTM
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