Sanders Clings to Dakar Lead After Marathon Stage 6

Daniel Sanders keeps the Dakar Rally lead after a punishing all-sand Stage 6, despite a time penalty, as Honda closes in at the halfway point.

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Daniel Sanders remains in control of the 2026 Dakar Rally after surviving the longest and most technically demanding day of the race so far, as Stage 6 delivered 920 kilometres of punishment across Saudi Arabia’s deep desert.

Stage six took riders from Ha’il to Riyadh, featuring a 331-kilometre timed special run entirely through the soft, energy-sapping sand of the Qassim region. With visibility constantly changing, minimal reference points and relentless dunes, the stage demanded flawless navigation, physical endurance and precise throttle control.

Sanders looked untouchable for most of the day. Starting as the third rider into the dunes, the Australian quickly hunted down early starter Luciano Benavides before kilometre 80 and proceeded to set the fastest pace through the heart of the stage. His lines through the dunes were clean, his navigation sharp, and he steadily built what should have been a commanding stage victory.

However, a six-minute speeding penalty dramatically altered the outcome. The sanction dropped Sanders from first on the road to third on the timing sheets and more importantly, trimmed his overall lead to just 45 seconds over Honda’s Ricky Brabec at the halfway point of the rally.

Despite the setback, Sanders still carries the red plate into the rest day.

Benavides manages risk, stays in podium contention

Luciano Benavides once again showed maturity and discipline in the dunes. After being passed by Sanders early on, the Argentinean settled into a measured rhythm, focusing on navigation accuracy rather than outright speed. A heavy impact with a dune midway through the stage encouraged further caution, but his steady approach paid off with a sixth-place finish and valuable bonus time.

Benavides now sits third overall, keeping KTM firmly in the title fight.

Canet rebuilds after difficult previous day

For rookie Edgar Canet, Stage 6 was about recovery rather than results. Starting deep in the field after issues on Stage 5, the young Spaniard used the long sand special to rebuild confidence and refine his dune navigation. His controlled approach earned him a solid 15th place, a positive step forward heading into the second week.

Honda takes the stage, Sanders keeps the rally

While KTM continues to lead the overall classification, Honda dominated the Stage 6 results, locking out four of the top five positions led by Ricky Brabec and Tosha Schareina. Brabec’s win moves him within striking distance of Sanders, setting up an intense second week battle between the two manufacturers.

With the rest day now underway in Riyadh, riders have a brief window to recover before Stage 7 launches a brutal second act, 876 kilometres with a massive 462-kilometre timed special waiting to further test both man and machine.

At the halfway mark of Dakar 2026, the margins are razor-thin, the terrain is only getting harder, and the fight for the Touareg trophy is far from decided.