Schareina Claims Third Dakar Stage Win

Tosha Schareina takes his third stage victory of the 2026 Dakar Rally on stage nine as the marathon phase begins and the overall battle tightens.

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Tosha Schareina delivered one of his strongest performances of the 2026 Dakar Rally on stage nine, claiming his third stage victory with a controlled yet aggressive ride as the race entered its punishing marathon phase.

After a 119-kilometre liaison to the start, the 418-kilometre special demanded absolute concentration. Riders crossed rocky plateaus, fast desert tracks, and vegetation-lined valleys while balancing speed against tyre preservation. Navigation proved decisive early on, with a confusing checkpoint disrupting the rhythm of the lead group and reshuffling the order.

Schareina turns disorder into dominance

Starting fourth on the road, Schareina attacked immediately. As the riders ahead hesitated through the navigational puzzle, the Spaniard seized the moment, reeling in Luciano Benavides and Daniel Sanders before taking control at the front.

From there, Schareina managed the stage with precision, opening the route cleanly and capitalising on the available bonus time to build a winning margin of 4 minutes and 35 seconds. The result moves him within eight minutes of Benavides in the overall standings and firmly back into contention for the provisional podium.

Brabec adapts, Howes stays composed

Ricky Brabec began the day with a defined strategy, but once he reached the front group, he was forced to adjust on the fly, a shift that cost him a small amount of time. He finished third in RallyGP, 6 minutes and 22 seconds behind Schareina, and now trails Daniel Sanders by just over six minutes overall.

Crucially, Brabec reached the marathon camp with his tyres in good condition, giving him a strong platform to attack stage ten with tracks to follow.

Skyler Howes once again delivered consistency over spectacle. Finishing fourth, he enjoyed the demanding dunes while preserving his equipment, an approach that paid off as he arrived at the bivouac without tyre damage and minimal work required overnight.

Van Beveren builds momentum

Adrien Van Beveren continued his steady resurgence in the second week of the rally. Despite also losing time in the early navigational confusion, the Frenchman showed solid pace to finish fifth on the stage.

While a podium challenge is now unlikely, Van Beveren sits seventh overall and continues to close in on Nacho Cornejo, with only three minutes separating them.

Focus turns to survival and recovery

With all four Monster Energy Honda HRC riders safely into the marathon camp, attention now shifts from racing to recovery. Riders face a night with limited food, basic shelter, and no mechanical assistance, one of Dakar’s most unforgiving tests.

Stage ten sends the field south toward Bisha over a demanding 420-kilometre route packed with dunes and technical sections before the teams reunite for the final push of the rally.

Schareina’s latest victory has reignited the battle, and as Dakar enters its decisive stretch, the margin for error continues to shrink.