Daniel Sanders claims stage two win and Dakar lead

2026 Dakar Rally

Stage Two – Yanbu to Alula

Daniel Sanders has already moved into the 2026 Dakar Rally lead, with the stage two win in AlUla taking his tally to 10 career stage victories in total, hitting that double digit record, as only the 22nd rider to do so.

Daniel Sanders – Dakar 2026 Stage Two

Stage two of the Dakar Rally took riders from Yanbu to AlUla over a demanding 400-kilometer selective section. Heading inland toward the Hejaz Mountains, the stage began with slow, technical terrain, featuring narrow, winding tracks and rocky passes before opening into wider, faster sections.

After crossing a series of challenging riverbeds, the route finished at high speed across sandy plateaus, white-sand canyons, and flowing off-piste terrain, ensuring another physically and mentally demanding day on the bike for all.

Daniel Sanders’ bike #1 – Dakar 2026 Stage Two

Sanders chased down teammate Edgar Canet, who had a minor fall at kilometre 100, giving the Aussie a chance to catch up and nab the lead. When the dust settled, the 400 km special complete, and bonus points for openers awarded, Sanders was 1m35s ahead, with a 30s lead in the overall standings.

Daniel Sanders – Dakar 2026 Stage Two

Daniel Sanders

“Winner. Today I started in second position and caught Edgar at about 100km, where I was then opening and collecting time bonuses. There was lots of tricky navigation but we managed to smash it! Tomorrow I open the stage, so I need to be in the right mindset.

“It was a much better stage today and felt more like classic Dakar, with open terrain and a real mix of conditions, which I really enjoyed. I had a good idea of what to expect, which helped with the rhythm, and it was important to get out front, open the stage and stay on top of the navigation, correcting any small mistakes quickly so I didn’t lose time. The pace was strong, the bike and my body are feeling really good, and overall it was a very positive day. There were some tricky sections, especially after the refuel, but we managed it well and kept a solid flow, which is exactly what you want early on in the rally.”

Edgar Canet – Dakar 2026 Stage Two

After his two successes in the prologue and the first stage, young Spaniard Canet was called upon to open the way, always a daunting task, and one fraught with danger, with navigation errors and crashes always a particular risk.

Edgar Canet – Dakar 2026 Stage Two

Edgar Canet

“I’m really happy with how stage two went – it was an incredible stage for me. I had two small crashes early on, one after trying to pass a camel on the piste and clipping a rock, but that’s part of rally racing and I felt fine afterwards. Navigation was very tricky in places, especially through the rocky riverbeds where it was difficult to even see the piste, so we had to stop and carefully check the roadbook at times. Even opening the stage we didn’t lose much time, and overall I’m pleased with both the navigation and the speed. It was a tough stage for everyone, but I’m really enjoying riding here and I’m happy to still be very much in the fight.”

Behind the two Red Bull KTM Factory Racing riders, Ricky Brabec achieved the day’s third best time and also remains a consistent third in the general rankings, 2m18s behind the rally leader.

The gaps remain modest in the top five, completed by Tosha Schareina, 4m41s behind, and Ross Branch, 7m46s behind.

Making the best use of his experience and skill, Benavides maintained a measured and consistent pace through the first demanding half of today’s stage, increasing his pace as the terrain opened up towards the end, the Argentine was placed comfortably inside the top 10. A small issue in the final kilometres slowed his progression, but he was able to safely complete the day in ninth place. Benavides now lies sixth in the provisional overall rally standings, trailing Sanders by just over 10 minutes.

Luciano Benavides – Dakar 2026 Stage Two

Luciano Benavides

“I’m feeling good overall, although today was a very fast stage where it was important to stay on the track. Unfortunately, I had an issue with the rear tire towards the end after hitting a rock, so I had to ease off and manage it carefully to make sure I reached the finish. Even so, the feeling on the bike was positive, and I’m eager to get back out there tomorrow and make up for it.”

Adrien Van Beveren trails the leader by 14m09s, in 10th place in the general rankings.

The competition in the Rally 2 class has undergone a minor revolution, with a Honda motorcycle winning for the first time in the class (first introduced in 2022), ridden by Portuguese rider Martim Ventura, a newcomer to the Dakar.  The Japanese brand joins a club that remains largely dominated by KTM (36 stages in R2), followed by Husqvarna (16) and Sherco (2). However, Ventura failed to take the lead in the overall category standings, where Michael Docherty reigns with a lead of 19 seconds.

Next: Stage Three

Tomorrow’s stage three will see riders complete a looped stage starting and finishing in AlUla. Of the 666 kilometers covered, 422 will be timed special – the longest of the rally so far.

2026 Dakar Rally Stage Two Results
(Provisional)

1. Daniel Sanders (AUS), KTM, 4:13:37
2. Edgar Canet (ESP), KTM, 4:15:12 +1:35
3. Ricky Brabec (USA), Honda, 4:15:23 +1:46
4. Skyler Howes (USA), Honda, 4:16:52 +3:15
5. Tosha Schareina (ESP), Honda, 4:17:11 +3:34

2026 Dakar Rally Standings after Stage Two
(Provisional)

1. Daniel Sanders (AUS), KTM, 7:42:24
2. Edgar Canet (ESP), KTM, 7:42:54 +0:30
3. Ricky Brabec (USA), Honda, 7:44:42 +2:18
4. Tosha Schareina (ESP), Honda, 7:47:05 +4:41
5. Ross Branch (BOT), Hero, 7:50:10 +7:46

2026 Dakar Rally Route/Schedule

2026 Dakar Rally route

2026 Dakar Rally route