2026 DAKAR STAGE 1 – CANET LEADS, CHUCKY 2ND

20-year-old Spaniard converts prologue pace into a hard-fought win around Yanbu as defending champion Daniel Sanders follows him home

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing launched their Dakar Rally campaign in style, with Edgar Canet and Daniel Sanders securing a dominant 1–2 on Stage 1. The team’s early pace was clear in the prologue, where Canet produced a committed, all-out run to top the opening timed test. The Spaniard’s performance made him the youngest ever stage winner in the bike category and earned him first pick of starting position for Stage 1. Sanders backed that up by taking second, only three seconds adrift, sealing a decisive KTM lockout at the front.

Behind the leading pair, Ricky Brabec headed Honda’s challenge once again. Starting 14th, the American used clearer air to ride a controlled and consistent day, finishing third—1 min 32 secs behind Canet—keeping himself within striking distance as the rally unfolds.

Sunday’s Stage 1 proved an uncompromising first full test: a 524-kilometre loop around Yanbu, featuring 305 kilometres against the clock. Riders began in harsh, technical terrain, with tight sections and rocky gardens demanding total concentration, before conditions eased closer to the finish as the route opened into sand and smaller dunes.

Starting towards the back of the lead group after his prologue win, Canet quickly set about reeling in those ahead. He was fastest to the first checkpoint at kilometre 28 and stayed inside the top three through to kilometre 260, where he lifted the pace again to press further forward. With minimal mistakes, the 20-year-old displayed impressive composure to claim the stage victory by a little over a minute from Sanders. He now leads the provisional overall standings and faces the challenge of opening Monday’s 504-kilometre Stage 2.

Sanders followed his runner-up prologue with another second place on Stage 1. Spending the day in Canet’s dust, the defending Dakar champion did what was required to remain close to his team-mate—an approach likely to continue on Stage 2 as he again sets off in pursuit of the Spaniard at the head of the field.

Edgar Canet – 1st
“I’m really happy with how the rally has started. Winning the prologue gave me a great feeling straight away and my rhythm was good, I felt confident on the bike and I was able to follow the roadbook with 100% confidence, braking before the dangers and avoiding unnecessary risks while still being fast. Today’s stage was very demanding with a lot of different terrain, from fast sections to slow, rocky areas, but my navigation was strong and the bike felt great again. Apart from a small mistake that cost a few seconds, everything came together nicely, so to take another win and start the rally like this is incredible.”

Daniel Sanders – 2nd
“It was great to get underway and just be back on the start line. The prologue was much faster than expected and not very technical, so it was pretty much full gas the whole way and the times were very close, but it was good to get it done and focus on the stages ahead. Stage one was similar in that sense – very fast and quite straightforward – but the conditions made it tricky, with strong winds, a lot of dust and even a sandstorm at times, which made it hard to stay fully focused. Still, it felt good to get through the first proper day without any issues. I’m looking forward to the stages to come when the terrain gets more rocky, which suits me better.”

Ricky Brabec – 3rd
“It’s the first official Dakar stage and I’m exactly where I want to be. I don’t want to open this early, but I also don’t want to start at the very back. I’m happy where I’m at, looking forward to stage two and the rest of the rally. Overall, the team is looking good and the mechanics are doing a good job. Tomorrow, I’ll be happy to leave the bivouac and start heading North getting into some cooler weather. I don’t think there was any strategy for me today, for me personally, it was just to make it to the end of the stage with no mistakes and be consistent throughout the day, which I think I managed that fairly well. I’m going into stage two happy, exactly where I want to be and although I not sure when the race will start, we’re pushing hard already, so we’ll see what happens tomorrow.”