The prologue win went to Daniel Sanders, with Ross Branch claiming second place and an impressive third position for debutant Edgar Canet Ardèvol.
The surprise of the day in the motorbike category was 19-year-old Edgar Canet Ardèvol. The young motocross rider from Spain had never competed in a Rally Raid event until late 2023. Intrigued by the rally world, he decided to give it a shot, delivering an impressive performance in Argentina. Now, he has stormed onto the rally scene with a stunning debut, showing his talent and potential. If he can stay calm under pressure and maintain this form, he might achieve something remarkable. However, the road to the finish line is still very long.
This reality surely weighs heavily on the minds of many seasoned riders. Is it worth winning the prologue? It’s great for publicity, but it comes with the downside of having to open the next stage, a task most riders prefer to avoid.
The competition remains incredibly tight, with the entire top 10 in the motorbike category separated by just 10 seconds. Anything can still happen!
Harith Noah: The First Motorbike Rider to Withdraw
The Dakar is always a game of highs and lows. Last year’s Rally2 winner now sees his title defense come to an abrupt end. Harith Noah broke his wrist during today’s prologue. Expectations were high for the Sherco rider from India, but unfortunately, his rally is already over.