Following the short but intense prologue, the Dakar Rally 2026 officially kicks off today with a full-length stage around Yanbu. This opening leg is immediately a serious test, featuring a long timed special, varied terrain, and a high expected pace.
The stage starts and finishes in Yanbu and covers a total distance of 524 kilometers. Of this, 305 kilometers are against the clock. The liaison sections are also significant, with 100 kilometers before and 119 kilometers after the special. For the competitors, this marks the first true endurance day, where stamina and focus play a crucial role.
Start times and stage structure
The first bikes leave the bivouac early in the morning. For the FIM categories, the first start is scheduled for 05:50, while the FIA entrants, including cars and trucks, begin at 08:35. The special itself starts at 07:30 for FIM competitors and at 10:15 for the FIA field. The schedule indicates that most competitors will return to the bivouac in the late afternoon or early evening, depending on their class and pace.
Varied terrain and high speed
The organizers describe the first stage as a well-balanced opener without extreme difficulty, but with enough challenges to immediately sharpen the field’s focus. The route primarily consists of sand and gravel, with stony tracks and short dune sections mixed in.
The first part of the special features wide sandy canyons where the pace can be very high. These are followed by narrower, more technical segments where recent rainfall has altered the track. Tracks have disappeared, and some sections are now rockier and more winding than expected. Around the midpoint, the canyons become tighter and more technical, but the pace picks up again in broader wadi sections. The final part introduces a few small dunes off-track and a narrow canyon leading to the finish that demands extra caution.
Navigation and awareness are key
While the navigation is described as relatively accessible, the stage still requires constant attention. Numerous direction changes in canyons and wadis, combined with altered terrain due to rain, mean that even small mistakes can have major consequences.
Stage 1 is the rally’s first true benchmark. The length of the special and the variety in terrain will almost certainly cause shifts in the standings. Those who slip up here may feel the consequences throughout the rest of the Dakar.
