Stage 5 of the 2026 Dakar Rally marks the second and final day of the first marathon refuge stage, taking participants from AlUla to Ha’il. After a basic overnight stay in the isolated bivouac, competitors face another long and demanding day where staying out of trouble matters more than outright speed.
The total distance of Stage 5 is 427 kilometers, of which 371 kilometers are timed special stage. The day begins with a very short 2 kilometer liaison from the marathon bivouac, followed by the long special. After the finish, a 54 kilometer liaison leads the competitors to the bivouac in Ha’il. For many, this will be a long and draining day, with arrivals expected late into the evening.
Start times and schedule
The motorbikes leave the marathon bivouac first, with the first FIM riders departing at 07:15. The FIA field, including cars and trucks, follows from 07:45. The special stage itself starts at 07:30 for bikes and 08:00 for the FIA categories. Due to the stage length and multiple neutralizations along the way, the schedule will vary significantly, with some finishing late.
Character and specific features of the stage
Stage 5 features a highly varied character and places significant emphasis on navigation. The day opens at high speed across fast sandy tracks on an open plateau, but this changes rapidly. The tracks become less visible, and the route narrows into valleys and stony paths where precision and directional accuracy are essential.
Between kilometers 19 and 75, the terrain deteriorates with poor tracks, soft wadi climbs, and many rocky sections. After kilometer 75, the rhythm temporarily improves heading toward the first checkpoint, but navigation remains complex due to the high number of waypoints. After the first neutralization, wide sandy valleys and wadis alternate with faster sections up to CP2.
In the second half of the stage, the landscape opens up again, but the terrain becomes rougher and rockier. Multiple slow zones and caution areas are included due to nearby camps and inhabited zones. In the final part towards the assistance zone and finish, fast and slow sections alternate. The terrain remains largely rocky with trial-style obstacles and isolated hazards where mistakes can be costly.
Who opens Stage 5
In the motorbike category, Tosha Schareina will open the stage, followed by Ricky Brabec and Skyler Howes. Behind them are Ross Branch and Daniel Sanders. They face the difficult task of setting the tracks on a day where navigation is once again key.
In the car category, Henk Lategan is the first to start in the Toyota Hilux. He is followed by Nasser Al Attiyah in the Dacia Sandrider and Marek Goczal, with Eryk Goczal and Sébastien Loeb behind them. These front-runners must open the stage without any references, which requires extra strategic choices after a tough marathon night.
Key moment towards Ha’il
Stage 5 concludes the first marathon stage and represents a key turning point in the first week of Dakar Rally 2026. Those who get through the day without major issues can head toward Ha’il with confidence. At the same time, fatigue or mechanical issues can take a heavy toll here.
