Stage 9 of the Dakar Rally 2026 marks the beginning of the second marathon stage and takes competitors from Wadi Ad Dawasir to the second marathon bivouac in Bisha. After several grueling stages in the second week, the focus shifts once again to self-reliance and vehicle management. This stage combines long distances with highly varied terrain and includes a mandatory pit stop, further increasing the strategic complexity.
The total distance of Stage 9 is 532 kilometers. Of this, 410 kilometers is special stage for FIA competitors and 418 kilometers for the FIM categories. The day starts with a 119-kilometer liaison from the bivouac in Wadi Ad Dawasir. After the special stage, only a short liaison remains toward the marathon bivouac, where participants will spend the night without their service teams.
Start times and day schedule
The bikes leave the bivouac first at 05:55. Cars and trucks follow from 06:25 onwards. The special stage starts at 07:40 for the bike category and at 08:10 for the FIA vehicles. Due to the length of the stage and the marathon conditions, the final competitors are expected to arrive at the bivouac in Bisha late in the evening.
Stage characteristics and specific features
Stage 9 leads the competitors through a distinctly sandy landscape. Sand appears early in the stage and returns in various forms, with soft sections at the start and heavier dunes toward the end. The route for the bikes is initially faster, featuring a few canyons before the pace picks up after the neutralization zone on open and fast sections. For cars and trucks, the route is more technical, with more canyon crossings, rocky tracks, and a spectacular dune area around the midpoint of the stage.
At the center of the stage, FIA competitors face a mandatory pit stop. This stop allows for refueling and causes a brief interruption in racing. Immediately after the pit stop, a neutralized section follows, after which the pace can be increased again. The final part of the stage is dominated by dunes and fast off-piste segments leading up to the finish at the marathon bivouac. Navigation remains critical, especially in the sandy zones where tracks quickly disappear.
Stage openers
In the bike category, Luciano Benavides will be the first rider to open the stage. He is followed by Daniel Sanders and Ricky Brabec. Tosha Schareina, Adrien Van Beveren and Skyler Howes will also start early, facing the challenging task of creating the tracks in a stage where sand and navigation play a major role.
In the car category, Saood Variawa will open the stage in his Toyota Hilux. Behind him are Henk Lategan, Mattias Ekström and Seth Quintero. Big names such as Nasser Al Attiyah, Carlos Sainz, Guillaume de Mévius and Sébastien Loeb follow shortly after, making the early phase of this marathon stage particularly exciting.
The start of a decisive marathon
Stage 9 forms the first half of the second marathon stage of Dakar Rally 2026. After finishing the stage, competitors face another night at the marathon bivouac, without assistance from their service teams. Mutual support between competitors is allowed, but all maintenance and repairs must be performed independently.
