The ninth stage of the Dakar Rally 2026 in the truck category formed the first part of the second marathon stage and once again demanded a combination of speed, overview, and mechanical awareness. Over the 410-kilometer special toward the marathon bivouac, the stage win went to Ales Loprais. The Czech driver delivered a consistent performance and narrowly kept Vaidotas Zala behind him. Mitchel van den Brink completed the podium and in doing so maintained his comfortable lead in the overall standings.
Van den Brink started the stage convincingly once again, setting the pace early and even being the fastest truck in the field at the first time check. As the stage progressed, the pace was adjusted slightly, partly with the marathon nature of the stage in mind and the need to preserve the equipment that comes with it.
Technical issues, but no major damage
Midway through the stage, around the mandatory pit stop, the Eurol Rally Sport Iveco encountered a broken steering damper. In addition, the crew briefly had to search for a waypoint. This cost time, but did not lead to major problems or dangerous situations. In the second half of the stage, Van den Brink lost some time to Loprais and Zala, but managed to limit the damage to just over five minutes. In the bigger picture, his leading position remained largely unchanged.
For Loprais, the attack came at exactly the right moment. In the second part of the special he took the initiative and maintained that pace all the way to the finish. Zala remained in pursuit but was unable to close the gap. Both made progress in the overall classification, although the margin to the leader remains significant.
Macik loses ground in the title fight
The biggest disappointment of the day was for Martin Macik. The defending champion struggled with serious mechanical problems and was forced to stop several times for repairs. As a result, the time loss was substantial and he lost his third place in the overall standings. With this setback, his chances of another overall victory appear almost gone.
Strong Dutch presence
Behind the top three, there were once again strong performances from the Dutch competitors. Kay Huzink drove a controlled stage and finished just outside the podium positions. Gert Huzink followed with another solid result. Richard de Groot brought the Firemen Rally Team truck to the bivouac without significant issues and finished inside the subtop. Martin van den Brink drove a measured stage and stayed close to the leading group, once again confirming his supporting role within Eurol Rally Sport.
Night at the marathon bivouac
After the finish, the real marathon challenge began. In the bivouac deep in the desert, no service is available and contact with the outside world is cut off. The drivers are completely on their own and must prepare their trucks themselves for the next day. Mutual assistance between teams is allowed, which for Eurol Rally Sport means the steering damper can be replaced jointly upon arrival. What will be possible for Macik remains to be seen, although fortunately there are enough trucks from his side present.
Looking ahead to stage ten
Stage ten is the second and final part of this marathon and takes the caravan back toward the regular bivouac and the service crews after a special of approximately 420 kilometers. Until then, caution remains the key word. With a lead of more than 37 minutes, Van den Brink has room to drive in a controlled manner, but the Dakar is known for its unpredictability. Only upon returning to the service bivouac will it become clear who has truly come through this marathon unscathed.
