The first stage of the 2026 Dakar Rally in the bike category immediately sparked debate. Ross Branch crossed the finish line with the fastest time and appeared to have secured his first stage victory of the edition, but his result is currently provisional. In the RallyGP class, Canet, Sanders, and Brabec each took turns leading the charge before Branch broke away from the pack midway through the special and was the first to finish.
Update: Canet wins the stage after Branch receives a time penalty
Branch has been given a 6-minute time penalty for speeding. As a result, the Hero rider drops to seventh position. Canet wins for the second day in a row. The young KTM rider and last year’s Rally 2 winner has started this Dakar Rally very strongly.
Branch under pressure despite strong ride
Branch delivered an especially strong performance during the stage. From the middle section onward, he took the virtual lead and gradually extended it. At the final waypoint, he still held a lead of over a minute on Edgar Canet. Daniel Sanders and Ricky Brabec also lost ground, while Tosha Schareina followed further behind. Branch kept the pace high all the way to the finish and provisionally recorded the fastest time.
However, the rider from Botswana is under investigation for a possible speed limit violation, which could result in a time penalty of up to six minutes. Only after the data is reviewed in the bivouac will the final outcome be confirmed. The potential penalty casts a shadow over his performance. If the penalty is imposed, the stage win could still go to one of his closest rivals.
Canet and Sanders back at the front
Edgar Canet once again showed excellent form. The young Spaniard, who already won the prologue, steadily moved up during the stage and provisionally finished second, keeping him in a strong position in the standings. Daniel Sanders rode a controlled but fast race, ending the day in third. The time gaps at the front are small, highlighting how closely matched the RallyGP field is.
Ricky Brabec just missed the podium but remains consistent, while Tosha Schareina once again proved he is a steady presence at the front.
Docherty takes another Rally2 stage win
In Rally2, Michael Docherty claimed another stage victory. The South African rider from the BAS World KTM Team repeated his success from the previous day, once again keeping Honda from securing its first stage win in this class. With a strong and consistent ride, he built a lead of 1 minute and 28 seconds over Martim Ventura, with Konrad Dabrowski finishing 3 minutes and 49 seconds behind.
These same three riders now also form the top three in the overall Rally2 standings. Ventura confirmed his potential with another second-place finish in his first Dakar, while Docherty firmly established himself as the man to beat in the class.
Misfortune for Theric and mixed results elsewhere
Neels Theric had a disastrous start to his Dakar. Technical issues already cost him time in the prologue, and he began the first stage from the back of the field, battling through dust and traffic. His podium hopes in Rally2 have all but vanished, although he stated he aims to attack and provide spectacle in the coming days.
Mason Klein also had a difficult day, making a brief stop along the way and losing time. The full extent of the damage to his position will become clear in the updated standings.
High pace, no room to breathe
The stage was marked by high speeds, long open sections, and tactical play around time bonuses awarded to riders opening the course. Several front-runners benefited from these bonuses, which kept the gaps artificially small and heightened the suspense.
With Branch’s possible penalty still hanging in the air, the final result remains uncertain. One thing is clear after this first stage: Dakar 2026 in the bike category has started at full intensity, and the battle for stage wins and the overall lead promises to be fiercely competitive.
Olthof comes in 44th
Dutchman Ian Olthof has completed his first official Dakar stage. He started 57th on his Honda and rode a consistent stage. He spent the day around 50th place and ultimately finished 44th, 55:47 behind Canet.
Results stage 1
1. Edgar Canet 03:16:11
2. Daniel Sanders +00:01:02
3. Ricky Brabec +00:01:32
44. Ian Olthof +00:03:02
