Stage two of the 2026 Dakar Rally brought major changes to the standings in the bike category. On the fast route from Yanbu to AlUla, Daniel Sanders struck hard. The reigning Dakar champion claimed his first stage win of the edition and took over the overall lead. The Australian is once again positioning himself as the man to beat.
Double strike for Sanders
Daniel Sanders delivered a controlled yet highly effective performance. By setting the pace from the start and making full use of the time bonuses as the stage opener, he steered his KTM to the fastest time. Edgar Canet completed a strong day for KTM with second place, 1 minute and 35 seconds behind. Ricky Brabec was the fastest Honda rider in third at 1 minute and 46 seconds, just ahead of teammate Tosha Schareina, who dropped 3 minutes and 34 seconds.
The result also means Sanders takes over the lead in the general classification. He now holds a 30-second advantage over Canet, with Brabec trailing by 2 minutes and 18 seconds. Schareina is already over 4 minutes behind, while Ross Branch, who was hit with a time penalty in stage one, now sits nearly 8 minutes back. Luciano Benavides is sixth and has already lost more than 10 minutes.
It marks the first time since the prologue of the 2021 Dakar that the defending champion takes the overall lead this early in the rally.
Shifting battle on the road
The stage saw a dynamic fight. Canet opened the stage and initially managed to limit his losses thanks to bonus time, until Sanders caught up and started collecting bonuses himself. Honda appeared strong at certain waypoints but ultimately could not match KTM’s combination of pace and bonus strategy.
Adrien Van Beveren lost more time and remained out of touch with the front-runners. Ignacio Cornejo also had a difficult day and dropped further down the standings. Mason Klein, who had a breakthrough moment here in 2023, was unable to repeat that performance this time.
Ventura takes Rally2 win, Docherty retains lead
Rally2 was marked by a fierce head-to-head battle. Martim Ventura and Michael Docherty swapped the lead multiple times during the special. In the end, Ventura came out on top to claim his first-ever Dakar stage win in Rally2. The Portuguese rider held a 1-minute and 55-second margin over Docherty, with Konrad Dabrowski in third.
Despite finishing second, Docherty retains the overall lead in the Rally2 classification. His advantage over Ventura now stands at just over two minutes, with Dabrowski holding a solid third. Preston Campbell and Tobias Ebster were locked in a close duel for the final podium spot, with the American currently having the upper hand.
Ian Olthof had a solid second stage in his first Dakar Rally. The Dutchman, riding the HT Rally Raid Honda, finished 53rd overall and 40th in the Rally 2 category. Olthof himself spoke of a tough but rewarding day afterward. “It was a long special. Really beautiful, though, with fast pistes and slow trial sections. Even a few enduro climbs,” he said. “My speed dropped in the last hundred kilometers. I really need to get used to those long stages; I don’t think I’ve been riding rallies long enough for that. Another day ticked off, let’s see tomorrow.”
Original by Motul and withdrawals
In the Original by Motul category, Emanuel Gyenes continued to live up to his reputation as a consistent force. The Romanian extended his lead and is riding steadily toward AlUla. Belgian rider Jérôme Martiny showed strong form again and holds a podium position among the unassisted competitors.
Less fortunate was Harith Noah, who was unable to start due to injury. James Hillier also had to leave the rally after a heavy crash in stage one.
Standings begin to take shape
After two stages, the bike category in Dakar is starting to take form. Sanders is in control, KTM remains undefeated, and Honda is on the chase. In Rally2, the battle is wide open with Ventura and Docherty pushing each other to the limit. With many tough stages ahead in the heart of Saudi Arabia, one thing is certain: this race is far from decided.
Results stage 2
1. Daniels Sanders 04:13:37
2. Edgar Canet +00:01:35
3. Ricky Brabec +00:01:46
53. Ian Oltholf +01:17:17
