Stage 4 of the 2026 Dakar Rally in the bikes category, the opening day of the marathon stage, was all about Honda. Monster Energy Honda HRC dominated the loop around AlUla by securing all three podium spots and delivered a clear blow to KTM. Tosha Schareina claimed his second consecutive stage win and with it the overall lead, while teammate Ricky Brabec finished right behind him, down to the second.
Full Honda podium sweep
Schareina was the fastest in the special and kept the tension high until the finish. Ricky Brabec took second, just 6 seconds behind, and Skyler Howes completed Honda’s celebration with a 10-second gap. Ross Branch was the only non-Honda rider able to break into the top ranks, finishing fourth at 16 seconds. Daniel Sanders, who started the day as the overall leader and managed to claw back some time in the final stretch, ended the day in fifth, 2 minutes and 37 seconds behind. Ignacio Cornejo and Luciano Benavides followed closely, rounding out the top seven.
Honda’s performance is significant: this marks the first full podium sweep in the bikes category for the 2026 edition. It also means that Spanish riders have already taken four stage wins this year – two by Edgar Canet in the prologue and stage one, and two by Schareina in stages three and four. That many Spanish victories had not been recorded since 2017.
Schareina and Brabec tied
In the general classification, it could not be tighter. Schareina is now the new leader, but shares the exact same total time as Brabec. The rules are clear: if the times are identical, the rider who was fastest in the most recent stage takes the top spot. As such, Schareina is officially leading. Daniel Sanders drops to third, 1 minute and 24 seconds behind. KTM riders Edgar Canet and Luciano Benavides follow in fourth and fifth, at 11 minutes 22 seconds and 13 minutes 9 seconds respectively.
For KTM, the message is clear. After setting the pace in the opening three days, there were moments during stage four when none of the Austrian bikes were even in the top five. Canet had a tougher day and lost more time than in previous stages.
Shake-up in Rally2
Stage 4 turned the entire Rally2 standings on its head. Michael Docherty, the dominant leader until today, was forced to retire due to a broken wheel around kilometer 199. Martim Ventura also suffered serious technical problems and lost over an hour, although he did manage to continue.
The big winner was Neels Theric. The Frenchman put in a strong ride and increasingly cemented his lead as the stage progressed. At the final checkpoint, he held a commanding margin and looked well on his way to delivering Kove’s first-ever Dakar stage win in Rally2. Behind him, Toni Mulec and Preston Campbell were the main challengers, but Theric remained firmly in control.
The category also saw a heavy crash from Mathieu Dovèze, who was unable to continue. Tobias Ebster, one of the pre-race favourites, had already been ruled out earlier in the rally due to a hand injury and is no longer in contention for the win.
Ian Olthof had a tough day yesterday. Around kilometer 150, he crashed hard and sustained a shoulder injury. Despite the impact, he managed to finish the stage and saw the team physio at the bivouac. He’s certainly made up for it today, starting 69th and finishing 40th at the marathon bivouac.
Marathon stage increases the stakes
Being a marathon stage, it is not just about speed but also about preserving equipment. With no evening service allowed, even the smallest damage can turn into a major problem the next day. This was immediately evident in Rally2, but the same risks apply to the RallyGP frontrunners. A single mistake or mechanical issue could shake up the leaderboard tomorrow.
After four stages, the picture is clear: Honda has launched a full-scale attack and now sits on top with two riders tied in time. KTM still has Sanders in the top three, but their advantage has vanished. The second part of the marathon stage will be a true test of strategy, mechanical care, and staying calm under pressure.
Results stage 4
1. Tosha Schareina 04:31:56
2. Ricky Brabec +00:00:06
3. Skyler Howes +00:00:10
40. Ian Olthof +01:29:56
