Stage 9 of the Africa Eco Race 2026, between Aït Aidzidine and Ouad Naga, turned out to be another brutal showdown. The 490-kilometer stage, featuring 426 kilometers of timed special, demanded pace, rhythm, and flawless riding. In the soft sand, through successive dune sections and endless open plains, everything revolved around consistency. One lapse in focus could prove extremely costly.
The route led competitors through breathtaking red and white dunes, interspersed with savannah-like plains. The final section, with flowing tracks across open landscapes, made a deep impression on many riders. But despite the beauty of the terrain, it was another day in which the rally revealed its unforgiving nature.
Lepan claims victory, Marini drops back
Jean-Loup Lepan delivered an almost flawless performance. In 4 hours, 16 minutes and 23 seconds, he outpaced everyone to secure his first stage win of this edition. The ever-consistent Kevin Gallas finished second, a little over six minutes behind. Antonio Maio completed the podium, trailing by twelve minutes.
The biggest blow struck Thomas Marini. The overall leader got badly stuck in the dunes and was forced to abandon the special stage. As a result, he lost his lead and dropped to sixteenth in the general standings, now trailing the new leader by more than six hours.
Thanks to his victory, Jean-Loup Lepan now leads the bike category, holding an advantage of nearly nineteen minutes over Kevin Gallas. Gautier Paulin is currently third, thirty-two minutes behind. The leaderboard has been completely reshuffled.
For the Dutch riders, the struggle is intensifying. They are pushing through on sheer determination, facing painful days on the road to Dakar.
Femont takes command, Van Pollaert loses big time
Christian Femont emerged as the strongest in the car category. He finished the stage in 4 hours and 27 minutes, with Andrea Schiumarini trailing by six minutes. Martijn van den Broek delivered an outstanding drive and claimed third overall, finishing eight and a half minutes behind the SSV front-runners.
For Pol Van Pollaert, however, the day turned into a nightmare. First, he got stuck in the sand, losing precious time. Then came mechanical issues: first a hydraulic failure, then the power steering gave out. He eventually crossed the line in 26th place, over two and a half hours behind the winner.
This result caused a major shake-up in the standings. Christian Femont now leads, with David Gerard in second and Vincent Vroninks in third. Van Pollaert drops to fourth, nearly two hours behind the leader.
Van den Broek wins the day, Derikx loses ground
Martijn van den Broek continues to impress. He won the stage in 4 hours and 36 minutes, strengthening his lead in the SSV category. Martin Benko came in five minutes later, with Jérôme Cambier finishing third, ten minutes off the winning time.
The stage was fast and demanding, once again featuring treacherously soft dunes. Van den Broek stayed focused and error-free. In the overall standings, he now leads Benko by 44 minutes. Sander Derikx dropped to third after a rough patch in the dunes, suffering two flat tires and a minor impact with a small tree. While the damage was limited, the time loss was not.
Today was also marked by growing frustrations among competitors. Yesterday, Lafay dropped out after a stone kicked up by a buggy punctured his radiator. Today, several Dutch teams reported similar incidents, while motorbike riders complained about interference from SSVs.
Zuurmond dominates, Müller team retires via asphalt
Gerrit Zuurmond remains untouchable in the truck category. He won yet again, clocking 5 hours and 41 minutes. Mike Panhuijzen followed more than three hours behind, with Franck Coquide finishing third.
Martin Roeterdink, who held second in the standings, suffered mechanical failure after a hard landing in the dunes. His team opted to return to the bivouac via the asphalt, which meant they were not classified for the stage. A costly decision that caused a major shake-up in the leaderboard.
Zuurmond now leads with a margin of more than 33 hours. Panhuijzen is second at 41 hours behind, while Roeterdink drops far down the order. Truck Team Müller also chose to skip the special and drive directly to the bivouac.
Stage 9 once again confirmed the ruthless nature of the Africa Eco Race. Technical issues, navigation challenges, and endurance are taking their toll. Those who stay calm and composed are rewarded. One mistake, however, and the consequences are immediate. Across all categories, the standings have been turned upside down, and the battle toward Lac Rose is more intense than ever.
