Dakar Rally 2026 – Stage 5
Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing’s Luciano Benavides delivered a standout journey aboard his KTM 450 RALLY to win stage 5 of the 2026 Dakar Rally. Daniel Sanders positioned third, slightly below six minutes again, to regain the general rally lead. Edgar Canet’s problem was halted halfway by means of the stage when harm to his rear mousse pressured him to cease for repairs. Though the Spaniard misplaced appreciable time, he made it to the top of the particular and accomplished the stage.
Stage 5 introduced the marathon stage to an in depth as riders set off from the makeshift campsite and headed towards Ha’il, following an evening spent with out outdoors help. With rivals required to handle their very own upkeep within the spartan bivouac, the day positioned renewed emphasis on reliability and bodily endurance. The bikes coated a complete distance of 414 kilometers, together with 356 kilometers raced towards the clock, on a route the place correct navigation proved essential all through.
Pushing laborious proper from the beginning, Benavides instantly started to make up floor on the six riders forward of him early within the stage. A crash early on couldn’t sluggish the Argentine’s progress and by kilometer 240, he moved into the lead of the stage. Navigating effectively and sustaining a powerful tempo whereas conserving his machine, Luciano claimed his first stage win of the 2026 Dakar and the sixth of his profession. By clawing again shut to 6 minutes on the rally chief, Benavides now lies third general within the provisional standings.
Luciano Benavides: “The tempo was extraordinarily excessive all day and I felt sturdy from the beginning. I had a small navigation mistake early on, however I stayed calm and centered on protecting an excellent rhythm. I then had a giant high-speed crash, however fortunately nothing was broken and I used to be capable of get again on the bike and proceed with out shedding confidence. From that second on, I simply dedicated to pushing and driving my very own race, managing the tires and staying constant proper to the end. Tire administration was particularly vital as we speak, and I’m actually pleased with how I dealt with it. Successful the stage after every thing it took to be right here may be very particular for me and provides me an enormous increase of confidence and motivation for the times to return.”
Managing a tough second day of the marathon stage, Sanders delivered a managed and clever journey to safe third place on stage 5. Conscious of accelerating harm to his tires after the opening kilometers, the Australian adjusted his velocity to guard each the bike and himself over the demanding particular. Adapting his tempo by means of the center part of the stage, Sanders restricted his time loss to the entrance runners, regaining the general rally lead because the Dakar reached its sixth consecutive day of competitors.
Daniel Sanders: “It was a really totally different marathon stage to what we’ve seen earlier than, and bike and tire administration had been key. I used to be capable of make a while early on yesterday, however after checking the tires on the first refuel I knew they may turn into a problem, so we needed to handle them fastidiously. This morning the harm was getting worse, so the precedence was to not push too laborious and danger ending the race. I backed it off by means of the center part and centered on attending to the end, which was the proper name. I’m glad to have restricted the time misplaced and managed the scenario effectively. We’re practically on the midway level now, however the rally is way from over. Tomorrow will probably be vital to evaluate the place we stand, and there’s nonetheless plenty of racing to return.”
It was a day of contrasting fortunes for Canet on stage 5. After finishing the primary half of the marathon stage in eighth place, the Spaniard had a really perfect alternative to make up time and instantly moved into the lead from the primary checkpoint. His progress was halted at round kilometer 240 when harm to his rear mousse pressured him to cease and make repairs. Battling on regardless of the setback, the 20-year-old reached the end to finish the stage, although he misplaced a big period of time.
Edgar Canet: “Stage 5 was a lot more durable than we anticipated, however that’s Dakar. A very powerful factor for me was merely to succeed in the end, whatever the time loss. The primary 200 kilometers felt unimaginable – I used to be actually in sync with the bike, the navigation, and the velocity, most likely the most effective feeling I’ve ever had on the bike. After hitting a rock and damaging the rear wheel, the precedence utterly modified and the remainder of the stage was about surviving and bringing the bike again to the bivouac, which I managed to do, even when it was at nighttime. In fact I misplaced plenty of time, however that is all a part of the training course of. It’s solely my second Dakar, and for me, each kilometer is efficacious expertise. I’m already centered on tomorrow and able to transfer on and continue learning.”
Tomorrow’s stage six will take riders from Ha’il to Riyadh and marks the longest day of the 2026 Dakar Rally. After an early begin, the route guarantees rewards for individuals who thrive within the dunes, with the particular working largely by means of the sand-heavy Qassim area. In complete, riders will cowl an enormous 920 kilometers, together with 331 kilometers towards the clock, earlier than a protracted liaison leads them to the capital metropolis for the rally’s relaxation day.
Provisional Outcomes – 2026 Dakar Rally, Stage 5
1. Luciano Benavides (ARG), KTM, 4:05:16
2. Ignacio Cornejo (CHI), Hero, 4:09:07 +3:51
3. Daniel Sanders (AUS), KTM, 4:11:06 +5:50
4. Bradley Cox (RSA), Sherco, 4:12:38 +7:22
5. Ricky Brabec (USA), Honda, 4:14:32 +9:16
Different KTM
95. Edgar Canet (ESP), KTM, 8:41:31 +4:36:15
Provisional Standings – 2026 Dakar Rally (after 5 of 13 phases)
1. Daniel Sanders (AUS), KTM, 20:58:10
2. Ricky Brabec (USA), Honda, 21:00:12 +2:02
3. Luciano Benavides (ARG), KTM, 21:04:05 +5:55
4. Tosha Schareina (ESP), Honda, 21:10:09 +11:59
5. Ignacio Cornejo (CHI), Hero, 21:16:48 +18:38
Different KTM
31. Edgar Canet (ESP), KTM, 25:38:33 +4:40:23
Click on right here to obtain hi-res pictures from the 2026 Dakar Rally.
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