- KTM takes the top two spots in the stage 7 rankings
- Daniel Sanders extends his overall lead to 4:25 minutes
- Luciano Benavides moves up to within 4:40 minutes of the lead
After a rest day in Riyadh, the riders set off on one of the longest stages of this year’s rally. The 877-kilometer route from Riyadh to Wadi ad Dawasir not only demanded everything from the riders physically, but also once again brought the tactical component of the Dakar to the fore.
Fast stage with tactical depth
The 459-kilometer special stage was characterized by fast tracks, open valleys, and long dune passages. In terms of driving, the stage was considered relatively smooth, but the bonus system for leading the race once again proved to be the decisive factor. Those who started early risked losing time despite bonus seconds.
Ricky Brabec opened the route, closely followed by Tosha Schareina and overall leader Daniel Sanders. After just a few kilometers, it became clear that the time credits could only partially compensate for the disadvantage of navigation. Sanders remained within striking distance, while further back, a KTM rider set the pace.
Benavides dominates and closes in
Luciano Benavides was once again in strong form on stage 7. The Argentinean took the lead early on in the time table and continuously extended his lead. After 4:00:56 hours, his second stage victory in the 2026 Dakar was confirmed.
The KTM rider had already shown in the first half of the race that he was increasingly making up for lost training time after his injury last year. After seven of 13 stages, Luciano Benavides is now only 4:40 minutes behind the overall leader and just 15 seconds behind second place.
“Overall, the first week was really, really good for me. It’s the first time I’ve ever been on the podium after the first week of the Dakar, which is something unusual for me.”
Sanders vs. Brabec: Strategy instead of attack
Although Daniel Sanders only finished fourth in the stage, the day once again belonged to the Australian. His lead over Ricky Brabec grew from 45 seconds to 4:25 minutes. An early navigation error cost Sanders two to three minutes, but as the stage progressed, he benefited from the momentum at the front.
Sanders suspected that the Honda camp deliberately slowed down to secure a better starting position for stage 8. After the second refueling stop, the KTM rider significantly increased his pace to prevent his competitors from gaining any further bonus seconds.
“I made one mistake at the start and lost two or three minutes, which was unfortunate.”
Brabec himself neither explicitly confirmed nor contradicted this interpretation. The American pointed to the long and fast stage and the strategically more favorable starting position for the coming day.
Honda struggles, KTM benefits
Behind the leading trio, the gap was growing. Tosha Schareina lost more time to the leaders and is now more than 15 minutes behind. Adrien van Beveren made a comeback with third place in the stage, but remains out of contention for victory in the overall standings, trailing by almost 56 minutes.
Skyler Howes rode consistently again and improved to fifth place in the overall standings. Overall, it became clear that KTM is currently better at combining speed, bonus strategy, and consistency than Honda.
Looking ahead: longest special stage awaits
Stage 8 will be the longest special stage of the 2026 Dakar Rally. A 481-kilometer race against the clock awaits around Wadi ad Dawasir. Starting positions could once again play a key role, especially for Brabec and Sharyna, who will be starting further back in the race.
At the halfway point of the rally, one thing is clear: the battle for overall victory is increasingly turning into a tactical duel between KTM and Honda, with Luciano Benavides as a serious third contender in the title race.
