- Ricky Brabec wins stage 12 and takes the overall lead
- Luciano Benavides remains within striking distance, trailing by 3:20 minutes
- Decision to be made on the short final stage around Yanbu
After almost two weeks of rally marathon, the penultimate stage of the 2026 Dakar Rally became a key moment. On the 311-kilometer special stage between Al Henakiyah and Yanbu, strategic calculation met sporting toughness. The route demanded everything from the remaining riders with fast passages, stony river beds, challenging navigation, and soft dunes.
Brabec strikes back and takes the lead
Ricky Brabec went into stage 12 with a clear plan. After deliberately riding defensively the day before, the Honda rider started several minutes behind his direct rival Luciano Benavides. The aim was to benefit from a clear view and possible time credits.
A close duel developed early on. While Benavides initially set the pace, Brabec increasingly found his rhythm. Kilometer by kilometer, he reduced the gap, overtook riders who had started ahead of him, and collected valuable bonus seconds. By the middle of the race, the tide had turned. Brabec controlled the action and focused on minimizing risks in the second half of the stage.
At the finish line, Brabec secured his second stage victory in this Dakar. With a lead of 3:43 minutes over Benavides, he also took the overall lead and now goes into the final day with a 3:20 minute advantage.
Benavides remains combative despite setback
Luciano Benavides started the stage in fourth place and knew the importance of this day. The KTM rider overtook Edgar Canet early on and opened up the track himself from around kilometer 150. This section proved to be particularly challenging.
Dust, difficult navigation, lots of rocks, and a few soft dunes cost him time. Despite his high level of commitment, Benavides was unable to fully counter his rival’s attack. Nevertheless, he was satisfied with his performance at the finish line and made it clear that the title fight is not yet decided. The hope for overall victory will remain until the last kilometer of the rally.
Honda double podium and stable pursuers
Behind the two title contenders, Tosha Schareina drove a strong stage. The Spaniard completed the day’s podium and consolidated third place in the overall standings. After earlier setbacks in the rally, this podium position seems unlikely to be threatened.
Adrien Van Beveren followed in fourth place. The Frenchman struggled with navigation again, but found a solid rhythm after a few minor mistakes. Skyler Howes had a difficult day as the opening rider and also had to deal with technical problems, but managed to work his way up to fourth place in the overall standings.
Sanders battles to the finish despite injury
Daniel Sanders’ performance was particularly remarkable. The reigning World Rally Champion started the stage injured and crashed slightly during the day. Nevertheless, he brought his KTM to the finish line with great determination and finished 15th. Although he dropped to fifth place in the overall standings, he remains part of the close-knit top group.
A look at the final stage around Yanbu
The decision will now be made on the thirteenth stage. A comparatively short circuit of just over 100 kilometers awaits around Yanbu. Despite the manageable distance, the final stage is traditionally considered treacherous. Small mistakes can have a big impact, especially in the close duel between Honda and KTM.
With his time cushion, Brabec has the better starting position, but Benavides has already proven several times that he can attack even under pressure. The 2026 Dakar Rally is thus heading for an exciting finale.
