Schareina and Goczal win the marathon-refuge stage
Dakar 2026 |
Stage 9 |
WADI AD DAWASIR
> BIVOUAC REFUGE
January 13
th
2026
- 15:15
[GMT + 3]
BIKES | SCHAREINA: OH, WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN…
- The competitors do not approach the marathon-refuge stages like the others and the one that set out this morning from Wadi ad Dawasir included navigational difficulties that soon changed the face of the special for the main protagonists over the last days. Benavides’ wonderful adventure is perhaps not over but his stay at the top of the overall rankings has been interrupted at the very least. The major blow today was struck by Tosha Schareina, who was the smartest at the start of the special in choosing the right canyon at a point where his rivals selected the wrong option, and was especially the quickest at the very end of the stage, which he completed with the best time: 6’24’’ quicker than Daniel Sanders, and 6’22’’ in front of his Honda team-mate Ricky Brabec.
- The Spanish rider, who is still fourth in the overall rankings but with a gap reduced to 15 minutes form the top, can continue to kick himself over the ten-minute penalty he received on the first marathon stage, without which he would be locked in the duel with Daniel Sanders that everyone was expecting. The defending champion is the main beneficiary of the day, as the confusion shared with his teammate Luciano Benavides meant he loses a little less time.
- The Australian KTM rider has, as a result, regained the lead in the overall rankings, where he now has a 6'24’’ advantage over his American rival Ricky Brabec. However, this margin is not particularly comfortable ahead of the second leg of the marathon-refuge stage, on which the Honda rider will start three minutes behind him and where the route including challenging dunes may hold some surprises in store.
CARS: IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR FOR THE GOCZALS
- Though rally aficionados have become accustomed to their spectacular performances, today’s accomplishment stands out as the best of their careers on the Dakar. Eryk Goczal impressed on his debut in 2023, winning four stages and the SSV category at the tender age of 18 years old. This year, he secured his first stage victory on his debut in the Ultimate class. The young Polish man is never short of predictions regarding his family's destiny in the Dakar rankings. Today, his father was not there to accompany him but his uncle Michal clocked the second fastest time on the special.
- The overall rankings were completely shaken up on completion of stage 9, with the resulting gaps not amounting to much at all. Nani Roma returned to the top spot, which he had not held since his triumph in 2014. However, a battle of nerves is brewing in the minds of the three most experienced drivers in the elite group. Three former winners make up the podium, as the Catalan prepares to take on his team-mate from Madrid Carlos Sainz, who is 57 seconds behind him, in a ‘Clasico’.
- Also, with just four stages to go, it is definitely not inconceivable for Nasser Al Attiyah, dethroned from the top of the pile but only 1’10’’ behind the new leader, to make a comeback in his Dacia Sandrider tomorrow.
- The race hierarchy remains as open as ever so close to the rally’s finale. However, while they are not completely out of the running, two of the day’s losers can be clearly identified. Henk Lategan owes his survival in the top four (occupying 4th place, 6'13’’ behind) to the pit stop that was set up after 183 km, where he was able to have his power steering repaired, but this 14-minute stop cost him his place on the provisional podium. The fall from grace was even more damaging for Mattias Ekstrom, who left Wadi in 2nd place in the overall rankings but will sleep in his tent tonight in 5th place, 11'19’’ behind the new leader after a major navigation error.
