Results of stage 9

Dakar 2025 | Stage 9 | RIYADH > HARADH
January 14 ^th 2025 - 13:29 [GMT + 3]

• Great riders are recognized by their ability to navigate a stage alone and thus win two consecutive stages. That is what Luciano Benavides managed to do, as he improved his roll of honour with the 5th stage victory of his career on the Dakar and moved up to 4th place in the general rankings for his best ever position.
• The Argentinean beat Adrien Van Beveren by 1’54’’ over the route of the day’s special. It was also a good day for the Frenchman as he closed in on his Spanish team-mate Tosha Schareina, who was off the pace due to a fall at the beginning of the special. The battle for second place is occurring some way behind race leader Daniel Sanders, who will tackle the decisive stage 10 with a lead of 14’45’’ and from 3rd position in the starting order.
• “There is no time left to gain time” is what Nasser Al Attiyah must have said to himself on waking in Riyadh and the Qatari driver went on all-out attack on the day’s stage. At the finishing line, he produced the best time, though it was meagre pickings, even if the result means he is now only 31’’ from the third step on the provisional podium occupied by Mattias Ekstrom.
• Yazeed Al Rajhi, however, has taken command of the race, benefitting from Henk Lategan’s navigation mistakes and punctures. The Saudi driver will enter the Empty Quarter tomorrow with a lead of 7’09’’ over his South African team-mate and 24’50’’ over the Swede’s Ford Raptor.

RALLY GP | Benavides wins like in 2023!

A stage 9 between Riyadh and Haradh already took place in 2023 and was won by Luciano Benavides. Two years later, the Argentinean has once again tasted success at the same destination! He has finished the stage 1’54’’ ahead of Adrien Van Beveren after having opened the special from start to finish and collecting bonuses of 4’51’’, which was decisive for victory. Daniel Sanders, who led the stage for a long time, has finished 3rd, 3’04’’ behind, followed by Ricky Brabec in 4th, 3’39’’ back, Skyler Howes in 5th, 4’40’’ down, Ignacio Cornejo in 6th, 4’55’’ behind and Tosha Schareina in 7th, 6’46’’ back.

ULTIMATE | Al Attiyah wins stage 9

Guillaume de Mévius was in the reckoning for the stage win but completed the special 2’47’’ behind Nasser Al Attiyah who has obtained is first stage success on the Dakar behind the wheel of a Dacia Sandrider. With this victory, the Qatari has enjoyed a good day, moving to within 31’’ of the third step on the overall provisiona podium occupied by Mattias Ekstrom.

RALLY 2 | Dovèze performing well behind Canet

Edgar Canet is the provisional winner of the stage in the Rally 2 class while awaiting the times for Tobias Ebster and Romain Dumontier, who stopped to help Aaron Mare and will be handed back the time lost. The Spaniard beat Mathieu Dovèze by 1’40’’, with the Frenchman back at the forefront after having exited the race on stage 3 due to mechanical problems before continuing in the Dakar Experience format. As a result, he cannot be counted in the general rankings but is hoping to take advantage of the specials to distinguish himself, as he has done today!

CHALLENGER I Zille takes his second stage win

David Zille has regained the upper hand over Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari to gain his 2nd stage victory in the Challenger class, by only 11’’ over his Qatari rival. Khalifa Al Attiyah, the brother of Nasser, who won the stage in the Ultimate class, has achieved the third best time, 2’01’’ behind the winner. Nicolas Cavigliasso has finished in 4th place to further comfort his lead in the general rankings over Gonçalo Guerreiro (who trails by 27’58’’). Paul Spierings, who has finished more than half an hour behind the winner, is still in third place overall, but is more than one hour behind his Argentinean rival.