Red Bull KTM Factory Racing have made an exceptional start to the 2026 Dakar Rally with Edgar Canet and Daniel Sanders delivering a one-two result on stage one. Luciano Benavides also got his race off to a solid start, placing fifth on his KTM 450 RALLY.
Momentum built immediately for the team on the prologue, as Canet put in a flat-out ride to claim victory in the event’s opening timed test. The Spaniard attacked the short stage with skill and intensity to become the youngest stage winner in the bike class ever and secure first choice of start position for stage one. Continuing KTM’s early dominance, Sanders charged to second place, just three seconds behind, locking out a decisive KTM one-two.
Sunday’s stage one delivered a brutal opening challenge, with a 524-kilometer loop around Yanbu, including 305 kilometers raced against the clock. The day began in unforgiving terrain, where narrow passes and jagged rock gardens demanded maximum focus from all riders. Conditions only eased later on as the route opened into sand and small dunes near the finish, ensuring the first full day of racing pushed riders and machines to the limit from the very first kilometer.
Choosing to set off near the back of the lead group courtesy of his prologue victory, Canet immediately focused on chasing down the riders ahead of him. Quickest to the first checkpoint at kilometer 28, Edgar then maintained his place inside the top three through to kilometer 260 where he intensified his pace to move further up the order. Making very few errors, Canet showed incredible maturity on the stage to ultimately take the win by just over one minute ahead of Sanders. The 20-year-old now leads the provisional rally standings and faces the task of opening Monday’s 504-kilometer stage two.
Edgar Canet: “I’m really happy with how the rally has started. Winning the prologue gave me a great feeling straight away and my rhythm was good, I felt confident on the bike and I was able to follow the roadbook with 100% confidence, braking before the dangers and avoiding unnecessary risks while still being fast. Today’s stage was very demanding with a lot of different terrain, from fast sections to slow, rocky areas, but my navigation was strong and the bike felt great again. Apart from a small mistake that cost a few seconds, everything came together nicely, so to take another win and start the rally like this is incredible.”
Sanders followed up his second-place prologue performance with another runner-up result on stage one. Riding in the dust of fellow KTM racer Canet for the entire stage, the reigning Dakar Champion did exactly what was necessary to stay in touch with the Spaniard. For stage two, the situation will be the same, with Sanders chasing down his teammate at the front of the field.
Daniel Sanders: “It was great to get underway and just be back on the start line. The prologue was much faster than expected and not very technical, so it was pretty much full gas the whole way and the times were very close, but it was good to get it done and focus on the stages ahead. Stage one was similar in that sense – very fast and quite straightforward – but the conditions made it tricky, with strong winds, a lot of dust and even a sandstorm at times, which made it hard to stay fully focused. Still, it felt good to get through the first proper day without any issues. I’m looking forward to the stages to come when the terrain gets more rocky, which suits me better.”
Following on from his fourth-place result in the prologue, Benavides was the 13th rider to enter stage one. Not wanting to fall foul of the technical terrain, the Argentine rode a solid but considered special, taking little in the way of risks to post the fifth-fastest time. The result puts Benavides in a strong position for Monday’s stage two, where he will aim to make up time on his rivals over the 400-kilometer timed section.
Luciano Benavides: “It felt really good to get the Dakar underway. There’s always some tension at the start, especially on the prologue, but it was also an important chance to check how my body was feeling. I focused on riding cleanly with a good rhythm and speed, and it was a positive way to begin the rally. Stage one was very fast for an opening day, with some sections that required careful navigation. I made a couple of small mistakes but didn’t lose much time, and in the rockier, more technical areas I chose to be cautious and avoid unnecessary risks. Overall, it was a solid first stage, and I know the pace is there, which gives me confidence moving forward.”
Monday’s stage two of the 2026 Dakar Rally will see the teams leave Yanbu and head inland to AlUla. Totaling 504 kilometers, the stage will include a timed special of 400 kilometers, which promises to challenge riders with a mix of both fast and technical terrain.
Provisional Results – 2026 Dakar Rally, Stage 1
1. Edgar Canet (ESP), KTM, 3:16:11
2. Daniel Sanders (AUS), KTM, 3:17:13 +1:02
3. Ricky Brabec (USA), Honda, 3:17:43 +1:32
4. Tosha Schareina (ESP), Honda, 3:18:00 +1:49
5. Luciano Benavides (ARG), KTM, 3:19:58 +3:47
Provisional Standings – 2026 Dakar Rally (after 1 of 13 stages)
1. Edgar Canet (ESP), KTM, 3:27:42
2. Daniel Sanders (AUS), KTM, 3:28:47 +1:05
3. Ricky Brabec (USA), Honda, 3:29:19 +1:37
4. Tosha Schareina (ESP), Honda, 3:29:54 +2:12
5. Luciano Benavides (ARG), KTM, 3:31:40 +3:58