Dakar 2026 Stage 6 Results: Ricky Brabec & Nasser Al-Attiyah Win - Sanders & Al-Attiyah Lead

Published: Friday, January 9, 2026, 22:08 [IST]

The sixth and final stage of week 1 of Dakar 2026 saw Honda's Ricky Brabec take his first stage win at Dakar 2026 after Daniel Sanders was hit with a six-minute time penalty. In the cars category, Dacia's Nasser Al-Attiyah took his second stage win of Dakar 2026 leading a Dacia 1-2.

The sixth stage of Dakar 2026 saw drivers and riders head from the city of Hail to the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh. The 920km stage featured an early start and a 331km long timed special stage and saw competitors tackle the massive sand dunes of the Saudi Arabian Desert.

Dakar 2026 Stage 6 Results: Bikes - Brabec Wins As Sanders Retains Leads Despite Penalty

Stage 6 of the bikes category in the 2026 Dakar Rally witnessed Honda's Ricky Brabec claiming his first stage win of the event. This victory came after Daniel Sanders, who had been the fastest rider in the sands that day, was hit with a six-minute time penalty. Brabec achieved his 12th stage win at the Dakar, completing the stage in three hours, 41 minutes, and 33 seconds.

Another beneficiary of Sanders' penalty was Spanish rider Tosha Schareina, who had previously won Stages 3 and 4. Schareina finished the stage just one minute and 14 seconds behind Brabec. Sanders, after his penalty for speeding, ended the day in third place, finishing three seconds behind Schareina and one minute and 17 seconds behind Brabec.

American rider, Skyler Howes, rode his Honda through the sands today to claim fourth place. Howes ended the day, four minutes and three seconds behind his fellow countryman and teammate, Brabec. The final spot in the top 5 was claimed by another Honda rider, Adrien Van Beveren. The Frenchman ended the day five minutes and 21 seconds behind Brabec.

Nacho Cornejo was once again the fastest of the two Hero riders still riding in Dakar 2026. The Chilean rider ended the day in 9th place, 12 minutes and 29 seconds off the pace set by Brabec. Hero's Ross Branch ended the stage in 10th place. The rider from Botswana ended up 13 minutes and 34 seconds adrift of the time set by Brabec.

In the overall standings after Stage 6, defending champion Daniel Sanders leads Dakar 2026 with a time of 24 hours and 41 minutes. The Aussie KTM rider is only 45 seconds ahead of today's winner, Ricky Brabec.

The final podium spot is still claimed by KTM's Luciano Benavides, who is 10 minutes and 15 seconds behind his Aussie teammate. Honda's Tosha Schareina continues to occupy 4th place in the overall rankings. The Spanish rider is 11 minutes and 56 seconds behind Sanders after the first week of Dakar 2026.

Fifth place in the overall rankings is still the domain of Hero's Igancio Nacho Cornejo after six rounds of Dakar 2026. The Chilean is 29 minutes and 50 seconds adrift of Sanders after the first week of the 2026 Dakar Rally. The other Hero rider, Ross Branch, still holds onto 10th place in the overall standings and is now one hour, 36 minutes and 10 seconds behind Sanders.

Dakar 2026 Stage 6 Results: Cars - Nasser Claims Stage Win And Overall Lead As He Leads Historic Dacia 1-2

Stage 6 of Dakar 2026 saw five-time Dakar champion Nasser Al-Attiyah claim his second stage win of Dakar with a time three hours 38 minutes and 28 seconds. This was Al-Attiyah's 49th stage win at the Dakar, just one less than the record held by Ari Vatanen and Stéphane Peterhansel, and the 19th consecutive Dakar rally, where he has won at least one stage.

Al-Attiyah also led a historic 1-2 finish for Dacia at the Dakar as his teammate Sebastien Loeb ended the day with the second fastest time. The 9-time (consecutive) WRC champion ended the day two minutes and 58 seconds behind his Qatari rival and teammate.

The final podium spot today was claimed by Stage 2 winner Seth Quintero. The American driver ended the day three minutes and 19 seconds adrift of Al-Attiyah's Dacia Sandrider in his Toyota Hilux.

Aussie driver Toby Price, who is a two-time Dakar winner on two wheels (2016 and 2019), claimed the 4th spot on today's time sheets. The Australian was four minutes and 19 seconds behind Al-Attiyah in his Toyota Hilux.

Fifth place was claimed by yet another Toyota driver, as Portuguese driver Joao Ferreira ended the day with a time of three hours, 43 minutes and 24 seconds, four minutes and 56 seconds behind Al-Attiyah's Dacia.

Today's stage win also helped Nasser Al-Attiyah reclaim the Dakar lead for the first time since Stage 2. The 5-time Dakar champion leads this year's overall classification at the end of Week 1, with a time of 24 hours, 18 minutes and 29 seconds.

Toyota Gazoo Racing's Henk Lategan drops to second place and is now six minutes and 10 seconds behind the pace set by Nasser Al-Attiyah in his Dacia. Ford Racing's Nani Roma is now third overall and currently sits nine minutes and 13 seconds adrift of Al-Attiyah.

Fourth place in the overall car rankings is now held by Carlos Sainz. El matador, like his Spanish teammate Nani Roma, jumped up a spot in the overall rankings and is now 11 minutes and 49 seconds adrift of his great rival, Al-Attiyah.

Sweden's Mattias Ekstrom dropped two places in the overall rankings and is now 12 minutes and 11 seconds behind Al-Attiyah after six rounds of the Dakar.

Tomorrow is the official rest day of Dakar 2026 and will see competitors finally take a break after 7 days in the Saudi Arabian desert. Dakar 2026 will resume on 11th January, with Stage 7 seeing riders and drivers leave the Saudi capital of Riyadh and head south to Wadi Al Dawasir. The 876km long stage features a 462km timed special stage and mostly sandy terrain with a few scattered bushes.