The 2025 Dakar Rally kicked into high gear with the grueling 48-hour Chrono Stage, a massive 1,000km loop starting and ending in Bisha. Competitors faced some of the biggest challenges of the rally right from the start, with the stage testing their endurance and navigational skills as they spent the night camping in the desert.
Sanders Maintains Lead in Bike Class
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Daniel Sanders continued his dream start to the 2025 Dakar, setting the fastest time at the midway point of the 48-hour Chrono Stage. After close to eight hours in the saddle, Sanders maintained his overall lead in the bike race. The Australian is joined in the provisional top 10 by teammate Luciano Benavides and impressive 19-year-old rookie Edgar Canet.
“It was a really long stage today, and it was tough with a lot of dunes but finally the guys made it to the rest stops. Sanders is doing really well and Edgar has done a great job too without any mistakes today. Luciano is on track for a great result and Kevin is still in the game. We’re looking forward to finishing the stage tomorrow!” said KTM Rally Team Manager Andreas Hölzl.
Al Rajhi and Al-Attiyah Battle for Ultimate Class Lead
In the Ultimate class, Yazeed Al Rajhi and Nasser Al-Attiyah emerged as the big winners of the first part of the stage. The Saudi driver holds a slim 1’19” lead over his Qatari rival, with the pair set to continue their battle on day two of the Chrono Stage.
Defending champion Carlos Sainz faced a major setback, flipping his Ford Raptor and losing significant time. Despite the incident, the Spaniard remains in the race and determined as ever. Sébastien Loeb also suffered mechanical issues, hampering his chances of a second consecutive 48-hour Chrono Stage victory.
Surprises and Strong Performances
Among the surprises on the first half of the 48-hour Chrono was the performance of Ultimate class rookie Toby Price. The two-time Bike champion, paired with fellow Bike-winning co-driver Sam Sunderland, set up camp just 16m 20s off the stage leaders, eyeing a spot in the top 5 overall.
In the Challenger class, Pau Navarro and Dania Akeel launched decisive attacks, rising to fifth and sixth, respectively. Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team rookies Gonçalo Guerreiro and Corbin Leaverton stood up to the challenges of their first 48-hour Chrono experiences, holding second and fourth in the overall Challenger contest.
Polaris Dominates SSV Class
The SSV class has been all about Polaris so far, with Brock Heger and Xavier de Soultrait untouchable on the first part of the Chrono Stage. Florent Vayssade could make it a podium lock-out for Polaris on day two, an unprecedented achievement for the American manufacturer at the Dakar.
Loprais Leads Tight Truck Race
In the truck category, just over 2 minutes separate virtual leader Aleš Loprais from second-placed Martin Macík, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the 48-hour Chrono Stage.
As competitors rest and prepare for the second half of the Chrono Stage, the 2025 Dakar Rally has already delivered its fair share of thrills, spills, and surprises. With the leaderboard shaken up and the stakes higher than ever, the world’s toughest rally raid is living up to its reputation as the ultimate test of endurance and skill.
