Stage 7 of the 2025 Dakar Rally, a challenging 708-kilometer loop starting and ending at the Al Duwadimi bivouac, was marred by confusion at the front of the Ultimate class due to an incorrect note in the roadbook. The error caused leading contenders, including Nasser Al-Attiyah and Guillaume De Mévius, to lose nearly an hour searching for a non-existent waypoint. Organizers later announced that a 20-kilometer segment would be removed from the stage timings to compensate for the issue, with Brazilian Lucas Moraes emerging as the stage winner, claiming his first victory of the 47th edition.
Sanders Dominates on Two Wheels
In the bike category, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Daniel Sanders delivered another masterclass, securing his fifth stage win of the 2025 Dakar and extending his overall lead to a commanding 15 minutes and 33 seconds. The 30-year-old Australian skillfully navigated the tricky terrain, battling with his closest rival, Tosha Schareina, for most of the stage before ultimately crossing the line with a nearly four-minute advantage.
“That was a pretty fast stage, and technical at the start while it was raining. I stayed fully focused all day as the navigation was tricky, so it was a much better day for me,” said Sanders. “We adjusted the bike to suit the sand more as well, which really helped in the dunes. I’m feeling confident, and as a team, we’re doing everything we can to put ourselves in the best position possible to retain the lead for the remaining stages.”
Canet Bounces Back in Rally2
Despite facing a significant setback due to an issue with his digital roadbook tablet, which cost him nearly an hour and a half, Rally2 standout Edgar Canet showcased his incredible pace and determination by storming to an impressive second-place finish overall on the stage. The young Spaniard’s performance marked the best result for a Rally2 rider this year and helped him extend his class lead to a comfortable 21 minutes while solidifying his 10th place position in the overall standings.
Lategan Clings to Slim Lead
In the Ultimate class, South African Henk Lategan managed to hold onto his overall lead, albeit by a slim margin of just 21 seconds over Yazeed Al Rajhi. Mattias Ekström capitalized on the roadbook confusion to close the gap to Lategan, now trailing by only 10 minutes and 25 seconds in third place. Nasser Al-Attiyah, seeking his sixth Dakar title, remains within striking distance, 21 minutes and 57 seconds behind the leader in fourth.
“There was a problem in the roadbook, so we ended up looking like clowns in the circus. That bit wasn’t so fun, but afterwards, we drove as well as we could. It was quite difficult,” remarked Ekström, who finished second on the stage alongside teammate Mitch Guthrie Jr. in third, securing Ford’s first double podium of the rally.
Retirements and Injuries
The stage also saw the unfortunate retirement of Toby Price and 2009 Dakar champion Giniel de Villiers, as their co-drivers, Sam Sunderland and Dirk von Zitzewitz, suffered a concussion and a neck injury, respectively.
“We had an issue with the car that pushed us back into the dust with poor visibility, and Sammy took another blow to the head, losing vision,” revealed Price. “It’s a shame to finish like this, and we’re both gutted. We can fix cars but not humans, and Sam is family to me, so his health comes first.”
Other Category Developments
In the Challenger class, American Corbin Leaverton claimed his second stage win of the 2025 Dakar, moving up to sixth overall, while Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team teammate Gonçalo Guerreiro remains in contention for the title, sitting 30 minutes and 37 seconds behind leader Nicolas Cavigliasso.
Chilean veteran Francisco “Chaleco” López continued to close the gap to second-placed Xavier De Soultrait in the SSV category, reducing the deficit to just 20 minutes.
Looking Ahead
As the rally heads towards the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh for Stage 8, organizers have promised a “hectic and varied” route, with a timed special stage of more than 480 kilometers that has the potential to further shake up the leaderboard across all categories.
Overall Standings After Stage 7
Ultimate:
- Henk Lategan (ZAF) – 37:13.08
- Yazeed Al Rajhi (SAU) – +0.21
- Mattias Ekström (SWE) – +10.25
- Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT) – +21.57
- Mitch Guthrie Jr. (USA) – +40.01
Bike:
- Daniel Sanders (AUS) – 39:29.22
- Tosha Schareina (ESP) – +15.33
- Adrien Van Beveren (FRA) – +26.07
- Ricky Brabec (USA) – +33.19
- Luciano Benavides (ARG) – +37.32
Challenger:
- Nicolas Cavigliasso (ARG) – 40:35.04
- Gonçalo Guerreiro (POR) – +30.37
- Yasir Seaidan (SAU) – +1:04.10
- Pau Navarro (ESP) – +1:51.35
- Camelia Liparoti (ITA) – +2:04.39
SSV:
- Brock Heger (USA) – 41:56.42
- Xavier De Soultrait (FRA) – +1:36.03
- Francisco López (CHL) – +1:56.04
- Julio Estanguet (ESP) – +2:35.00
