Stage 6 of the 2025 Dakar Rally saw competitors tackle a grueling 605-kilometer special stage from Hail to Al Duwadimi, the longest of the event so far. The stage served as a preview of what’s to come in the rally’s second week, with fast plateaus giving way to technical, rocky sections and a maze of dunes that tested the navigational skills of riders and drivers alike.
De Mévius Breaks Toyota’s Streak
Belgian driver Guillaume de Mévius claimed his first stage win of the 2025 Dakar, ending Toyota Hilux’s unbeaten run since the prologue in Bisha. Alongside co-driver Mathieu Baumel, De Mévius piloted his Mini to a 1-minute 34-second advantage over teammate João Ferreira, with Nasser Al-Attiyah’s Dacia rounding out the stage podium.
“That’s a good day for us. We had a bad first week, so we push during this second week. Our target is to pick up World Championship points and also secure a top-10 spot,” said the 30-year-old De Mévius, who moved up to 15th overall.
Al-Attiyah Closes Gap
Five-time Dakar champion Nasser Al-Attiyah continued to chip away at his deficit to overall leader Henk Lategan, gaining around 5 minutes on the South African. Despite the strong performance, the Qatari remains in fourth place, behind Mattias Ekström and Yazeed Al Rajhi.
“On the dunes, it was not easy, but we did a good job. I’m sure we can be even faster to try and get back the time we’ve lost,” stated the determined 54-year-old.
Sanders Maintains Bike Lead
In the bike category, Australian Daniel Sanders retained his overall lead, although he admitted to struggling to find his rhythm after the rest day. KTM teammates Luciano Benavides and Edgar Canet opted for a cautious approach on the challenging route, focusing on maintaining their positions.
Brabec Bounces Back
Reigning champion Ricky Brabec showcased his experience, claiming his 11th career stage win by a narrow 23-second margin over Honda teammate Adrien Van Beveren. The American climbed two spots to fourth overall, while Van Beveren delivered a navigational masterclass to strengthen his hold on third place, just 1 minute 11 seconds behind leader Sanders.
Chicherit’s Dakar Dreams Dashed
Guerlain Chicherit’s hopes of a strong result in the 2025 Dakar came to a premature end when the Frenchman flipped his Mini 16 kilometers into the special stage. While both Chicherit and co-driver Alexandre Winocq avoided serious injury, the pain in Chicherit’s neck prompted him to request a helicopter extraction, marking his fifth withdrawal in 14 Dakar starts.
López Climbs SSV Podium
Chilean veteran Francisco “Chaleco” López’s stage win in the SSV category propelled him onto the overall podium, with six stages remaining to secure another Dakar title in his illustrious career.
“We drove the final kilometers at night-time, and this was difficult. This race has been a real adventure, and we still have the Empty Quarter to come,” revealed the 49-year-old.
Looking Ahead
Stage 7 will see the two-wheel and four-wheel competitors take divergent paths, with the Ultimate class crews tackling the Al Duwadimi special stage without the benefit of bike tracks to guide them through the sand. As the rally enters its second week, the battle for supremacy across all categories is set to intensify.
Overall Standings After Stage 6
Ultimate:
- Henk Lategan (ZAF) – 32:51.36
- Yazeed Al Rajhi (SAU) – +7.16
- Mattias Ekström (SWE) – +22.27
- Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT) – +30.25
- Mitch Guthrie Jr. (USA) – +50.16
Bike:
- Daniel Sanders (AUS) – 35:18.49
- Tosha Schareina (ESP) – +15.46
- Adrien Van Beveren (FRA) – +16.57
- Ricky Brabec (USA) – +22.06
- José Ignacio Cornejo (CHL) – +27.35
Challenger:
- Nicolas Cavigliasso (ARG) – 35:57.59
- Gonçalo Guerreiro (POR) – +35.02
- Yasir Seaidan (SAU) – +1:09.53
- Pau Navarro (ESP) – +1:57.08
- Camelia Liparoti (ITA) – +2:10.12
SSV:
- Brock Heger (USA) – 37:21.01
- Xavier De Soultrait (FRA) – +1:37.26
- Francisco López (CHL) – +1:47.27
- Julio Estanguet (ESP) – +2:26.03
