The 2026 Dakar Rally concluded with the most dramatic finish in the event’s storied 48-year history, as Red Bull KTM’s Luciano Benavides snatched victory from Monster Energy Honda’s Ricky Brabec by an almost incomprehensible margin of just two seconds.
After 49 hours of racing across 4,737 kilometres of punishing Saudi Arabian terrain, the Argentine rider sealed his first Dakar title in a finale that will be remembered for generations. The winning margin eclipsed all previous records in an event known for its extreme distances and brutal attrition.
A Final Stage Thriller
Brabec entered Sunday’s 105-kilometre final stage holding what appeared to be a comfortable 3 minutes and 20 seconds advantage. The American, chasing his third Dakar crown, faced the challenging task of opening the route without tracks to follow across technical mountain valleys before transitioning to faster coastal sections along the Red Sea.
The Honda rider set a strong early pace, but disaster struck just seven kilometres from the finish line. A navigation error in the closing moments proved catastrophic, hemorrhaging the precious time that separated him from glory.
Meanwhile, Benavides attacked relentlessly from start to finish, refusing to concede despite the significant deficit. “I never stopped dreaming,” the Argentine said at the finish. “I woke up today full of energy and motivation, trusting in myself, and that was the key. Even today, when I was losing time and saw Ricky pushing hard, I kept telling myself it wasn’t over until the last kilometre.”
The drama extended to the final corners, where Benavides nearly crashed in his desperate pursuit. “I even missed the last two corners and nearly crashed, so it was right on the limit, but it paid off,” he admitted.
A Family Legacy Continues
The victory marks KTM’s 21st Dakar Rally title and continues a remarkable family story. Luciano’s brother Kevin claimed Dakar victories in 2021 and 2023, making the Benavides family one of rally-raid’s most successful dynasties.
For Luciano, competing in his ninth Dakar, the win vindicated years of perseverance. “This shows that if you never stop dreaming, never stop believing, and keep fighting for your goals, anything is possible,” he reflected.
Supporting Cast Delivers
KTM’s Edgar Canet provided the perfect finale to his breakthrough RallyGP debut, winning the final stage after earlier becoming the youngest-ever stage winner in the bike category. Despite a setback on stage five derailing his overall challenge, the Spaniard finished with three stage victories and invaluable experience.
Daniel Sanders, the 2025 Dakar champion, battled through injuries sustained in the second week to finish a gutsy fifth overall, while Brabec’s teammate Tosha Schareina recovered from a ten-minute penalty to claim third place with three stage wins of his own.
The Margins of Greatness
In an event where mechanical failures, navigation errors, and crashes typically decide victories by tens of minutes or even hours, a two-second margin defies comprehension. It represents less than the time needed to read this sentence – the difference between triumph and heartbreak after two weeks of relentless competition.
For Brabec, who added two stage wins to bring his career tally to 13, the result will sting deeply. Yet his gracious response captured the essence of Dakar’s unique spirit: “That’s just Dakar – it’s never over until it’s over.”
As the dust settles in Yanbu, one truth remains clear: rally-raid fans have witnessed history, and Luciano Benavides has etched his name into Dakar folklore forever.
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