Sanders wins second stage to take lead

Australia’s defending Dakar Rally bike champion Daniel Sanders moved into the general lead after profitable Monday’s second stage in Saudi Arabia.
The 31-year-old lined the 518km route from Yanbu to Al Ula in 4hrs 13mins 37 seconds to cross the road 1min 35s away from KTM teammate Edgar Canet, who misplaced time with a few minor crashes.
American Ricky Brabec, the 2024 winner, accomplished the day’s podium for Honda.
With this tenth stage win in motorsport’s hardest problem, Sanders climbed to the highest of the bike standings by half a minute from Canet, winner of the prologue and opening stage, with Brabec 2min 18s again in third.
“The navigation was actually tough in some locations however we mounted a few errors rapidly and did not lose an excessive amount of time,” stated Sanders, who has been competing within the Dakar since 2021.
The rider, who lists bee-keeping as certainly one of his hobbies and is called ‘Chucky’, added: “I caught Edgar after round 100 kilometres. It was so exhausting to catch him and go him earlier than.
“After that, there was some actually tough stuff and he (Canet) simply sat behind and watched, adopted and realized.”
Canet was grateful to finish an eventful stage unhurt.
“Nicely, the stage is accomplished,” stated the 20-year-old Spaniard.
“The reality is that it has been an extended stage, 400 km opening the observe for the primary time.
“I had a number of crashes, as you’ll be able to see, however hey, these items occur. There are some rocks that you may’t see while you’re trying on the roadbook,” he added.
Within the automobile class, American Seth Quintero beat his South African Toyota Gazoo Racing teammate Henk Lategan by 1:42 with Saudi’s reigning champion Yazeed Al Rajhi in third.
Qatar’s five-time Dakar winner Nasser Al-Attiyah heads the standings driving for Dacia by simply seven seconds from Quintero after coming in eighth within the stage.
Tuesday’s third stage is a 422km particular beginning and ending in Al Ula.