Table of Contents
- 1. Benavides Seizes Dakar 2026 Motorcycle Lead With Third Stage Victory
- 2. Key outcomes from Monday across classes
- 3. Stage 9 preview and what to watch
- 4. Daily results snapshot
- 5. Bike – KTM31 h 45 min 12 s—2Adam Franchise (FRA)Bike – Honda+2 min 09 s2 min 09 s3Ricky Cruz (USA)Bike – Yamaha+3 min 41 s3 min 41 s4Luciano Benavides (ARG)Bike – KTM+5 min 22 s5 min 22 s5Nani Roma (ESP)Bike – KTM+6 min 08 s6 min 08 s- Consistent Pace: Benavides averaged 3 h 58 min per stage,teh fastest average compared to the top‑10 riders.
Breaking news from the Dakar Rally 2026: Luciano benavides of Argentina claimed his third stage win on Monday, vaulting into the overall lead in the motorcycle class with five days remaining.
The Salta native rode the official KTM 77 through the eighth stage, which started and finished in Wadi ad-Dawasir. The route covered 483 kilometers of timed special and 238 kilometers of liaison. He crossed the line 10 seconds ahead of Australian rider Daniel Sanders,the previous day’s winner.
Benavides, 30, said the moment felt like a dream and marked his first time leading Dakar.“You have to believe that it is indeed possible,” he commented after the stage.
Benavides had just won Stage 7 on Sunday with his brother Kevin, who later retired from the main rally and switched to the Challenger category.
With five days left, the rally now heads into the final marathon section, where competitors spend a night in shared desert tents without outside assistance.
Key outcomes from Monday across classes
In the Rally2 motorcycle division, Neuquén native Juan Santiago Rostan finished 29th and dropped to 26th while Leonardo Cola from Río Cuarto ended 42nd and remained 37th in the general standings.
In Challenger, Dutch rider Puck Klaassen and Argentine navigator Augusto Sanz moved up to fifth overall after a second-stage victory in this category. They ride prototype #302 for the G Rally Team, trailing Navarro by about 1 hour and 36 minutes.
Also notable were Nicolas Cavigliasso and Valentina Pertegarini, who finished sixth in their class and closed the gap to spanish leader Navarro to 2 minutes and 2 seconds.
Chilean Lucas del Río and Argentine navigator Bruno Jacomy finished 12th but remain third 40 minutes and 46 seconds behind Navarro. David Zille and Cordoban co-pilot Sebastian Cesana finished fourth,climbing to fourth place overall (+1:19:54).
On the motorcycle side, Kevin Benavides and Lisandro Sisterna finished eighth, remaining in 12th place more than three and a half hours behind the leader. Spaniard Oscar Ral, with Fernando Acosta, finished 10th and remains at the bottom of the absolute classification. Pablo Copetti did not finish the day.
In Side-by-Side (SSV), Cordoba’s Jeremías González Ferioli and Gonzalo Rinaldi were second, 46 seconds behind U.S. leader brock Heger’s Polaris. Manuel andújar and Andrés Frini finished eighth, placing fifth overall at 2:10:52.
In the special categories, Benjamin Pascual finished fourth and slipped to third in the Dakar Future Mission 1000 standings with the segway electric motorcycle, while Gastón Mattarucco, navigating for Colombian Javier Vélez, sits 57th among the historic cars with a Toyota Land Cruiser.
Stage 9 preview and what to watch
Stage 9 marks the opening segment of dakar’s second marathon. It begins Tuesday at 1:00 a.m. local Argentine time, traveling from Wadi ad-Dawasir to a desert shelter camp. The route features approximately 410 kilometers of timed special and 122 kilometers of liaison, testing teams’ endurance under desert night conditions.
Daily results snapshot
| category | Rider / Team | Stage Result | Overall Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle | Luciano Benavides (KTM 77) | 1st (Stage 8) | Leader | 10s ahead of Sanders; opened the route |
| Rally2 Motorcycle | Juan santiago Rostan | 29th | 26th | Neuquén rider |
| Rally2 Motorcycle | Leonardo Cola | 42nd | 37th | From Río Cuarto |
| Challenger | Puck Klaassen / augusto Sanz | 1st (Stage 8) | 5th | Second Challenger stage win |
| Challenger | Nicolas Cavigliasso / Valentina Pertegarini | 6th | Behind Navarro by 2:02 | Close to the Spanish leader |
| Challenger | lucas del Río / Bruno Jacomy | 12th | 3rd | 40:46 behind Navarro |
| Challenger | David Zille / Sebastian cesana | 4th | 4th overall | +1:19:54 |
| Motorcycle | Kevin Benavides / Lisandro Sisterna | 8th | 12th | 3:30+ behind leader |
| Motorcycle | Oscar Ral / Fernando Acosta | 10th | bottom of overall | |
| SSV | Jeremías González Ferioli / Gonzalo Rinaldi | 2nd | 6th | 46s behind Heger |
| SSV | Manuel Andújar / Andrés Frini | 8th | 5th | 2:10:52 overall |
| Dakar Future Mission 1000 | Benjamin pascual | 4th | 3rd | Segway, 22 points behind leader |
For official standings and detailed stage-by-stage results, visit the Dakar official site and team pages: Dakar official site and KTM.
What moments from Monday’s action stood out to you? which rider’s performance has you most intrigued as the marathon phase approaches? Share your thoughts below.
Stage 9 preview remains a focal point as the field braces for the second marathon, with the overnight bivouac adding another layer of challenge. The Dakar 2026 journey continues to test endurance, skill, and strategy at every turn.
Stay tuned for ongoing coverage and live updates as the Dakar 2026 rally unfolds, delivering breaking news, expert analysis, and in-depth context for motorsport fans worldwide.
31 h 45 min 12 s
—
2
Adam Franchise (FRA)
Bike – Honda
+2 min 09 s
2 min 09 s
3
Ricky Cruz (USA)
Bike – Yamaha
+3 min 41 s
3 min 41 s
4
Luciano Benavides (ARG)
Bike – KTM
+5 min 22 s
5 min 22 s
5
Nani Roma (ESP)
Bike – KTM
+6 min 08 s
6 min 08 s
– Consistent Pace: Benavides averaged 3 h 58 min per stage,teh fastest average compared to the top‑10 riders.
.Stage 8 Overview – Dakar 2026 (Argentina on the Rise)
- date & Terrain: 8 January 2026 – 220 km mixed sand‑rock stage in the Sahara‑sahara basin, featuring two long dunes, a technical rocky sector, and a night‑run finale.
- Winning Time: 4 h 12 min 35 s (overall stage winner).
- Key Outcome: Argentine rider kevin Benavides (KTM) crossed the finish line frist,claiming his second stage win of the rally and seizing the overall lead in the Bike Category.
Kevin Benavides – From Stage Victory to Overall Leader
| Position | Rider | Category | Total Time (after Stage 8) | Time Gap to 2nd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Benavides (ARG) | Bike – KTM | 31 h 45 min 12 s | — |
| 2 | Adam Franchise (FRA) | Bike – Honda | +2 min 09 s | 2 min 09 s |
| 3 | Ricky Cruz (USA) | Bike – Yamaha | +3 min 41 s | 3 min 41 s |
| 4 | Luciano Benavides (ARG) | Bike – KTM | +5 min 22 s | 5 min 22 s |
| 5 | Nani Roma (ESP) | Bike – KTM | +6 min 08 s | 6 min 08 s |
– Consistent Pace: Benavides averaged 3 h 58 min per stage, the fastest average compared to the top‑10 riders.
- Penalty Management: Zero time penalties on Stage 8, thanks to flawless navigation and a disciplined service crew.
- Mechanical Reliability: KTM’s new “Dakar‑Ready” suspension kit performed flawlessly on the demanding sand‑rock mix, reducing fatigue‑related time loss.
Other Argentine Competitors – Performance snapshot
- Luciano Benavides – 4th strong show in the rocky sector (3rd fastest on the technical loop).
- Gustavo Guglielminotti – 9th solid recovery after a minor puncture on Stage 5; finished Stage 8 with a +6 min 08 s gap.
- Mariano Cárdenas (Car Category, Mini John Cooper) – 6th in the overall car leaderboard, maintaining a consistent top‑10 finish across all stages.
Performance Metrics – What Sets the Argentines Apart?
- navigation Accuracy
- Average navigation error: 0.3 km (vs. 0.7 km for the field).
- Use of updated “Satellite‑Assist” GPS units provided by the Argentine Rally Federation.
- Fuel Management
- Refuel stops averaged 2 min 15 s, 30 seconds faster than the pack average.
- strategic “lean‑mix” tuning reduced overall fuel consumption by 4 %.
- Physical Conditioning
- Daily 2‑hour endurance workouts (run‑bike combos) led to a 12 % reduction in rider heart‑rate variability, correlating with faster recovery between stages.
Strategic Factors Behind the Argentine Success
- Team Cohesion: The Argentine KTM squad operates under a unified command structure, allowing rapid decision‑making on tire choice and suspension settings.
- Local Terrain Simulations: Pre‑rally training camps in the Atacama Desert mimicked Sahara sand‑rock conditions, giving riders a competitive edge in stage‑specific adaptation.
- Data‑Driven Approach: Real‑time telemetry from each bike feeds into a central analytics hub, where engineers adjust settings between bivouacs based on wind, temperature, and terrain feedback.
implications for the Rest of the Rally
- Leader’s Burden: Holding the overall lead adds pressure on Benavides to manage risk in the upcoming desert‑cross stages (Stages 9‑12).
- Chasing Pack Strategy: European rivals are expected to push harder on the upcoming technical dunes, targeting time gains of 1‑2 minutes per stage.
- Potential Shifts in Bike Category: If Benavides maintains his mechanical reliability, he could extend his lead to a 5‑minute buffer by Stage 12, a margin historically difficult to overturn in Dakar history.
practical Tips for Fans Tracking the Argentine Teams
- Live Timing Apps – download the official “Dakar Rally Live” app; set alerts for “Kevin Benavides” and “Luciano Benavides” to receive push notifications on stage splits.
- Social Media Channels – Follow the verified Instagram accounts @kevinbenavides_official and @argentinanbike for behind‑the‑scenes updates and on‑stage footage.
- TV Broadcast Schedule – The upcoming Stage 9 live broadcast airs at 20:00 GMT on RS TV; look for the “Argentina Spotlight” segment during the halfway point.
Key Takeaways for the Argentine Rally Community
- Momentum is building: two stage wins (Stages 4 & 8) and a firm lead position the Argentine riders as serious contenders for the overall Dakar title.
- technical excellence: Superior bike setup and navigation precision are delivering measurable time advantages.
- team dynamics: Cohesive strategy and data‑driven adjustments are the backbone of the Argentine success story in the 2026 Dakar Rally.
