AL DUWADIMI, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Henk Lategan saw his lead in the Dakar Rally dwindle to just 21 seconds following a tumultuous seventh stage in the Saudi desert on Sunday. The rally, spanning 418 kilometers around Al Duwadimi, was marred by confusion as an incorrect road book note at the 158-kilometer mark caused several front-runners to drive off course, resulting in a nullification of gains and losses for a 20-kilometer section. Despite being the first to navigate the correct route, Lategan, a Toyota teammate of stage winner Lucas Moraes, finished in 15th place, nearly 20 minutes behind Moraes.
Lategan’s rivals capitalized on the chaos, closing the gap significantly. Yazeed Al Rajhi, in second place, slashed his deficit from over seven minutes to a mere 21 seconds, while third-placed Mattias Ekström reduced his 22-minute lag to just 10 minutes. Five-time champion Nasser Al-Attiyah also inched closer, cutting his more than eight-minute gap to 22 minutes.
Reflecting on the challenging day, Lategan commented on the difficulties encountered, particularly in a canyon where many competitors lost their way. He described the nerve-wracking experience of encountering vehicles from various directions before eventually finding the correct path, which propelled him from seventh on the road to first. Lategan acknowledged minor navigation errors and a puncture but remained optimistic about his performance, stating, “We’re happy to have found that one waypoint, but not the perfect day.”
Moraes, who rebounded from a mechanical setback the previous day, showcased resilience by starting 27th and clinching his second career stage victory. Recalling the race, Moraes noted the advantage of following established tracks and emphasized the team’s aggressive approach due to having nothing to lose. The Brazilian expressed satisfaction at securing another Dakar stage win, underscoring the arduous nature of the competition.
In the motorbike category, Australian rider Daniel Sanders solidified his lead by widening the gap to over 15 minutes, the largest margin so far, after claiming victory in the stage. Sanders outpaced Spanish rider Tosha Schareina with approximately 100 kilometers remaining and maintained a strong finish, extending his lead by nearly four minutes. Schareina secured second place, followed by Pablo Quintanilla of Chile.
Sanders’ remarkable performance marked his fifth stage win in a single Dakar, a feat previously achieved only by compatriot Toby Price in 2016. Reflecting on his triumph, Sanders praised the day’s conditions, highlighting the technical challenges early in the race and crediting his mental and physical preparedness for a successful outcome.
Before the stage, two former champions made the difficult decision to withdraw from the competition. Dirk von Zitzewitz, longtime co-driver for 2009 champion Giniel
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