Yazeed Al Rajhi Triumphs in Dakar 2025's Grueling '48-Hour Chrono' Stage

Posted : 07 January 2025

Yazeed Al Rajhi of Saudi Arabia secured a thrilling victory in the second stage of the 2025 Dakar Rally, completing the challenging '48-hour Chrono' despite a 2-minute penalty for speeding. Racing on home soil, Al Rajhi clocked a total time of 10 hours, 56 minutes, and 54 seconds over the grueling 967-kilometer special stage spread across two days.

South African Henk Lategan finished second, trailing by 4 minutes and 16 seconds, while Qatari driver Nasser Al Attiyah came third after briefly leading the stage for 142 kilometers. Reflecting on his performance, Al Rajhi described the stage as "really, really hard," emphasizing the difficulty of navigating through the treacherous terrain.

Competitors faced an additional challenge during the long stage as they bivouacked in the desert without team assistance overnight. Defending champion Carlos Sainz faced significant setbacks after rolling his Ford Raptor on Sunday, finishing the stage over an hour and a half behind and dropping to 26th in the standings.

Nine-time world rally champion Sébastien Loeb endured engine troubles on Sunday but recovered impressively on Monday, finishing seventh, 13 minutes and 10 seconds behind Al Rajhi. Lategan now leads the overall standings, holding a 4-minute and 45-second advantage over Al Rajhi, with Al Attiyah in third and Loeb in sixth, trailing by 18 minutes and 56 seconds.

Australian rider Daniel Sanders continued his dominant form on the bikes, claiming his third consecutive stage victory in the '48-hour Chrono.' Riding his KTM, Sanders finished the stage in 11 hours, 12 minutes, and 13 seconds, 6 minutes and 45 seconds ahead of Frenchman Adrien van Beveren on a Honda, with American Skyler Howes completing the podium.

Sanders’ remarkable start marks the first time a rider has won the first three stages since Spaniard Joan Barreda achieved the feat in 2017. Speaking about the stage, Sanders highlighted the challenges posed by the soft dunes and dust, which created intense competition for opening bonuses.

Sanders now holds a commanding 12-minute and 36-second lead in the provisional overall standings, with Howes in second place. Botswana’s Ross Branch, riding for Hero, sits in third, just 4 seconds behind Howes.

Sanders, aiming to become the second Australian to win the Dakar on a bike after Toby Price, expressed optimism despite the tough conditions, noting the importance of managing the unpredictable terrain. As the 2025 Dakar Rally unfolds, both the car and bike categories remain fiercely competitive, with plenty of drama still expected in the stages ahead.

Yazeed Al Rajhi Triumphs in Dakar 2025's Grueling '48-Hour Chrono' Stage

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