Al Attiyah & Benavides: Rally Victories Defined

The best case that exemplifies that, despite not believing in meigas, many say that there are some, is to check who is the winner of this edition of the raid in the motorcycle category. Luciano Benavides, the youngest, who was always in the shadow of his brother Kevin – who won the Dakar in 2021 and 2023 – has taken his first ‘touareg’ thanks to one of those strokes of destiny that are called to add the epic label to great achievements.

Benavides started the day in second position overall. The 105 kilometers of the Yanbu loop might seem like a triumphant ride, but the Dakar is not the Tour de France and the sand and dirt tracks of Saudi Arabia are not the Champs-Elysees of Paris. With three minutes and twenty seconds to spare, Ricky Brabec had to make sure not to make a mistake, not to have any breakdowns and to avoid any trouble: he knew that he could take the title, but that Luciano Benavides was also behind him.

And the Argentine did not waste it, far from it. While ahead, the young Edgar Canet issued a warning to sailors for future editions, where he will count a lot for the final victory, with the last touch of talent to win another stage. The leading role was behind. Around kilometer 17, Brabec got tangled with the GPS and gave Benavides the opportunity for the heroic. At KTM they looked at the stopwatch in disbelief.

Kevin, now retired, dreamed of seeing his brother achieve what no one expected… and when he crossed the finish line, they exploded. Luciano didn’t believe it, but when he saw his teammates jumping he couldn’t hold back his tears. The second Argentine driver to win the Dakar, after his brother, enjoyed great prominence for the first time. After an almost perfect second part of the raid in 2026, he showed that in the toughest test of the engine it is better not to make mistakes than to go fast.

Two seconds separated Brabec from glory, but more than 25 minutes were what deprived Tosha Schareina. The Valencian paid dearly for the problems of the first days, but he once again claimed himself as one of the firm candidates for the future.

More legend

One of the great virtues that Nasser Al Attiyah has demonstrated throughout his career is his patience. The ability he has to measure when and where he should attack, but also when and where he should lift, is what has allowed him not only to win six Dakars, but also to confirm himself as an example for almost everyone.

This Saturday he did not need to do more than what was planned: endure. The little more than sixteen minutes that he was able to sustain against Nani Roma were more than enough, especially aware that the Catalan was going to have a hard time turning it around. After the serious scare of the penultimate stage, he was not going to risk it. Therefore, when Al Attiyah faced this stage he only thought about not making mistakes. Given what had happened on motorcycles, any sneeze could cost you dearly.

For those who have already won everything, maintaining motivation is not easy. But Al Attiyah, absolutely voracious, is clear about what his next objective is: equal the eight wound in cars of the legendary Stéphane Peterhansel. He has two left to go, and in Dacia he feels comfortable for the goal. “We’ve worked very hard since last year,” he reflected, more tired than exultant. “Maybe I’m not being very effusive, but I feel extremely excited and we are very happy to have won, I guarantee it,” the Qatari told the media. In a Dakar in which he made the difference in the key stages – the second day of the first marathon stage, when he took those twelve critical minutes – he knew how to be where neither the Fords from Rome or Sainz, nor the other Dacias, could.

The Dakar 2026 is now history, but it’s time to think about 2027. Many candidates, many applicants and one certainty: if it matches the excitement experienced in this edition, it will already be a legendary raid.