RallyGP newcomer Edgar Canet (Red Bull KTM) started the 48th Dakar with wins in the prologue and stage 1, marking his first top-level victories. However, a damaged tyre in the marathon-refuge stage set him back over ten hours overall.
Top contenders Daniel Sanders and Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy Honda HRC) remain on the overall podium, with Sanders just 45 seconds ahead. Tosha Schareina received a 10-minute penalty for missing the bivouac exit flags, dropping him outside the podium. Luciano Benavides (Red Bull KTM) is currently ahead of Schareina.
Nacho Cornejo sits fifth, half an hour behind, while Ross Branch is over 90 minutes off the lead. Sanders now has 25 stage wins in his W2RC career, Schareina 21, Benavides 16, and Brabec 12.
In Rally2, Preston Campbell, son of US Baja legend Johnny Campbell, leads after avoiding early mistakes. Rivals Neels Theric, Michael Docherty, and Martim Ventura faced setbacks, while Toni Mulec and Konrad Dąbrowski trail Campbell by 16 and 23 minutes, respectively.