RIYADH, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Spain's Tosha Schareina powered to victory in the motorbike category and Poland's Eryk Goczal topped the Ultimate car class on Tuesday as the 2026 Dakar Rally completed Stage 9, the first leg of the demanding marathon-refuge section from Wadi Ad-Dawasir to the Bivouac Refuge.
Schareina delivered a decisive navigational performance over the 418-kilometre special to claim the stage win, ahead of defending champion Daniel Sanders and 6 minutes and 22 seconds in front of his Monster Energy Honda HRC teammate Ricky Brabec. Dakar organizers said an early route choice through the correct canyon proved pivotal for the Spaniard.
The result reshuffled the overall motorbike standings, with Sanders regaining the overall lead and opening a 6-minute-and-24-second advantage over Brabec. KTM rider Luciano Benavides dropped significant time after a navigational error, while Schareina moved up to fourth overall, trimming his gap to the leader to around 15 minutes heading into the second leg of the marathon stage.
In the Ultimate car category, the spotlight fell on the Goczal family as Eryk Goczal secured his first stage victory in the class, with his uncle Michal Goczal finishing second.
Stage 9 also produced major changes in the overall car standings. Spain's Nani Roma climbed to the top of the general classification for the first time since his 2014 triumph, leading teammate Carlos Sainz by 57 seconds, while Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah remained close in third, 1 minute and 10 seconds off the lead.
With the marathon-refuge rules limiting outside assistance overnight, competitors now face the second and more punishing leg toward Bisha, where deep dunes and complex navigation are expected to further shape the title fight. ■
