Overview
- Benavides captured his first Dakar crown by the smallest overall margin on record—two seconds—after nearly two weeks of racing.
- He began the final day 3 minutes 20 seconds behind and seized the lead when Brabec missed a waypoint and turned off course about 7 km from the finish.
- The finale followed Brabec’s penultimate‑stage tactic of easing off to start behind Benavides, which helped the American retake the lead before the last stage.
- The 30-year-old Argentine rode through recent knee and clavicle injuries and is expected to undergo left‑knee surgery upon returning home.
- In the cars category, Nasser Al‑Attiyah clinched a sixth Dakar title for Dacia, topping Nani Roma by just under ten minutes as Mattias Ekström won the closing stage.