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Roma Seizes Dakar Lead After Chaotic Marathon Stage as Ford Goes 1-2

A route split that left cars without bike tracks triggered navigation errors, tightening the fight into Bisha.

Rallying - Dakar Rally - Stage 7 - Riyadh to Wadi Ad-Dawasir - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - January 11, 2026 Ford Racing's Nani Roma and Alex Haro in action during stage 7. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
Rallying - Dakar Rally - Stage 9 - Wadi Ad-Dawasir to Bisha - Wadi Ad-Dawasir, Saudi Arabia - January 13, 2026  Ford Racing's Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz in action during stage 9 REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
Rallying - Dakar Rally - Stage 9 - Wadi Ad-Dawasir to Bisha - Wadi Ad-Dawasir, Saudi Arabia - January 13, 2026  Ford Racing's Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz in action during stage 9 REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
Rallying - Dakar Rally - Stage 9 - Wadi Ad-Dawasir to Bisha - Wadi Ad-Dawasir, Saudi Arabia - January 13, 2026  Ford Racing's Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz in action during stage 9 REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Overview

  • Spaniard Nani Roma leads overall for the first time since 2014, 57 seconds ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz after Stage 9.
  • Carlos Sainz received a 1 minute 10 second speeding penalty, dropping him from the provisional lead but keeping him second on cumulative time.
  • Five-time winner Nasser Al-Attiyah fell to third overall, 1:10 behind Roma, as multiple frontrunners lost time on navigation in the desert marathon sector.
  • The split 410km leg to the bivouac was won by 21-year-old Eryk Goczal, with uncle Michal second, while Ford maintained a one-two in the general classification.
  • In RallyGP, Daniel Sanders regained the overall lead after Luciano Benavides got lost, with Tosha Schareina taking the stage before the marathon’s second half to Bisha.