Daniel Sanders extends Dakar lead with Stage 4 win

Chucky continued to waltz his way through the 2025 Dakar Rally, leaving his competitors in the dust and tactical analysts buzzing after a thrilling game of cat and mouse with rising challenger Tosha Schareina.

Daniel Sanders has continued to dominate the 2025 Dakar Rally, securing his third full stage win on day four and extending his overall lead to 13 minutes and 26 seconds, after a gripping game of cat and mouse with Tosha Schareina, who blasted his way through the field to claim second spot.

The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing star navigated the challenging 415-kilometre special stage through AlUla’s volcanic landscapes and canyons with precision, finishing just 15 seconds ahead of Schareina.

Sanders, who started 21st due to time losses on the previous day when his electronic roadbook malfunctioned mid-stage, forcing him to rely on visual cues, showcased his skill and determination by overtaking 20 riders and claiming the top spot on the timesheets by kilometre 65. His performance on this technically demanding route has solidified his position at the top of the overall standings. However, it was Schareina’s move at the end of the stage that really got the tactical analysts talking.

The cat and mouse move that has become the talk of the motorsport world today unfolded near the stage’s conclusion, when Schareina deliberately stopped for a couple of minutes to allow Sanders to claim the stage victory.

The manoeuvre effectively handed Sanders the stage win, but more importantly, it allowed Schareina to avoid the challenging position of opening the next stage – a notorious disadvantage in rally racing where the lead rider must navigate without previous tracks.

“That was a pretty cool stage!” said Chucky of the day’s racing. “I did get lost a bit but nothing that cost me too much time. This area can be really tricky so you have to focus completely, and it will be the same tomorrow. There was a little bit of cat and mouse at the end to decide who would end up opening tomorrow which we haven’t really had yet, so that was quite fun and I’m looking forward to setting off first for the last stage of week one. I’ve extended my lead even more, so I’m really pleased with that. I’m definitely looking forward to the rest day!”

The fourth stage also marked the beginning of the marathon bivouac, where riders had only 30 minutes to work on their bikes without outside assistance.

Dakar rookie Edgar Canet continued to impress, finishing as the second-fastest Rally2 competitor and maintaining his class lead by three and a half minutes. Meanwhile, Luciano Benavides overcame early navigation errors to secure 12th place, and Kevin Benavides achieved his best stage result of the event so far with a 16th place finish.

As the first week of the 2025 Dakar Rally nears its conclusion, all eyes are on Sanders to see if he can maintain his commanding lead and potentially secure his first Dakar victory.