Schareina Dominates Stage 11 but Sanders retains 9 minute advantage with just 61km of timed racing remaining

The penultimate stage of the 2025 Dakar Rally brought high drama in the dunes of the Empty Quarter, with Monster Energy Honda HRC’s Tosha Schareina delivering a masterful ride to claim the stage victory. Stage 11, originally set to cover 308 kilometres, was shortened to 152 kilometres after a three-and-a-half-hour delay caused by dense fog at the Shubaytah bivouac. Concerns over riders finishing the stage in fading light prompted organisers to reduce the distance, further intensifying the strategic battle among title contenders.

Sanders rode strategically to bring his KTM home safely in 6th

Battling through the gruelling 152-kilometre special in Saudi Arabia’s Empty Quarter, Daniel Sanders adopted a measured approach on stage 11. The Australian rider finished the stage in sixth place, preserving his commanding overall rally lead – a position he has maintained since the prologue. Although Schareina managed to cut into his lead with a spectacular performance, gaining 7’31” on the Australian, Sanders remains in control with a nine-minute advantage after over 52 hours of racing. All eyes will now turn to tomorrow’s short but critical final stage to determine if Sanders can hold onto victory.

Tosha Schareina set a blistering pace on Stage 11

Schareina’s win came after a calculated and determined effort. Starting from 17th position, the Spaniard quickly set a blistering pace in the Empty Quarter dunes. At the 81-kilometre mark, he was just two seconds behind the early stage leader, Luciano Benavides, and by 112 kilometres had surged ahead, building nearly a one-minute lead. Schareina’s exceptional ride has kept the title fight alive, with anything possible in the tricky Dakar dunes.

Benavides holds the final podium position with 11 of 12 stages complete

Luciano Benavides, riding for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, delivered another standout performance on Stage 11. Starting 16th, the Argentinian set the fastest times at the first two checkpoints and maintained a consistent pace throughout the shortened special. His efforts earned him second place on the stage, just 33 seconds behind Schareina, and keep him fourth in the overall standings. With a six-minute deficit to third-placed Adrien Van Beveren, Benavides remains firmly in the hunt for a podium finish. The KTM rider is ready to capitalise on tomorrow’s final stage as he looks to round off his impressive Dakar campaign.

Adrien Van Beveren, renowned for his prowess in the sand, continued his late-race momentum despite facing difficulties on Stage 11. A crash after a big dune jump caused a scare for the Frenchman, but he recovered quickly, crossing the finish line without injury or damage to his Honda CRF450 RALLY. Van Beveren finished the stage in eighth, maintaining his stronghold on third place overall, 15’15” behind Sanders. Having overcome a turbulent first week, the experienced rider now looks set to finish on the podium for the first time in his tenth Dakar appearance.

Adrien Van Beveren finished stage 11 in 3rd despite a crash

Monster Energy Honda HRC star Ricky Brabec had a solid fourth-place finish, 3’48” behind Schareina. Hindered slightly by the stage’s reduced distance, Brabec was unable to gain significant time on his rivals but remains fifth overall. The two-time Dakar winner trails Benavides by six minutes and will aim to push hard in tomorrow’s final special to close the gap.

Defending champ Ricky Brabec came home in 4th

As riders prepare for the final day of racing, anticipation is building for Stage 12, which features a mass start format. Competitors will set off in waves of 15, in reverse order of the general standings, over a short but highly charged 61-kilometre special stage. With just one last push across the desert separating the riders from the finish line, the stage promises a thrilling conclusion to this year’s Dakar Rally.

With Sanders aiming to protect his lead, Schareina seeking to mount a final challenge, and Benavides and Van Beveren fighting for podium positions, the curtain will fall on this epic edition of the world’s toughest rally in dramatic fashion.

Tosha Schareina – P1:It was not easy the 150km of dunes as it was really really soft in some parts and so tricky. It was really hard for me, I was so exhausted just 20km into the special, then I realised that we had 130km more to race. I’m happy for the win today and to get to the finish line.”

Luciano Benavides – P2: “Today’s stage 11 in the Empty Quarter was good! We only did half of it because the start was delayed this morning due to the fog. I had a really good pace and rhythm, so to finish second on the stage is great. I only got stuck once and other than that I felt super good on the bike all day. I tried my best and tomorrow we will take on the final stage and try to finish strong!”

Adrien Van Beveren – P3: “The stage was cut in half, I was a bit frustrated for that as I wanted to go for the whole stage. I was pushing a lot, I think at 50km into the stage I jumped a really big dune. I played one joker as we say and I had a big crash but luckily the airbag went off, I was completely OK. I’m really happy to arrive here, now the mechanics are checking the bike and I’m ready to finish the best way tomorrow.”

Ricky Brabec – P4: “Day 11, one more day to go. I’m happy to be here, it’s been an eventful Dakar, a lot of ups and a lot of downs, but overall I’m happy with the team and my riding. Today was all sand dunes so we did what we could and looking at the results now I probably shouldn’t have stopped yesterday, but it’s the Dakar and I was trying everything I could to make a final push today. It’s not over yet as we have a special tomorrow, so we’ll see what happens. Overall though I’m happy to get a finish at another Dakar, this is my tenth one so we’ll keep fighting.”

Nacho Cornejo – P5: “We’ve wrapped up Stage 11, which got off to an unexpected start due to heavy fog in the morning. The delayed start resulted in the stage being shortened to half, but we made the most of it. I had a fantastic ride, feeling increasingly comfortable on the bike as the days are progressing. We secured a strong 5th place finish today. Now, I’m eagerly looking forward to the final stage tomorrow. The mass start, motocross-style, will add an extra layer of excitement. It’s time to bring our Hero home, and I’m determined to make it a good and memorable finish!”

Daniel Sanders – P6: “It was a really cloudy morning, so we had to wait a while to start, and it’s a shame that the weather really impacted the stage so much. I was looking forward to it, but it was the best decision for everyone. I had a good day cruising along and making sure I didn’t take any big risks or make any mistakes. It’s going to be fun tomorrow with everyone riding together and the plan is to just sit back and watch everything unfold while I play it safe!”

 

2025 Dakar Rally Stage 11 Results

Pos Rider Nat. Time
1 Tosha Schareina ESP 2h12’04”
2 Luciano Benavides ARG +33″
3 Adrien Van Beveren FRA +57″
4 Ricky Brabec USA +3’48”
5 Jose Ignacio Cornejo CHL +6’02”
6 Daniel Sanders AUS +7’31”
7 Mathieu Doveze FRA +7’36”
8 Toni Mulec SVN +7’56”
9 Stefan Svitko SVK +12’10”
10 Skyler Howes USA +12’44”

 

2025 Dakar Rally Standings after Stage 11

Pos Rider Time P.
1 DANIEL SANDERS 52h 13′ 34″ 1m
2 TOSHA SCHAREINA 9’00”
3 ADRIEN VAN BEVEREN 15’50” 2m
4 LUCIANO BENAVIDES 22’16” 2m
5 RICKY BRABEC 28’35”
6 SKYLER HOWES 41’29”
7 JOSE IGNACIO CORNEJO 56’59” 2m
8 EDGAR CANET +1h39’09” 11m
9 TOBIAS EBSTER +2h14’17”
10 STEFAN SVITKO +2h14’46” 1m