Pablo Quintanilla delivered a bold statement, leaving a trail of impressive moves as he pressed the limits of the third stage. The Chilean rider from Torreblanca forged ahead with a blistering pace, finally crossing the line with the best time for the day. Yet the overall win went to Quintanilla, who benefited from a 3 minutes and 30 seconds bonus that the event organizers awarded at the close of the stage. This adjustment tightened the margins and sparked lively debate about the day’s strategy and the impact of time bonuses on the final standings. [Citation: Dakar Rally organizers, stage adjustments report]
Barreda, a veteran who has long stalked the podium, progressively improved as the route unfolded. He closed the gaps at every checkpoint, and once the race passed the 310-kilometer mark, Quintanilla found himself in serious contention for the stage victory. The terrain, notably rocky and demanding, looked challenging on paper for Hero’s Indian machine, yet the Spaniard executed a smart, fearless ride through the Saudi desert. Teammate Ross Branch also performed at a high level, finishing among the top contenders and signaling good form for the team. [Citation: Dakar stage analysis, team notes]
Joan Barreda, renowned for maximizing his chances across Dakar stages, captured the most stage wins in Dakar history with 29 victories. Facing perhaps the final rally with Honda after a decade of faithful participation, his performance this time did not secure a 30th triumph. Still, the story remained positive: both Barreda and Branch demonstrated that their machines and riders are capable of mounting a serious challenge for the final podium. The resilience and experience shown by Barreda underscored his standing as one of the sport’s most consistent competitors. [Citation: Dakar history and recap]
In the same race, current champion Kevin Benavides secured third place for the stage. Just a month before the rally, the Argentine had stepped onto the starting podium rattled by surgery to repair a broken fibula following an injury in a California preparation event. But in the desert’s crucible, grit and preparation won out. Benavides established a brisk, relentless pace through the special, finishing in Al-Salamiya with a performance that underscored his toughness and readiness to defend his title. [Citation: Benavides recovery and stage performance]
By contrast, former champion Sam Sunderland faced misfortune. A mechanical setback at kilometer 11 cut his stage short, forcing him to retire and opening a window for other contenders. The early exit of Sunderland also altered the day’s dynamics, contributing to a shift in momentum as one or two other favourites—like Spaniard Lorenzo Santolino and his Sherco team—experienced their own challenges early in the rally. The combination of a tricky prologue and an early crash had already placed extra pressure on some riders, making the stage a true test of endurance and strategic risk-taking. [Citation: Dakar stage summary and rider status]
Stage classification:
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Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 4h 37′ 42″ [Citation: Stage results]
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Joan Barreda (Hero) 1′ 38″ [Citation: Stage results]
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Kevin Benavides (KTM) 1′ 46″ [Citation: Stage results]
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Ricky Brabec (Honda) 1′ 57″ [Citation: Stage results]
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Ross Branch (Hero) 4′ 04″ [Citation: Stage results]
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Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) 4′ 37″ [Citation: Stage results]
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José Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 5′ 20″ [Citation: Stage results]
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Stefan Svitko (Slonaft) 6′ 50″ [Citation: Stage results]
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Martin Michek (Orion) 9′ 18″ [Citation: Stage results]
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Rui Gonçalves (Sherco) 11′ 03″ [Citation: Stage results]
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