The Monster Energy Honda Team soak up the pressure with a stunning second consecutive one-two-three stage finish

Ricky Brabec put in a blistering performance to take his first stage victory of the 2024 Dakar as the finish line draws closer.

With just three days of rallying remaining there was going to be no let up on stage ten with more challenges ahead. The day held a total riding distance of 609 km with a 371 km special that would include fast sandy plateaus, some off-piste sections which would really test their navigation skills and just to throw in some extra confusion, there would still be tracks on the route from stage one and the prologue which could really disorientate them.

After taking the top three spots yesterday it meant that Adrien Van Beveren would be handed the not-so-easy task of opening stage ten followed by Ricky Brabec and Pablo Quintanilla. In what has proven to be a burden to not have any tracks to follow because so much time can be lost, Van Beveren and Brabec shared the duties after 100 km so that they could give themselves the time bonuses on offer today.

Brabec was completely unfazed by riding at the front as the laid-back American acquired over two minutes in bonuses and now has a cushion of nearly eleven minutes in the overall standings to Ross Branch.

Van Beveren found some of the navigation quite complex which caused him to get lost near the end of the stage. Regardless, he soldiered on to finish in third just 20 seconds behind Brabec as he also accrued a healthy four and half minute in bonuses which has seen him cut the deficit overall to second placed Branch. It’s ‘game on’ for the Frenchman who has excelled in this second week of rallying.

Participating in his ninth Dakar Rally, José Ignacio Cornejo has put in some great, consistent performances over the past twelve days and today was no exception. It was all about the number two for the Chilean as despite some small navigational errors he ended the stage in second, an astonishing two seconds behind Brabec and is now two minutes and two seconds behind Van Beveren for that final podium position.

After getting caught out with the navigation, Pablo Quintanilla rode with Branch and Toby Price to the end of the stage playing it safe as a group to finish the day in eleventh.

The penultimate day looms on the horizon as the battle for the podium positions continue as they head east to Yanbu, across rugged terrain from AlUla where the Red Sea will greet the riders at the end of a draining 480 km special stage.