Stage 3 Alula > Alula 421 kilometers
Stage position: Seventh
Another complicated day on the Dakar Rally 2026. Punctures were once again the protagonists in a stage in which the Ford team shone, with victory for American Mitch Guthrie. Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz finished seventh, climbing positions and recovering time in the general standings, where they are now fourth, 3 minutes and 34 seconds behind leader Guthrie.
In the 421 kilometers of timed section disputed today, the Spanish drivers suffered two new punctures, which made them lose time in a stage in which they were fighting for the victory. In spite of this, it was a positive day, as they managed to recover minutes in the general classification, just before the first part of the marathon stage, in which tomorrow the drivers will not have the assistance of their mechanics and engineers.
Carlos Sainz: “A stage quite a bit harder than we thought, especially because of the large number of stones and punctures. In the end we had two punctures and there were still 60 kilometers to the finish, so we had to be very careful. Otherwise, everything was fine; one day less”.
Tomorrow’s stage
ALULA > ALULA (MARATHON)
Link > 75 km – Special > 417 km
The drivers and co-drivers are not yet finished with the splendor of the landscapes of Aula, but they will be especially concerned about the management of their vehicles as they embark on this first part of the marathon stage. Although most of the route runs through wide open spaces, the zigzags between the rugged reliefs cause breaks in the rhythm. At the finish, two nearby but different bivouacs will host the motorcycle riders on one side and the FIA crews on the other, with assistance between competitors authorized without time limit. The bivouac is reduced to the minimum: campfire, tents and rations.