Dakar 2026 welcomed the New Year in the desert, without holidays and without waiting to start

He Red Sea abruptly cuts off the yellow landscape imposed by the desert in northern Saudi Arabia. The sand is omnipresent, almost eerie, so that the contrast with the blue water evokes sensations. Security forces are deployed both in the desert and in the water. With patrols accompanying every movement in the camp, as well as identified ships. This very special world of the Dakar is preparing in Yanbúin which about 3,000 people live together who live in this special itinerant city, which will begin its journey through Saudi Arabia from Saturday 3rd, covering a distance of almost 8,000 kilometers until it returns to this place on January 17th.

In the 48th edition of the world’s most extreme competitionThe organization manages to return to originality despite being held in Saudi Arabia since 2020. But this country is opening up to the strike race, offering all its landscapes, deserts (they are not all the same) and logistics with the idea of ​​​​showing up with alternatives.

This year, The organization strives for the complexity of two “marathon stages” (Days in which participants do not have to rely on the support of their respective teams and have to sleep in isolated camps, with only the bare minimum of food and rest) split over both weeks.

Far from the enthusiasm that surrounded the Dakar in Argentina in the previous decade, the national representatives maintain their presence at the big race.

In Motorcyclesis the big representative Luciano Benavideswith the colors of KTM, who will race alone from now on as his older brother Kevin switched to cars due to injuries in 2023. Outside the main discipline they will compete in Rally2 Santiago Rostan And Leonardo Cola.

In CarsArgentina, like the entire Dakar, regrets its absence Juan Cruz Yacopiniinjured in Mendoza before traveling to Saudi Arabia. Without state representation in the senior category, the protagonists Yazeed Al Rajhithe Saudi winner of the last edition with Toyota, the Qatari Nasser Al Attiyah and the French Sebastian Loeb with Dacia, the Spaniards Carlos Sainz, Nani Roma And Mattias Ekstrom with Ford and the return of the superstar Stephane Peterhansel (record 14 victories between cars and motorcycles), with the launch of the Defender brand.

In the category challengerArgentina has been a candidate since the Córdoba marriage Nicolás Cavigliasso and Valentina Pertegarini They are defending their triumph in 2025 and are not just reigning world champions. They will also compete in this discipline David Zille searched by Sebastian Cesana; the debut of Kevin Benavides with the Sanjuanino Lisandro Sisternain addition to the participation of Pablo Copetti and national sailors Augusto Sanz (by Puck Klaasen), Fernando Acosta (by Oscar Ral) and Bruno Jacomy (from Chilean Lucas del Río).

In the secondary department Side by sidethe winner of the Dakar in the four-wheeler, the Lobanese Manuel Andujar (navigated by Andrés Frini) and Jeremias González Feriolitogether with Gonzalo Rinaldi.

In Dakar classic (historic vehicles) Gastón Mattarucco from Córdoba will sail against Colombian José Vélez, while Benjamín Pascual will ride an electric motorcycle in the Mission 1000, a discipline that combines vehicles with different energy sources.

The Dakar is the opening date of the W2RC World Rallycross Championshipin which this year Argentina will be the protagonist as the competition is reintroduced to the calendar “Route 40 Challenge”which will take place from May 24th to 29th.

There are no holidays here, not even New Year celebrations. Hardly anything is mentioned on the stage where the pilots’ briefings take place, at midnight white balloons are released and everyone goes to sleep in their respective tents. On January 1st, the emergency services set out to carry out the operation at 7 a.m Shakedown or tests to confirm that everything is working perfectly. Actually, The Cavigliassos suffered a break in some parts of their vehicle. “Thank God it happened now and not in the race”was Nico’s optimistic look.

On Saturday the prologue will take place here in Yanbú, which will determine the starting order for Sunday in the first demanding stage, which will also be a “scooter” with start and finish in this camp.

Another Dakar begins in the Saudi desert. Illusions are renewed, hopes intertwine with fascinating stories that only the most extreme competition on the planet can produce.

“A lot of strength Juan X Yacopini”, It is the sticker, reproduced on several vehicles, that alludes to the recovery of the pilot from Mendoza who suffered an accident in his home province ten days ago while resting while waiting to travel to Saudi Arabia. Yacopini, 26 years old, was the only Argentine driver who would compete in the largest vehicle category, T1.

Juan Cruz was in a boat with friends on Lake El Carrizal when he jumped into the water and hit his head in a shallow spot. After the diagnosis, he was immediately admitted to the Cuyo Clinic after a referral “severe polytrauma with spinal shock”.

On social networks, several pilots expressed their solidarity with Yacopini, including the Spaniard Sainz, whose message went viral. Already here in Yanbú, several pilots stuck a sticker on their vehicles distributed by Daniel Oliveras, Juan Cruz’s navigator, on which “Mucha Fuerza” stands out in favor of the Mendoza pilot.