Rokas Baciuška Wins Second Stage of Dakar Rally

Lithuanian driver Rokas Baciuška was declared the winner of the second stage of the Dakar 2025 rally after initially being recorded in fifth place, finishing the 967km stage in 10 hours 54 minutes 11 seconds. Baciuška capitalized on a time recovery due to a refueling issue, finishing 2 minutes 43 seconds ahead of Saudi driver Yazeed Al Rajhi, who faced navigation challenges throughout the stage. Defending champion Carlos Sainz, who suffered significant vehicle damage from an incident on Sunday, finished far behind in the standings. South African Henk Lategan currently leads the overall rankings after a strong performance, with Qatar's Nasser Al Attiyah in third. Meanwhile, Australian Daniel Sanders continues to excel in the bike category, winning his third consecutive stage. The challenging conditions of the rally, including navigation difficulties and harsh terrain, have tested all competitors significantly.