Yazeed Al-Rajhi Takes Lead in Dakar Rally

In Stage Nine of the Dakar Rally, Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah secured his first stage win of the race, completing the 357km route from Riyadh to Haradh in under three hours. This victory was significant for Al-Attiyah, marking his 49th career win in the Dakar, although he remains 25 minutes behind overall leader Yazeed Al Rajhi, who capitalized on South African Henk Lategan's misfortunes to take the lead. Lategan encountered multiple punctures and navigational errors, dropping him from first to 11th place overall. On the motorcycle front, Argentine Luciano Benavides claimed his second consecutive stage victory, while Australian Daniel Sanders maintained a strong lead in the bike category. Al Rajhi, aiming for his first Dakar title, expressed his determination to fight for the win in the final stages. The rally now heads into its concluding days with high tension in both the car and bike categories.