After a gruelling 13 stages, Yarra Ranges rally-raid legend Daniel “Chucky” Sanders finished Dakar 2026 with a broken collarbone and sternum in fifth place.
The Three Bridges local was the favourite this year after taking the world by storm during his standout win last year.
But a big crash during stage 10 took him out of the race and sadly ended his dreams of back-to-back Dakar wins.
Chucky’s KTM teammate Luciano Benavides won the race overall by the smallest margin in Dakar history, beating second-placed rider Ricky Brabec by two seconds.
“Unfortunately, I was unlucky in my own race and out of the fight for the win, but the result is still in the team and that’s something special,” Sanders said.
“A lot of pain, but [an] incredible race.”
“Mum and Dad didn’t raise no quitter, so I’m not pulling out now until someone else tells me to pull out, or they drag me out of the race. I’m not stopping.”
