Guillaume de Mevius Seizes Thrilling Victory in Dakar Stage One: A Race to Remember!
The Dakar Rally’s opening stage kicked off with electrifying intensity, as Belgian driver Guillaume de Mevius, along with co-driver Mathieu Baumel, clinched a spectacular victory in their X-Raid Mini JCW. This triumph was no small feat, as they outpaced the formidable Nasser Al-Attiyah and his partner Fabian Lurquin in the leading Dacia Sandrider by a razor-thin margin of just 40 seconds!
With a total stage distance of 305 kilometers and a daunting liaison of 213 kilometers, the challenge was monumental. Yet, De Mevius emerged victorious, even after battling a transponder malfunction that kept them flying under the radar. In an exuberant post-race statement, he expressed, “Winning a stage always feels good, but it wasn’t really our strategy for the day. Still, it’s a positive sign because we didn’t feel we had the outright pace to take the stage.”
As the competition heats up, De Mevius and Baumel are set to open the next stage, with De Mevius asserting, “With Mathieu on my right, I’m not worried about opening a special. But of course, there is strategy involved, and we’ll need to stay mindful for what comes next.” Their unique approach sets them apart in this fierce rally, and fans are eager to see how their unconventional tactics will play out in the coming days.
Al-Attiyah, a five-time Dakar champion, reflected on his performance, saying, “We had a good pace and could have pushed harder, but when we saw Sébastien Loeb with two flat tires, we decided to be cautious and avoid puncturing ourselves.” He remains optimistic, noting, “Finishing second is good. For tomorrow, it’s also positive. We’ll start three minutes behind Guillaume and can push from there.”
The stage also showcased a series of impressive performances, notably from the Czech duo Martin Prokop and Viktor Chytka, who piloted their privateer Ford Raptor to a commendable third place. This achievement matched their best results from previous Dakar events in 2021 and 2022.
Mattias Ekstrom and Emil Bergkvist showcased remarkable skill in their Ford Racing Raptor, leading the stage from the 70-kilometer mark until nearly the end. They ultimately finished fourth overall, just 1:38 off the lead, prompting speculation about whether their decision to ease up was a strategic move to avoid first-on-the-road challenges.
The Toyota contingent also shone brightly, with Marek Goczal and Maciej Martin finishing as the leading Toyota team in fifth place, outpacing the legendary Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz by 16 seconds. Meanwhile, 2024 Dakar Rookie of the Year Guy Botterill and co-driver Oriol Mena made headlines with a stunning seventh-place finish, only two minutes behind the leaders.
In the battle for bike supremacy, Botswana’s Ross Branch initially dominated the RallyGP category aboard his Hero Moto 450 Rally. However, a six-minute penalty for speeding relegated him to seventh place, paving the way for Spanish rookie Édgar Canet to seize his first top bike class stage win. Canet now leads the overall standings, edging out 2025 W2RC champion Daniel Sanders by a minute and five seconds.
As the dust settles on this thrilling opening stage, eyes are firmly fixed on the relentless challenges that lie ahead for all contenders in this legendary rally. Will De Mevius maintain his lead? Or will the seasoned veterans claw back their positions in the race for glory? The Dakar Rally is just getting started, and the adventure promises to deliver even more heart-stopping moments!
