Canet Secures Strong Second in Dakar Rally Stage 7

Edgar Canet delivered a strong second-place finish in stage 7 of the Dakar Rally on Sunday, boosting his momentum into the second week, while Tosha Schareina's title hopes faded after dropping to fourth overall, 15 minutes and 6 seconds behind the leader.

The stage, held after a rest day that included a joint rice meal for Catalan riders prepared by chefs Nandu Jubany—a participant—and Carles Gaig, marked the start of a more decisive phase. Australia's Daniel Sanders set the pace, capitalizing on an advantageous starting position to chase down rivals and extend his general classification lead with key time bonuses, despite not claiming the stage win.

Schareina endured a tough day, losing 8 minutes and 45 seconds to the winner, which widened the gap to the top three. With six stages remaining, his recovery now looks challenging against the frontrunners' consistency.

In contrast, Andorra resident Canet shone, crossing the line second, 4 minutes and 47 seconds behind stage winner Luciano Benavides. The young Catalan rider, sidelined from overall contention earlier, showed high competitiveness on the long, demanding special, securing an advanced start position for stage 8.

France's Adrien Van Beveren rounded out the podium in third, 4 minutes and 57 seconds off the pace, maintaining his steady form in the leading pack where pace management and navigation proved crucial.

Among Andorra-based car entrants, Cristina Gutiérrez posted a solid run, 13 minutes and 13 seconds behind the fastest car time, staying 14th overall at 39 minutes and 34 seconds back. She continues her consistent push toward a potential top-10 spot without major incidents.

Stage 8 looms as a pivotal test with complex navigation, rocky sections, and varied terrain, where consistency could reshape the standings for Andorran riders.