Tosha Schareina Claims Third in Dakar Rally 2026 Motorcycle Category

Andorran resident Tosha Schareina secured third place overall in the motorcycle category of the Dakar Rally 2026 after a dramatic final stage in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday. The Valencia native, competing in his fifth Dakar, defended his podium position without incident in the short but tense 105-kilometer finale, finishing 25 minutes and 12 seconds behind winner Luciano Benavides. Benavides claimed victory by a record margin of just two seconds over Ricky Brabec, who lost the lead due to a late navigation error.

Schareina had entered the last day already well-positioned following Friday's 12th stage, a tough, rocky special where he lost 12 minutes to the stage winner but preserved a safe gap over his pursuers. His steady approach across the event marked his second podium in three seasons as a factory rider.

Fellow Andorran resident Edgar Canet provided the day's highlight in bikes, winning the final stage—his third of the rally after the prologue and stage 1. The young Catalan rider overcame a minor fall early in Friday's penultimate leg, finishing 24 minutes off the pace there but closing strongly. Canet ended the rally with two stage wins, five top-three finishes, and clear growth in endurance.

Adrien Van Beveren, another Andorran-based Frenchman, maintained consistency to take sixth overall. He placed fourth on Friday, 13 minutes and 7 seconds behind the stage leader with a time of 3 hours, 32 minutes, and 8 seconds, staying 1 hour, 6 minutes, and 57 seconds off the top spot entering the finale.

In the car category, Cristina Gutiérrez delivered a strong showing, finishing 11th overall after placing 12th on Friday (3 hours, 31 minutes, 25 seconds, 9 minutes and 33 seconds off the best time). The result kept her close to a top-10 berth in the Ultimate class, highlighting her pace and reliability. Copilot Mathieu Baumel, also resident in Andorra, reached the finish with Guillaume de Mévius in 34th after Friday's 42nd place. His completion stood out as a personal triumph following a severe injury that led to partial leg amputation, marking his return to elite competition.

The 2026 edition, one of the most demanding in recent years, ended with Nasser Al-Attiyah securing his sixth car title ahead of Nani Roma, leaving Andorran residents with a podium, a stage win, and sustained top contention.