Dakar Rally 2026: Cornejo Fifth Overall as Hero MotoSports Clear Stage 6

Hero MotoSports Team Rally stayed on course during Stage 6 of the Dakar Rally 2026, as the event reached its midway point. The stage tested riders with long hours on the bike and a mix of dunes and open terrain, yet the team brought both its riders home inside the top ten. Nacho Cornejo and Ross Branch managed the longest day of the rally with control, keeping their overall positions intact before the rest day. Stage 6 ran from AlUla to Riyadh and included a 331km timed section within a total distance of 920km.

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Nacho Cornejo finished Stage 6 in ninth place. He kept a steady pace through the special stage and avoided risks at the front. This result placed him fifth in the overall bike standings, keeping him in touch with the leaders as Dakar 2026 moves beyond the rest day.

Ross Branch crossed the line in tenth position. He focused on completing the long stage without issues, especially across the dunes and during the extended liaison. Branch now holds tenth overall in the bike classification at the halfway mark.

The Stage 6 route started in AlUla and passed through the Qassim region before ending in Riyadh. Riders faced the longest combined distance of the rally so far, making endurance and concentration key factors throughout the day.

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Ricky Brabec won the bike stage, while Nasser Al-Attiyah claimed victory in the car category. The rally will now enter Stage 7, where riders face 462 kilometres of fast sandy sections that demand pace control and physical endurance.