Dakar Rally 2026: Stage 10 Sees Van Beveren, Serradori on Top

Stage 10 of the Dakar Rally 2026 was another day that reminded fans why this rally is the ultimate test of skill and grit in off-road motorsport. The route was packed with sand, soft dunes and changing surface conditions that punished even small mistakes. Riders and drivers needed more than speed; balance, throttle control and precise roadbook work were essential. Time gaps stayed tight despite a shorter timed section, proving that a clean run could be worth minutes on the clock.

Also Read: Dakar Rally 2026: Stage 9 Delivers Classic Marathon Challenge in the Saudi Desert

On the bike side, Adrien Van Beveren took the Stage 10 win, riding a strong and consistent line through the dunes to secure his first stage victory of Dakar 2026. The French rider led from early in the special and resisted pressure from the competition to take the honours. Over in the car category, Frenchman Mathieu Serradori claimed the Stage 10 victory on board the Century CR7, holding off rivals and mastering tricky sand sections to cross the line fastest. Serradori’s win also helped shake up the overall picture and highlighted the importance of strategy and discipline in the rally’s toughest sections.

For Hero MotoSports, Stage 10 brought solid progress. Nacho Cornejo finished fifth on the day, riding smartly through the sand and making up ground after earlier setbacks. Ross Branch brought his bike home in thirteenth, prioritising completion after a physically draining marathon stage. Both results keep the pair well positioned as the Dakar moves closer to its finale.

In the overall motorcycle standings after Stage 10, Cornejo sits seventh and Branch eighth. Cornejo’s ride was a recovery job after he lost time earlier due to a navigational hiccup. Without outside assistance in the marathon, he chose consistency over risks, a choice that let him protect his position.

Looking ahead to Stage 11, the Dakar shifts the spotlight squarely onto navigation. The roadbook will be loaded with fast tracks and tricky junctions on the run to Al Henakiyah, covering a total of 883km with 346km against the clock. For bike and car fans alike, this stage could reshuffle positions again, especially for those who read the terrain and notes better than the competition.