Dakar Rally: Riders Dash From Riyadh To Hardh In Stage 9

Tuesday's high-speed Stage 9 dash from Riyadh to Haradh served as a link between Saudi Arabia's capital city and the barren wilderness of the Empty Quarter Desert with five-time Dakar champion Nasser Al-Attiyah scoring his first 2025 Ultimate class stage win in his Dacia Sandrider. The Qatari's 49th stage win of his illustrious Dakar career puts him 31 seconds behind the Ford Raptor T1+ of Mattias Ekström, who holds third place overall behind new Saudi leader Yazeed Al Rajhi and South African driver Henk Lategan. Belgian Guillaume De Mévius excelled again in second in his MINI to score useful World Rally-Raid Championship points in the second week of this Dakar, despite being over seven hours behind overall. Wednesday's Stage 10 sees the remaining convoy tackle immense Empty Quarter Desert sand dunes that can reach up to 250m high, so all the competitors will be on high alert despite the short special distance.

Photo Webdesk

Updated on: 15 January 2025 5:04 pm

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Dakar Rally 2025 Stage 9 from Riyad to Haradh, Saudi: Nasser Al-Attiyah and Edouard Boulanger

Nasser Al-Attiyah and Edouard Boulanger | Photo: DPPI / Red Bull Content Pool

Nasser Al-Attiyah and Edouard Boulanger on their Dacia Sandrider of the Dacia Sandriders aduring the Stage 9 of the Dakar 2025 on January 14, 2025 between Riyadh and Haradh, Saudi Arabia

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Dakar Rally 2025 Stage 9 from Riyad to Haradh, Saudi Arabia: Daniel Sanders

Daniel Sanders | Photo: DPPI / Red Bull Content Pool

Daniel Sanders on his KTM of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team during the Stage 9 of the Dakar 2025 on January 14, 2025 between Riyadh and Haradh, Saudi Arabia

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Dakar Rally 2025 Stage 9 from Riyad to Haradh, Saudi Arabia: Luciano Benavides

Luciano Benavides | Photo: DPPI / Red Bull Content Pool

Luciano Benavides on his KTM of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team during the Stage 9 of the Dakar 2025 on January 14, 2025 between Riyadh and Haradh, Saudi Arabia

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Dakar Rally 2025 Stage 9 from Riyad to Haradh, Saudi Arabia: Nani Roma and Alex Haro

Nani Roma and Alex Haro | Photo: DPPI / Red Bull Content Pool

Nani Roma and Alex Haro on their Ford Raptor of the Ford M-Sport Team during the Stage 9 of the Dakar 2025 on January 14, 2025 between Riyadh and Haradh, Saudi Arabia

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Dakar Rally 2025 Stage 9 from Riyad to Haradh, Saudi Arabia: Seth Quintero and Dennis Zenz

Seth Quintero and Dennis Zenz | Photo: DPPI / Red Bull Content Pool

Seth Quintero and Dennis Zenz on their Toyota GR DKR Hilux of the Toyota Gazoo Racing during the Stage 9 of the Dakar 2025 on January 14, 2025 between Riyadh and Haradh, Saudi Arabia

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Dakar Rally 2025 Stage 9 from Riyad to Haradh, Saudi Arabia: Guillaume de Mevius and Mathieu Baumel

Guillaume de Mevius and Mathieu Baumel | Photo: DPPI / Red Bull Content Pool

Guillaume de Mevius and Mathieu Baumel of the X-Raid Mini JCQ Team during the Stage 9 of the Dakar 2025 on January 14, 2025 between Riyadh and Haradh, Saudi Arabia

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Dakar Rally 2025 Stage 9 from Riyad to Haradh, Saudi Arabia: Lucas Moraes and Armand Monleon

Lucas Moraes and Armand Monleon | Photo: DPPI / Red Bull Content Pool

Lucas Moraes and Armand Monleon of the Toyota Gazoo Racing during the Stage 9 of the Dakar 2025 on January 14, 2025 between Riyadh and Haradh, Saudi Arabia

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Dakar Rally 2025 Stage 9 from Riyad to Haradh, Saudi Arabia: Mitch Guthrie and Kellon Walch

Mitch Guthrie and Kellon Walch | Photo: DPPI / Red Bull Content Pool

Mitch Guthrie and Kellon Walch of the Ford M-Sport Team during the Stage 9 of the Dakar 2025 on January 14, 2025 between Riyadh and Haradh, Saudi Arabia

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Dakar Rally 2025 Stage 9 from Riyad to Haradh, Saudi Arabia: Rokas Baciuska and Oril Mena

Rokas Baciuska and Oril Mena | Photo: DPPI / Red Bull Content Pool

Rokas Baciuska and Oril Mena of the Overdrive Racing during the Stage 9 of the Dakar 2025 on January 14, 2025 between Riyadh and Haradh, Saudi Arabia

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Dakar Rally 2025 Stage 9 from Riyad to Haradh, Saudi Arabia: Mattias Ekstrom and Emil Bergkvist

Mattias Ekstrom and Emil Bergkvist | Photo: DPPI / Red Bull Content Pool

Mattias Ekstrom and Emil Bergkvist of the Ford M-Sport Team during the Stage 9 of the Dakar 2025 on January 14, 2025 between Riyadh and Haradh, Saudi Arabia