The first full stage of Dakar saw the Prologue stage’s leaderboard change and the first of the withdrawals from the 2024 Dakar Rally. Ross Branch, who was third the previous day, took the stage win for Hero MotoSports in Stage 1, while Guillaume de Mevius took the stage win in his Toyota.
The Race Directors have already said that the first week of the 2024 Dakar Rally will not be easy, and following Branch was Honda Factory team rider Ricky Brabec in second and Mason Klein on a Kove. The American’s performance was strong last year and for 2024, he is looking to finish at the top, despite almost missing out on the race after his motorcycle was stuck with customs.
In the Cars category, following de Mevius, who managed a stage victory in his second appearance, was WRC legend, Carlos Sainz Sr for Team Audi, followed by Giniel de Villiers in the Toyota. Yesterday’s stage winner Mattias Ekstrom finished stage 1 in 10th, while defending champion, Nasser Al-Attiyah had to settle for 22nd.
The first stage of the Dakar Rally saw competitors battle it over 541km, out of which 414km was timed. This year’s Dakar Rally has already shown what it means to compete in the race. The Prologue stage winner, Tosha Schareina, had to withdraw after a crash that left him with a broken wrist. Branch was the first to see Schareina and waited by his side until help arrived. The Hero MotoSport rider was later awarded 25 minutes he had lost helping Schareina.
While Branch scored the first podium for Hero MotoSports, there was some troubling news too, as Hero MotoSports’ Joaquim Rodrigues had to retire after a crash, while Indian rider Asish Raorane is also out of the race after suffering a broken collar bone.
2024 Dakar Rally Stage 1 results
| Motorcycles | Rider | Team |
| 1 | Ross Branch | Hero |
| 2 | Ricky Brabec | Honda |
| 3 | Mason Klein | KORR (Kove) |
| Cars | Driver | Make |
| 1 | Guillaume de Mevius | Toyota |
| 2 | Carlos Sainz Sr | Audi |
| 3 | Giniel de Villiers | Toyota |
