Daniel Sanders has secured victory in the bikes category of the 2025 Dakar Rally, becoming only the second Australian ever to win the prestigious off-road endurance event. The 30-year-old Victorian held onto his nine-minute lead over Spaniard Tosha Schareina in the 12th and final stage in Shubaytah overnight.
Sanders joins Toby Price, who won the bikes class in 2016 and 2019, as the only Australians to achieve the feat. Price abandoned this year's event after Stage 6. Sanders maintained his lead from the prologue throughout every stage of the rally.
Speaking to Red Bull, Sanders expressed his delight at the achievement. 'Incredible. This is my fifth attempt and from the first time I raced it, it was a really important thing (to win). We've done that, and to have a consistent race and to have control from start to finish was a pretty cool experience,' he said.
Fellow Australian Toby Hederics finished 19th in the bikes category, four hours and 46 minutes behind Sanders, and placed ninth in the Rally 2 classification. It was a successful Dakar Rally debut for Hederics, who was also the second fastest rookie across all categories.
Compatriots Peter and Christopher Schey managed a 13th-placed finish in the Classic category.
