Australian rally-raid star Daniel Sanders has made a gut-wrenching declaration of intent, vowing to complete the final days of the Dakar Rally despite suffering a broken collarbone and sternum in a heavy crash. The devastating incident has shattered his dream of securing back-to-back titles in the world's toughest motorsport event.
A Devastating Crash Shatters Title Hopes
The 31-year-old from Victoria's Yarra Valley was in a commanding position, controlling the race and holding an overall lead of more than six minutes. However, disaster struck 138 kilometres into the second half of the marathon stage from Wadi ad Dawasir to Bisha in the Saudi Arabian desert. Sanders careered over a massive dune at high speed on his factory Red Bull KTM, resulting in a heavy impact.
"It looks like, for sure, a snapped left collarbone," Sanders reported after the stage. "I got up and knew the collarbone was broken — and also the sternum, I've broken this as well — so there's no power." He described the moment as "pretty scary," noting he nearly landed on Spanish rider Tosha Schareina during the incident.
The Tough Decision to Continue
Despite the obvious pain and the knowledge that his championship bid is over, the reigning Dakar and world rally-raid motorcycle champion is adamant he will not quit. "We don't quit," said the determined rider. "Mum and dad didn't raise no quitter, so I'm not pulling out now until someone else tells me to pull out, or they drag me out of the race. I'm not stopping."
After gingerly remounting his bike, Sanders finished the stage a significant 28 minutes behind the day's winner, Adrien van Beveren on a Honda. This result saw him plummet from first to fourth in the overall standings. He now trails the new leader, American Monster Energy Honda rider Ricky Brabec, by 17 minutes and 37 seconds, and sits 16 minutes and 41 seconds behind his KTM teammate, Luciano Benavides.
A History of Dakar Adversity
This latest injury is a cruel blow for Sanders, who has become the dominant force in rally-raid after winning four of five world championship races last year. His Dakar history is marked by remarkable resilience in the face of adversity:
- In 2022, he finished third overall despite fracturing his elbow and wrist in a crash.
- His 2023 campaign was derailed by severe food poisoning and a thorn lodged in his arm muscle.
- In 2024, he broke his leg in a pre-race training session but still managed to finish eighth.
When asked if continuing over the rocky terrain of the final stages posed a real risk, Sanders was pragmatic. "I don't know," he shrugged. "If I've just done 150km in the sand dunes, it shouldn't be too bad. It's all rocks now, so I can just stand up and cruise along." He acknowledged that the dunes would have been tougher, but with the majority of them behind him, he believes he can manage on the gravel roads.
The crash also highlighted the famous camaraderie of the Dakar Rally, with American rider Ricky Brabec stopping to attend to Sanders immediately after the incident. As Sanders faces the final three days of the event, his focus shifts from winning to simply finishing, embodying the relentless spirit that defines the world's most gruelling race.
