Dakar 2026: 19 Argentines set to compete in Saudi Arabia | OneFootball

The 2026 Dakar Rally will begin this Saturday in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, and will feature the participation of 19 Argentine representatives across various categories. The competition will run until January 17 and will cover nearly 8,000 kilometers through Saudi territory.

Among the main names are Luciano Benavides in motorcycles, Nicolás Cavigliasso and Valentina Pertegarini in Challenger —defending champions— and Manuel Andújar in Side by Side. The national delegation suffered a significant loss: Juan Cruz Yacopini will not be able to compete after a serious accident suffered a few weeks ago.

The 2026 edition will have two marathon stages, a rest day in Riyadh, and will not include the demanding passage through the Empty Quarter, although the organizers anticipate an equally challenging route.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.