Daniel Sanders Rules the 2026 Desafío Ruta 40 YPF
From San Juan to San Rafael and back again, the Red Bull KTM rider turns a brutal week in western Argentina into a commanding rally-raid victory.
The 2026 Desafío Ruta 40 YPF ran from May 24 to 29 across Cuyo, the dry and mountainous region of western Argentina. The rally started and finished in San Juan, about 700 miles (1,130 km) west of Buenos Aires, and reached south into San Rafael, Mendoza, near the dunes of El Nihuil, one of the country’s classic rally-raid areas.
As the third round of the World Rally-Raid Championship, the race covered 1,826 miles (2,939 km), including 946 timed miles (1,522 km), through canyons, dry riverbeds, fast tracks, rocky sections, and sand. Luciano Benavides gave the local crowd an early spark by winning the prologue in Albardón, but once the long stages began, Daniel Sanders took control. The Australian rider set the pace, absorbed the pressure, and turned a demanding week in Argentina into a commanding win.
A local spark before Sanders took control
The first timed taste came in Albardón, just north of San Juan, with a 5.6-mile (9 km) prologue for the motorcycle field. It was short, sharp, and loud enough to wake the rally properly. Luciano Benavides gave Argentina the start it wanted, topping the motorcycle times at home and sending the local crowd into the week with dust in the air and something to cheer about.
Then Stage 1 delivered the first real message from the terrain. The route stayed in San Juan, moving through canyons under the Andes foothills, a fast salt flat, dry riverbeds, changing tracks, and lines that could pull a rider away from the right course before he noticed the mistake. Sanders struck first when the long racing began, winning the motorcycle stage for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and taking the overall lead. Behind him, Tosha Schareina and Ricky Brabec kept Monster Energy Honda HRC close enough to make sure the week would not feel comfortable.
South to San Rafael and into El Nihuil
Stage 2 carried the rally south to San Rafael, bringing the Desafío Ruta 40 back to Mendoza after ten years away. The special was shorter than the opening stage, but the first miles hit hard through rocks and scrub before the route opened into faster ground. Sanders won again, even while opening the stage, with Benavides second and Schareina still close enough in the overall standings to keep the pressure alive.
The next day, El Nihuil gave the race one of its signature moments. Stage 3 started and finished in San Rafael, with the dunes taking center stage. The riders found soft sand, broken sections, vegetation hidden in the dunes, rough riverbeds, fast dirt tracks, and navigation that punished every lazy glance at the roadbook. Sanders had to open the way and still won his third stage in a row, edging Benavides by 58 seconds after bonus time. Higher up, the route even brought patches of snow and ice, a strange and beautiful reminder that rally raid in Argentina rarely follows one mood for long.
A mistake, a chase, and one last question
Stage 4 sent the rally back north from San Rafael to San Juan, climbing early into the northern Mendoza mountains above 9,842 feet (3,000 meters) before dropping into dry riverbeds, broken tracks, and rough ground. It was the kind of day where the roadbook mattered more than rhythm.
For the first time all week, Sanders looked less settled. Opening the special, he made a navigation mistake around mile 24 (km 39), lost several minutes, then struggled to recover his focus. A second mistake cost him more time, and dust on the course made the chase harder.
Schareina took the chance and won the stage for Monster Energy Honda HRC, with Brabec close behind. Sanders still protected the overall lead, but the easy rhythm was gone. The final day would begin with the Australian in front, Honda pressing behind, and San Juan waiting for the answer.
San Juan brings it home
The final stage brought the rally back to San Juan, where Sanders finished the job he had started on Stage 1. He won four of the five stages and gave KTM its third motorcycle victory at the Desafío Ruta 40 YPF, ending Honda’s run of eight straight wins at the event.
Schareina finished second overall for Monster Energy Honda HRC, with Brabec third after a week of steady pressure. Rally2 went to Martim Ventura, ahead of Bruno Crivilin and Toni Mulec, while Murun Purevdorj took the Rally3 win.
By late afternoon, Plaza 25 de Mayo was full of riders, teams, mechanics, families, and fans. The dust was still fresh on the bikes, and the bivouac was already beginning to come apart piece by piece. Sanders left Argentina with the win. The rest of the field left with stories. That is usually how the road keeps its share.
Words by: Mike de la Torre – Photo Credits: Red Bull Media, Renzo
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