Pictures by Red Bull Content Pool
Text by Mike Charopka

The prologue of Dakar 2025 is officially in the books! But let’s be clear—it’s far too early to make any predictions.

The prologue serves as a qualifying stage, determining the starting order for the first stage of the race. It doesn’t contribute time results or points to the final standings.

While some journalists and analysts may already be speculating about strategies and tactics, the prologue is purely about securing starting positions. Winning it means nothing more than that. Many teams with strong performances at the beginning of the race have later faced setbacks that forced them to withdraw.

Lessons from the Past

• Carlos Sainz (2016): The Peugeot driver withdrew after a gearbox failure, despite an impressive start.

• Nasser Al-Attiyah (2017): After winning the prologue, mechanical issues forced the Qatari racer to bow out.

• Sam Sunderland (2018): The British motorcyclist’s strong start ended in an accident that led to his withdrawal.

• Ales Loprais (2020): The Czech truck driver faced technical problems that cut his race short after a promising prologue.

• Toby Price (2021): Mechanical troubles sidelined the Australian motorcyclist following a solid prologue performance.

These examples highlight the unpredictable and grueling nature of the Dakar Rally, where early success rarely guarantees a finish.

Looking Ahead

The prologue is just a warm-up. The real race begins tomorrow as the competitors head into Stage 1 around Bisha.

What’s Next?

First stage:

• Distance: 256 miles of specials and 53 miles of liaisons.

Stay tuned for updates as the Dakar 2025 journey unfolds!