Ulaanbaatar
'Dakar Rally 2026' Officially Gets Underway
Sports
Ulaanbaatar, January 5, 2026 /MONTSAME/. The world-famous “Dakar Rally 2026,” often referred to as the Olympics of motorsport, has officially begun in the city of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia.
Competitors in the 48th edition of the rally will cover a total distance of 8,000 kilometers, with the opening stage held yesterday in Yanbu. Representing Mongolia in the 2026 rally are honored athlete Khaliunbold Erdenebileg and international master Murun Purevdorj.
The race will last 14 days. On the first day, competitors traveled 527 kilometers, of which 305 kilometers were timed special stages across rocky, sandy, and hard-packed dirt terrain. Specifically, the route consisted of 70 percent gravel, 16 percent sand, 8 percent rock, and 4 percent dunes.
As part of the “Steppe to Dakar” project, Khaliunbold completed the 305-kilometer special stage in 3 hours, 51 minutes, and 45 seconds, finishing 33rd overall among 120 competitors and 20th in the Rally-2 category. Meanwhile, Murun placed 50th overall and 35th in the Rally-2 class.
Today, the rally moves from Yanbu toward AlUla. The second stage will span a total distance of 504 kilometers, including 104 kilometers of liaison sections, while the competitive special stage will cover 400 kilometers. According to the “From the Steppe to Dakar” project team, the route will consist of 49 percent hard-packed dirt, 23 percent sandy terrain, and 28 percent rocky surfaces.
