Variawa's incredible comeback snatches stage in Dakar Rally and Benavides rides to another win

Key Highlights

• (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)Rider Ricky Brabec competes during the eighth stage of the Dakar Rally with a start and finish at Wadi Ad Dawasir, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Jan.12, 2026.
• (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)Rider Tosha Schareina competes during the eighth stage of the Dakar Rally with a start and finish at Wadi Ad Dawasir, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Jan.12, 2026.
• (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)1 / 5Saudi Arabia Dakar RallyDriver Saood Variawa and co-driver Francois Cazalet compete during the eighth stage of the Dakar Rally with a start and finish at Wadi Ad Dawasir, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Jan.12, 2026.
• (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)1 / 5Saudi Arabia Dakar RallyDriver Saood Variawa and co-driver Francois Cazalet compete during the eighth stage of the Dakar Rally with a start and finish at Wadi Ad Dawasir, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Jan.12, 2026.
• (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)2 / 5Saudi Arabia Dakar RallyDriver Romain Dumas and co-driver Alex Winocq compete with riders David Brock, right, and Fernando Dominguez, in the background, during the eighth stage of the Dakar Rally with a start and finish at Wadi Ad Dawasir, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Jan.12, 2026.