Reinaldo Varela has claimed the first stage of the 2021 Dakar. The Brazilian winner of the 2018 edition beat Austin Jones by 28 seconds and ‘Chaleco’ López by 42. Last year’s runner-up, Sergey Karyakin, was off the pace and finished in fifth place, losing over three minutes and finishing behind Gerard Farrés.
Meanwhile, Cristina Gutiérrez produced a flawless performance on the road to Bisha and left the competition in the dust in the lightweight prototype category. The young driver beat Josef Macháček by 16’34’ and Seth Quintero by 18’22’ to become the first female Dakar stage winner since Jutta Kleinschmidt in 2005!
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507 Sotnikov Dmitry (rus), Akhmadeev Ruslan (rus), Akhmatzianov Ilgiz (rus), Kamaz, Kamaz - Master, Camion, Truck, action during the Dakar 2021’s Prologue and start podium ceremony in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on January 2, 2021 - Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

#152 Giroud Alexandre (fra), Yamaha, Team Giroud, Quad, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 © Florent Gooden / DPPI

503 Macik Martin (cze), Tomasek Frantisek (cze), Svanda David (cze), Iveco, Big Shock Racing, Camion, Truck, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

502 Viazovich Siarhei (blr), Haranin Pavel (blr), Zaparoshchanka Anton (blr), Maz, Maz-Sportauto, Camion, Truck, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

505 Vishneuski Aliaksei (blr), Novikau Maksim (blr), Sachuk Siarhei (blr), Maz, Maz-Sportauto, Camion, Truck, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

503 Macik Martin (cze), Tomasek Frantisek (cze), Svanda David (cze), Iveco, Big Shock Racing, Camion, Truck, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Frederic Le Floc’h / DPPI

517 Casale Ignacio (chl), Leon Alvaro (chl), Hoffman David (cze), Tatra, Tatra Buggyra Racing, Camion, Truck, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Frederic Le Floc’h / DPPI

500 Karginov Andrey (rus), Mokeev Andrey (rus), Leonov Igor (rus), Kamaz, Kamaz - Master, Camion, Truck, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

300 Sainz Carlos (esp), Cruz Lucas (esp), Mini, X-Raid Mini JCW Team, Auto, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Frederic Le Floc’h / DPPI

305 Loeb Sebastien (fra), Elena Daniel (mco), Hunter, Bahrain Raid Xtreme, Auto, BRX, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

300 Sainz Carlos (esp), Cruz Lucas (esp), Mini, X-Raid Mini JCW Team, Auto, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

412 Alsaif Saleh (sau), Montijano Oriol Vidal (esp), Can-Am, Black Horse, SSV Series - T4, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

380 Meeke Kris (gbr), Rosegaar Wouter (nld), PH Sport, PH Sport, Light Weight Vehicles Prototype - T3, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

305 Loeb Sebastien (fra), Elena Daniel (mco), Hunter, Bahrain Raid Xtreme, Auto, BRX, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Frederic Le Floc’h / DPPI

311 Roma Nani (esp), Winocq Alexandre (fra), Hunter, Bahrain Raid Extreme, BRX, Auto, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

406 Domzala Aron (pol), Marton Maciej (bra), Can-Am, Monster Engery Can-Am, Motul, SSV Series - T4, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

348 Leroy Alexandre (bel), Delangue Nicolas (fra), Buggy, SRT Racing, Auto, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

01 Brabec Ricky (usa), Honda, Monster Energy Honda Team 2021, Motul, Moto, Bike, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

21 Sanders Daniel (aus), KTM, KTM Factory Team, Moto, Bike, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

12 De Soultrait Xavier (fra), Husqvarna, HT Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing, Motul, Moto, Bike, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Antonin Vincent / DPPI

52 Walkner Matthias (aut), KTM, Red Bull KTM Factory Team, Moto, Bike, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Antonin Vincent / DPPI

22 Giemza Maciej (pol), Husqvarna, Orlen Team, Moto, Bike, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI

24 Bühler Sebastian (ger), Hero, Hero Motorsports Team Rally, Motul, Moto, Bike, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI

77 Benavides Luciano (arg), Husqvarna, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, Moto, Bike, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI

landscape, paysage during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI

27 Rodrigues Joaquim (prt), Hero, Hero Motorsports Team Rally, Motul, Moto, Bike, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI

02 Quintanilla Pablo (chl), Husqvarna, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, Moto, Bike, action during the 1st stage of the Dakar 2021 between Jeddah and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
By: Official Dakar website