BISHA: South Africa’s Henk Lategan won the Dakar Rally prologue in the cars category Friday, kicking off the sixth edition in Saudi Arabia that will stretch nearly 8,000 kilometers across 12 stages.
Lategan, driving a Toyota Hilux, finished a second clear of Sweden’s Mattias Ekstrom over the 29km run in Bisha, with five-time Dakar champion Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar third.
The prologue times do not count toward the overall standings but those in the top 10 get to choose their starting position for the first stage on Saturday, a 499km route featuring 413km of timed sectors.
Sebastien Loeb came seventh but Carlos Sainz, who became the oldest winner of the race last year at the age of 61, was down in 25th place.
Loeb, a nine-time world rally champion, is chasing a first Dakar crown in his ninth attempt.
Australian Daniel Sanders was the quickest of the motorbikes on his KTM, ahead of Botswana’s Ross Branch and Spanish teenager Edgar Canet.
Reigning champion Ricky Brabec of Honda came home fourth fastest.
A 434-strong colorful caravan made up of cars, bikes, quads and trucks set out from Bisha for the opening prologue.
Twelve stages now await the 778 competitors from 72 countries, with a January 17 finish in Shubaytah, on the border of the United Arab Emirates.
This year’s route includes a second 48-hour stage in the Empty Quarter, a vast sea of sand with dunes as far as the eye can see.
The 47th running of the event may be called the Dakar, but the last time the Senegalese capital actually hosted the finish was way back in 2007 — the security situation in Mauritania forced the 2008 cancelation.
It moved then to South America until finding a new home in Saudi Arabia since 2020.

RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo is celebrating two years in Saudi Arabia with his club Al-Nassr, and on Friday reflected on his journey so far in an interview published by the Saudi Pro League.

The Portuguese superstar said he was happy with his life in the Kingdom.

“I’m happy and my family is happy. We started a new life in this beautiful country,” he said. “Life is good, football is good. In terms of individual and collective, we are still there; we are still improving.”

Ronaldo’s impact on the pitch since arriving at Al-Nassr has been undeniable. During the 2023-24 season, his first, he shattered the SPL record for the most goals in a single season, scoring 35 goals in 31 matches and earning the Golden Boot.

However, Al-Nassr fell short of the league title, finishing second to Riyadh rivals Al-Hilal, who went unbeaten.

This season, Al-Ittihad, captained by Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema, lead the way. Despite the stiff competition, Ronaldo remains optimistic about Al-Nassr’s prospects.

“It’s hard to compete with teams like Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad, but we are still there, still pushing and fighting,” he said.

“Football is like that; you have good moments and bad moments, but the most important thing is to be professional, to push hard, respect the club, respect your contract, and believe that things will change. For Al-Nassr, we’ll keep pushing to win more titles.”

He also has his eyes on the AFC Champions League. “The Champions League is something I want to win for the club, but the most important thing is to keep pushing and be professional.”

Ronaldo’s influence extends far beyond football. With more than 1 billion followers across social media platforms, he remains a global icon. His No.7 Al-Nassr jersey is seen worldwide, and his presence has inspired many international players to join the league.

The subsequent arrival of other star players in the following transfer windows, combined with the launch of the SPL Transformation Strategy in 2023, has positioned the league as a focal point of global football, with Brazilian superstar Neymar hailing Ronaldo as a “trailblazer” for the league’s meteoric rise.

“To be the first star to come here is an honor, but what I’m looking forward to is the next five-10 years of the league improving — not only the first teams but also the academies,” Ronaldo said.

He added: “Not just for the future of the Saudi players and the league, but for the country to compete with other leagues. This is my dream, and I will try to help the country and league reach that level.”

When asked about his favorite moment with Al-Nassr, Ronaldo singled out winning the 2023 King Salman Arab Club Cup.

“Probably when we won the first title,” he said. “The final against Al-Hilal was probably the most intense one that we lived. To have the privilege to win my first trophy here in my first year was amazing.”

However, Ronaldo remains as hungry as ever.

“I want more. I will continue to push and help my team Al-Nassr to win titles. I believe that this year will be a good year for Al-Nassr, inshallah.”