AL DUWADIMI, Saudi Arabia Belgian Guillaume De Mévius earned his first stage win of the Dakar Rally on Saturday to move to 15th in the Ultimate standings as Mattias Ekström, Nasser Al-Attiyah, Mitch Guthrie Jr. and Seth Quintero all cemented their places in the top 10.

Getting back into the rhythm of racing after Fridays Rest Day proved a struggle for some on the special stage to Al Duwadimi, but De Mévius excelled.

Thats a good day for us, De Mévius said. We had a bad first week, so we push during this second week. Our target is to pick up World Championship points and also secure a top-10 spot.

The biggest push at the top of the Ultimate class came from five-time Dakar champion Al-Attiyah in his Dacia Sandrider, after taking more than four-and-a-half minutes out of race leader Henk Lategan.

On the dunes it was not easy, but we did a good job, Al-Attiyah said. Im sure we can be even faster to try and get back the time weve lost.

Australian Daniel Sanders retained his overall bike lead with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider looking to use a favourable starting position on Stage 7 to press home his advantage. KTM riders Luciano Benavides and Edgar Canet decided not to risk it all on the arduous route.

Its tough to get back on the rhythm after the rest day, Sanders admitted.

Another stage win in the SSV class has lifted Francisco Chaleco López onto the overall podium with the Chilean left with six stages to grab another title in his illustrious Dakar career.

We drove the final kilometers at night-time and this was difficult, López said. This race has been a real adventure and we still have the Empty Quarter to come.

The Challenger class also finished after the sun set with American Corbin Leaverton of the Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team claiming second to lie seventh overall.

I probably enjoyed that stage more than any Ive raced since Ive been here, Leaverton said. Shoutout to my co-driver Taye (Perry), it was a faultless day from her in the navigators seat.

Sundays Stage Seven sees the two-wheel and four-wheel competitors take divergent paths with the first Ultimate class crews on the Al Duwadimi special stage having no bike lines to follow in the sand.