Kevin Gallas moved into the overall lead of the 2026 Africa Eco Race with the win on stage seven in Mauritania, heading a Tenere Spirit Experience Yamaha one-two with Mike Wiedemann as the rally heads into its toughest dune stages.

Stage seven sent riders straight out of the Chami bivouac into a 462km timed special made up largely of soft sand and a notorious stretch of Mauritanian dunes before finishing in Aidzidine. It proved a decisive day in the general classification.

Gallas, the former SuperEnduro Junior World Champion turned rally-raid rookie, is contesting his first Africa Eco Race but already has two stage wins to his name. A deliberate strategy on stage six saw the German and his team give up minimal time while finishing lower down the order to secure a 12th-place start for stage seven.

Using tracks ahead to ease the navigation burden, Gallas pushed hard across the dunes to stop the clock at 3h19m46s. The result puts him into the overall lead with a margin of 6m12s.

Teammate Mike Wiedemann underlined a strong day for the Tenere Spirit Experience squad by finishing just 18 seconds behind Gallas on the stage, moving himself up to fifth overall.

Former MXGP rider Gautier Paulin, also tackling his first Africa Eco Race on two wheels, lost time searching for a waypoint but still placed fifth on the day, 24m18s back. That performance lifts the Frenchman to fourth in the general classification. Alessandro Botturi rounded out the top 10 on the stage.

Next up is stage eight, a 415km loop special from Aidzidine featuring multiple dune sections and widely considered one of the hardest tests of the rally. An 11km liaison leads into the special, with a short 3km return to the bivouac at the finish.

General classification after stage seven

Kevin Gallas: That was a lot of fun. It was my first real taste of the Mauritanian dunes, and I really enjoyed it. I am happy, as our strategy of finishing stage six down the order while trying to give up as little time as possible allowed me to start from 12th today, so I could attack and not lead out, which worked to perfection.

On the sixth stage we conceded around three minutes, and today I was able to take 13 minutes from the leader. To be at the top of the general classification in my debut AER is incredible. I feel great on the bike and I am happy with my navigation.

Up next is probably the hardest stage of the rally, with lots of dunes, but I am looking forward to it. Even though I will open the stage, I am confident in the team’s strategy and can’t wait to get back on the bike.”

Photo Credit: Yamaha Europe