Julien Dalbec will not return to the Dakar Rally in 2026. In a social media post made on Friday, he explained he’ll “have to wait until 2027 to rediscover that feeling of freedom…

“I’m skipping the 2026 Dakar for a good reason. Thank you to my partners who are already supporting me for my return in 2027.”

Dalbec made his Dakar debut in 2024, having earned his ticket via the 2023 Rallye du Maroc. He finished 24th in Rally2.

At the 2025 edition, Dalbec improved to 23rd in class, an impressive feat given he had been off his bike in the months leading up to the race because of carpal tunnel surgery on his left hand in November. Save for an off day in Stage 3, he ran top 30 the entire race with a best run of 24th in Stages 6 and 12. Upon reaching the finish, he and Nomade Racing paid tribute to their late teammate Frédéric Baudry on the finish podium.

Despite his pace, he’s been candid about his uncertainty for future Dakars due to the financial, physical, and mental commitment required on such short notice.

Featured image credit: Julien Delfosse / DPPI / ASO