Image: Supplied.

Australian two-time Dakar Rally winner Toby Price has opened the 2021 edition in Saudi Arabia with victory on stage one.

Price was ninth in the prologue yesterday, but starred as the rally officially got underway over the 277-kilometre special between Jeddah and Bisha.

After taking control at the 135km mark, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Price recorded a total time of 3h18m26s to lead Keven Benavides (Monster Energy Honda) by 31s, with factory KTM duo Matthias Walkner and Sam Sunderland third and fourth.

Dakar debutant Daniel Sanders (KTM Factory Racing) – an impressive third in the prologue – was 25th overall in stage one after losing his way early on nearby defending champion Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy Honda), who was directly ahead of him in P24.

Sanders received a penalty of seven minutes today, now 19m51s in arrears of countryman Price, while fellow Australians Michael Burgess (BAS Dakar KTM Racing Team) and Andrew Houlihan (Nomadas Adventure KTM) was in P69 at time of reporting.

Follow all of the official results, live timing and detailed updates throughout the 2021 rally at the official Dakar website.