Series: Fenix Rally – The doorway to Sahara
Justin Gerlach won the fifth stage of the Fenix Rally around Douz on Thursday, 29 October 2026, and took the lead in the motorcycle classification back from Jeremy Knuiman. According to the provisional, unofficial stage classification, the German was 4 minutes faster than the Dutchman on the 207.66-kilometre special stage. In the provisional overall classification, Gerlach now leads Knuiman by 2 minutes and 31 seconds. The results are not yet official.
Dunes and navigation straight from the start
According to the organiser’s Competitor Briefing, Leg 5 was a 305-kilometre loop from Douz, open only to Fenix entrants. A 51.96-kilometre liaison section to the start of the special stage was followed by 207.66 kilometres against the clock and a 45.38-kilometre return to Douz on public roads.
The briefing rated the first part as the most technical: dune crossings, compass-heading navigation (marked “CAP” in the roadbook), soft sand and frequent changes of direction. Two hazards marked “DANGER !!” lay at kilometres 25.63 and 28.80 of the special stage. Between kilometres 35 and 100 came a long dune section where, according to the briefing, precise navigation mattered more than speed.
A one-hour neutralisation began at kilometre 129.28, with service and a refuelling stop at kilometre 129.54; the restart came at kilometre 147.89. After that the route led through dunes and white sand again, and between kilometres 177 and 197 through fesh-fesh, a fine, powdery dust-like sand. Only towards the end of the special stage did the terrain become more open.
Gerlach catches Knuiman on the track
According to the start list, Knuiman, as overall leader, started first at 6:30 a.m., with Gerlach following a minute later. Based on the stage times in the overall classification, the Dutchman was around one and a half minutes ahead before the start. Gerlach took 4 hours, 57 minutes and 7 seconds for the special stage, while Knuiman took 5 hours, 1 minute and 8 seconds. According to the list, both received two minutes of penalty time (note “WPM(1)”); the list gives no reason.
Gerlach himself explained the time gain in the evening in a voice recording from the paddock (translated from German): “That was because the rider in front of me, Jeremy, has a problem with his tablet. That means I was able to catch him and make up a lot of time.” In rally raids, the tablet generally serves as a digital roadbook. There is no statement from Knuiman on the problem.
Daan Veenendaal (GasGas) finished third, 15 minutes and 26 seconds behind, including 19 minutes of penalty time according to the list. He remains third overall, but is already 1 hour, 2 minutes and 15 seconds behind Gerlach.
Motorcycle overall classification after Leg 5 (provisional)
Gap to the leader (h:min:sec), as of the provisional classification of 29 October 2026:
- Justin Gerlach (Germany, KTM), total time 25:34:18
- Jeremy Knuiman (Netherlands, KTM), +0:02:31
- Daan Veenendaal (Netherlands, GasGas), +1:02:15
- Gaspard Delsart (France, KTM), +5:05:18
- Sara Jugla (France, Kove), +6:04:35
- Marian Augustyn (Poland, Fantic), +6:08:55
- Richard Wijntjes (Netherlands, Husqvarna), +6:09:51
- Florian Willer (Germany, KTM), +7:42:13
- Pascal de Baar (Netherlands, KTM), +7:57:04
- Taher Fourati (Tunisia, KTM), +8:12:58
Behind the leaders
Sara Jugla took fourth place on the stage, 1 hour, 3 minutes and 45 seconds behind. Fifth was Mustapha Bouchneb of Algeria, who, according to RallyTracks.nl, had not started the third stage. Marian Augustyn came sixth. Gaspard Delsart was only tenth, but keeps fourth place overall.
Melek Abdelkafi of Tunisia finished fifteenth with 2 hours and 30 minutes of penalty time. Abdelkader Mebarki of Algeria tops the stage classification with the maximum time; an earlier version of the list recorded a retirement (“DNF”) for him. Sixteen riders were classified in the Enduro class.
In the quads, Adam Krysiak of Poland won this stage too, by 9 minutes and 13 seconds from Karol Slugocki. His overall lead is 1 hour, 38 minutes and 50 seconds.
German-speaking starters
Besides Gerlach, Florian Willer (KTM) finished ninth without penalty time, 2 hours, 1 minute and 39 seconds behind the stage winner. He is eighth overall. Austrian Georg Reinprecht (Beta RR 390) finished fourteenth, 3 hours, 19 minutes and 16 seconds behind, including 49 minutes of penalty time according to the list. As he did not start the third stage, he stands 16th overall, 31 hours, 33 minutes and 43 seconds behind.
Still work to do in the paddock in the evening
Gerlach’s day was not over after the stage win. He had to repair his motorcycle: “I had an oil leak. On the left side, at the connection to the oil cooler.” According to him, the cause was a faulty O-ring, for which he found a replacement in the paddock.
A second problem was unresolved at the time of the recording. By his own account, Gerlach had lent out his Bluetooth adapter, and after it was returned the part no longer worked. He was waiting for technicians from the organisation. “Extremely annoying,” said Gerlach, recalling the old rule: “Never change your running system”.
Sources and photo credits
- Geotraq/Fenix Rally 2026: Partial Unofficial Classification for SS5 (Day 5), as of 29.10.2026: rc.geotraq.de
- Geotraq/Fenix Rally 2026: Rally Provisional Classification (Day 5), as of 29.10.2026: rc.geotraq.de
- Fenix Rally Tunisia 2026: Competitor Briefing Leg 5 and start list Leg 5 (organiser documents)
- RallyTracks.nl: “Third stage win in a row for Thijs and Van Tiel, penalty costs Knuiman the lead in Fenix Rally”, 28.10.2026: rallytracks.nl
- Justin Gerlach: voice recording from the paddock, 29.10.2026
- Photo 1: Jeremy Knuiman (start number 21) on a desert track; photographer not named; original source: RallyTracks.nl, published 28.10.2026; archive photo, not from Leg 5
- Photo 2: Jeremy Knuiman (start number 21) on a sand track; photographer not named; original source: RallyTracks.nl; date taken not stated; archive photo, not from Leg 5