The 10th edition of the Afriquia Merzouga Rally got underway in the Moroccan desert town Erfoud in the Sahara Desert. The competition began with a 208-kilometre race on Monday with 127 competitors across the motorbike, side-by-side and quad categories. The opening bike stage was won by Yamaha Racing's Adrien Van Beveren after he completed the race in 3 hours 29 minutes, 10 seconds. Stefan Svitko finished 5 minutes, 12 seconds adrift in second, with Michael Metge in third. The side-by-side event had a familiar name at the top with the 2019 Dakar Rally winner Nasser Al-Attiyah taking first place together with Matthieu Baumel after the pair finished in 3 hours and 52 minutes, 33 seconds. Al-Attiyah and Baumel finished 13 minutes, 39 seconds ahead of Dani Sola and Sergio Lafuente with Federic Pitout and Eric Bersey in third.