2026 Leaderboard: Week 3

Three weeks down, seven to go, and the Leaderboard is shifting slightly. We are beginning to see some Nomad Teams pacing for the long haul, while others are positioning themselves for major point surges that could shake up the leaderboard at any moment. Holding a commanding lead for three weeks straight, Team 117 Lucas continues its flawless, high-velocity campaign. By checking off the maximum of twelve complete Overland Stages in the first three weeks of the event, they posted a staggering 3,943 points. Their relentless consistency has set an incredibly high bar for the rest of the teams. But the battle at the top is beginning to tighten. Firmly in 2nd Place, Team 101 Mercer has been putting in serious miles exploring the desert around Utah’s San Rafael Swell. Breaking through the 2,000-point mark, the Mercers now sit at 2,190 points, steadily narrowing the gap and demonstrating just how effective a focused, multi-stage strategy can be. The biggest move of Week 3 belongs to Team 110 Smigiel. After tackling several demanding Overland Stages in northern California, Dariusz and Aga have surged into 3rd Place with 1,169 points, making them one of the fastest-rising teams in the rally. And the 2026 Nomad Teams continue to impress. By the close of Week 3, six teams have already surpassed the 1,000-point milestone—-a testament to both the competitiveness of this year’s rally and the ambitious pace many teams have set. Some teams are currently in the midst of cross-country travel, while others are deliberately holding back high-value Overland Stages for later in the summer. With seven weeks still remaining, today’s standings are far from permanent, and a single well-executed week could dramatically reshape the leaderboard. On the challenge front, competitors delivered excellent work on Weekly Challenge #3, which focused on weather awareness. Safe and successful overlanding depends on understanding rapidly changing conditions, and the Nomad Teams demonstrated a strong grasp of the skills needed to read the forecast and adapt on the trail. As we roll into Week 4, the spotlight turns to technology. Weekly Challenge #4 has officially dropped, and teams will be tested on their mastery of digital mapping tools. From offline maps and layered navigation to waypoint management, this week’s challenge will separate casual users from true navigation experts.