Peterhansel Captures 10th Stage of Dakar Rally

Topics:  Dakar Rally

VOA Sports
January 10, 2005

French driver Stephane Peterhansel has captured his third stage victory at the Dakar Rally with a victory in Monday's 10th stage of the race.

Peterhansel finished the 483-kilometer leg, which started and ended in Atar, Mauritania, in five hours, 22 minutes and 58 seconds. His compatriot and Mitsubishi teammate, Luc Alphand, was one minute and 27 seconds behind in second place, while Jutta Kleinschmidt of Germany in a Volkswagen crossed the finish line more than a half-hour later for third place.

Peterhansel remains the race's overall leader, with a total time of 28 hours, eight minutes and 55 seconds. Alphand is second, 21 minutes and 28 seconds behind.

Cyril Despres of France won his first stage in the motorcycle division, finishing in five hours, 28 minutes and 26 seconds. That was more than 10 minutes faster than Italy's Fabrizio Meoni, and over 12 minutes ahead of Spain's Isidre Esteve Pujol. The stage win gives Despres the overall motorcycle lead.

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.