Defending Dakar Rally champion Stephane Peterhansel of France won the 483km 10th stage of the Dakar Rally in Atar, Mauritania, on Monday.
Driving a Mitsubishi, he completed the stage in five hours, 22 minutes and 58 seconds to finish one minute and 27 seconds clear of teammate Luc Alphand.
Germany’s Jutta Kleinschmidt came third, 30 minutes and 27 seconds off the pace.
Peterhansel kept a grip on the overall lead in the race, 21 minutes and 28 seconds ahead of former skiing great Alphand and 1:10,45 clear of Kleinschmidt.
Earlier on Monday, motorcyclist Cyril Despres, riding a KTM, made it a one-two for France when he won the 10th stage of the motorbike rally and regained top spot in the overall standings from the overnight leader, Italian Fabrizio Meoni.
Despres completed the 483km special around the Mauritanian town of Atar in 5:28,26, more than 10 minutes ahead of Meoni.
Spain’s Isidre Esteve Pujol was third, 12,24 off the pace.
Marc Coma, third in the overall standings, lost a vital 15 minutes after running out of petrol, and finished the special in fifth place behind France’s David Fretigne. — Sapa-AFP