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Sunday, 08 January 2006 |
Dakar Rally champion Stephane Peterhansel takes the lead
Dakar Rally champion Stephane Peterhansel took the overall lead from
Luc Alphand after finishing third in the eighth stage on Saturday.
Their fellow Frenchman Thierry Magnaldi took the 508-kilometre leg through Mauritania in five hours 56 seconds.
American Mark Miller was six minutes 52 seconds behind in second but Carlos Sainz lost ground after hitting a rock.
In the motorcycle section, Marc Coma kept the overall lead after he came fifth behind stage winner David Casteu.
Stephane Peterhansel is more than happy with his position despite being
just 32 seconds ahead of Luc Alphand as they go into Sunday's rest day.
"Actually at half the way to Dakar, the situation is almost ideal," he said.
David Casteu's win in the bikes category was his first ever stage victory in the rally.
The KTM rider posted a time of five hours, 55 minutes and 55 seconds,
two minutes and 13 seconds ahead of Chris Blais, with Cyril Despres a
further four seconds adrift.
Cyril Despres rode despite the pain because he is suffering the after
affects of a dislocated left shoulder and also has tendonitis in his
right wrist.
The reigning bike champion remains in fourth place overall.
The race starts again on Monday with an 874km stretch through Mauritania from the capital Nouakchott to Kiffa.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 11 January 2006 )
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Motor Sports 
