Sainz takes lead of Dakar Rally

Uyuni, Bolivia: Carlos Sainz took advantage of Stephane Peterhansel’s crash to win a second successive stage of the Dakar Rally and take the overall lead on Saturday. Peterhansel, the defending champion, began the seventh stage in southern Bolivia with a 27-minute lead on second-placed Sainz.

After a rest day on Friday, Peterhansel left La Paz in a hurry and was fastest until 129 kilometres into the speedy 425-kilometre dirt route to Uyuni, when he crashed.

By the time the French rally great repaired the left rear wheel, suspension and radiator in his Peugeot, he was 1 hour, 45 minutes behind Sainz, who was nearly at the finish.