Al-Attiyah wins 9th stage, cuts into Sainz's lead
Source: Agencies |
January 13, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
QATARI driver Nasser Al-Attiyah won the ninth stage of the Dakar Rally, cutting into the overall lead of Spain's Carlos Sainz. In the motorbike category, Marc Coma of Spain won the 338-kilometer stage from Copiapo to La Serena.
Monday's stage wrapped up almost a week in Chile's Atacama desert, one of the driest places on earth.
Al-Attiyah won in 1 hour, 59 minutes, 28 seconds, 5:59 ahead of Volkswagen teammate Sainz. Al-Attiyah's victory cut Sainz's overall lead to only 8:36 with five stages remaining. The rally ends on Saturday where it began in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.
Coma completed the stage in 2:12:30, just 4 seconds in front of KTM teammate Cyril Despres. Despres holds a huge leads in overall standings, 1:21:50 ahead of Norway's Pal Anders Ullevalseter. Coma, the defending champion, is more than 7 hours behind.
Al-Attiyah did what he set out to do - whittle down Sainz's lead.
"After yesterday, I said I must take six minutes from Carlos because if he gains time over me today, then the team might start giving team orders and I don't need team orders," Al-Attiyah said. "Now, victory is possible. ... The fight continues. I'm here to win the race."
The 10th stage will be a relatively short, sandless stretch from La Serena south to the Chilean capital Santiago. From there, the Dakar crosses the Andes at 3,500 meters and returns to Argentina.
Monday's stage wrapped up almost a week in Chile's Atacama desert, one of the driest places on earth.
Al-Attiyah won in 1 hour, 59 minutes, 28 seconds, 5:59 ahead of Volkswagen teammate Sainz. Al-Attiyah's victory cut Sainz's overall lead to only 8:36 with five stages remaining. The rally ends on Saturday where it began in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.
Coma completed the stage in 2:12:30, just 4 seconds in front of KTM teammate Cyril Despres. Despres holds a huge leads in overall standings, 1:21:50 ahead of Norway's Pal Anders Ullevalseter. Coma, the defending champion, is more than 7 hours behind.
Al-Attiyah did what he set out to do - whittle down Sainz's lead.
"After yesterday, I said I must take six minutes from Carlos because if he gains time over me today, then the team might start giving team orders and I don't need team orders," Al-Attiyah said. "Now, victory is possible. ... The fight continues. I'm here to win the race."
The 10th stage will be a relatively short, sandless stretch from La Serena south to the Chilean capital Santiago. From there, the Dakar crosses the Andes at 3,500 meters and returns to Argentina.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
