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Peterhansel seals Dakar crown

Peterhansel seals 10th Dakar crown

01/15/2012 08:22:34 PM

Stephane Peterhansel won his fourth Dakar Rally car race title and 10th in total on Sunday (local time), as Cyril Despres took out the bike race.

Frenchman Peterhansel began the short final stage from Piscu to the Peruvian capital Lima with a comfortable lead over Mini team-mate Nani Roma.

American Bobby Gordon, driving for Hummer, took out the 29km leg in 22 minutes 43 seconds.

Peterhansel was happy to settle for 10th on the day, enough to keep him ahead of Spaniard Roma, who was eighth.

South Africa's Giniel de Villiers claimed fourth in the stage and third place overall for Toyota.

It was Peterhansel's first win since 2007, and his maiden success since the event switched to South America for security reasons.

"When you think of how hard it is to win a Dakar, it's incredible that I've been able to win 10 of them," Peterhansel said.

"It's been a long time, I've been waiting for five years to win again. To take the victory in South America is a huge relief, it ranks among my best triumphs."

Also on Sunday, Despres confirmed his success in the bike category with a 10th-place finish in the last stage, won by Norwegian Pal Anders Ullevalseter.

His closest competitor, fellow KTM man Marc Coma, came second in the stage, and could only manage second in the final race standings.

Helder Rodrigues of Portugal was third overall.

It was Despres' fourth bike category victory after earlier triumphs in 2005, 2007 and 2010.

"Today we won and it's simply fantastic," the Frenchman said.

"This is without a shadow of a doubt the toughest Dakar I've ever raced in."

"It was difficult physically, but even more psychologically. Challenging yourself every morning and fighting on the course takes its toll on your mind."

"I've done 90 or 85 rallies throughout my life, and this one was the one where I had to fight the hardest. Today will leave its mark on me."

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images


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