Peterhansel increases lead on hazardous Dakar 5th stage
January 7, 2021 GMT
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Stephane Peterhansel increased his overall lead in the Dakar Rally on a treacherous fifth stage won by Giniel de Villiers on Thursday.
Peterhansel held off Nasser Al-Attiyah, who won the previous three stages, by more than two minutes over the 456-kilometer (284-mile) special between Riyadh and Al Qaisumah in eastern Saudi Arabia.
The Frenchman, the record seven-time champion in cars, was third on the stage, followed by Al-Attiyah, and led the Qatari overall by more than six minutes.
“It was not beautiful landscape and not nice to drive, but it was a really selective stage like it always is on the Dakar,” Peterhansel said.