Loeb wins Dakar Rally 4th stage

Peru Jan 10 (IANS) France s nine-time World rally champion Sebastien Loeb clinched his first stage win of the 2018 Dakar Rally as Peugeot claimed all three podium places in southern Peru.

Loeb finished one minute 35 seconds ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz on Tuesday and he was more than three minutes in front of compatriot and defending champion Stephane Peterhansel reports Xinhua news agency.

The result lifted Loeb to second in the overall standings just under seven minutes behind Peterhansel.

"I m not going to gain time by losing stages " said Loeb who is aiming to win the prestigious off-road event for the first time. "It was a very good day especially in a very difficult stage with the dunes and the navigation needed. We re not complaining."

Frenchman Adrien Van Beveren took the overall lead in the motorcycle category by winning Tuesday s fourth stage on his Yamaha.

Van Beveren finished five minutes ahead of teammate Xavier de Soultrait with Austria s Matthias Walkner seven minutes off the pace on his KTM.

It was a frustrating day for Britain s defending bikes champion Sam Sunderland who withdrew from the race with a back injury.

--IANS
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