'Mr Dakar' Strikes As Title Beckons For Al-Attiyah
Zeeshan Mehtab Published January 12, 2022 | 06:53 PM
The Dakar Rally's record 14-time champion Stephane Peterhansel powered to stage 10 success on Wednesday as only a mechanical meltdown appeared to now stand between Nasser Al-Attiyah and the 2022 title
Bisha, Saudi Arabia, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jan, 2022 ) :The Dakar Rally's record 14-time champion Stephane Peterhansel powered to stage 10 success on Wednesday as only a mechanical meltdown appeared to now stand between Nasser Al-Attiyah and the 2022 title.
The Qatari three-time winner heads into Thursday's penultimate stage 32min 40sec clear of France's nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb.
In the bike category France's Adrien Van Beveren moved to the top of the rankings after a day marked by the premature end of Kevin Benavides' title defence.
Peterhansel, known as 'Mr Dakar', won last year, three decades after his first victory on two wheels in 1991.
The only competitor to win the famed rally in Africa, South America and Asia, Peterhansel was thrilled to land a stage in his Audi hybrid.
"I'm not necessarily a stage hunter, but each Audi driver has now won a stage, and that's fantastic," the Frenchman said.
"When Carlos (Sainz) became the first driver to win a Dakar stage in an electric car, it was a milestone, now we confirmed that performance.
" He added: "This is good for morale, not least because it comes after a complicated start to the rally.
"We need to win in 2023. Failure is not an option." In the bikes race Argentina's 2021 champion Benavides came unstuck 133km into the stage when his KTM suffered a terminal breakdown. Benavides had started the day in fifth, 10min22sec adrift.
Another KTM rider, Matthias Walkner, had a troubling time too, losing the overall lead after finishing quarter of an hour behind stage winner Toby price.
Van Beveren, on a Yamaha, gave his chances of succeeding Benavides a massive boost by finishing fourth, at three and a half minutes, to reclaim the bike rankings' summit after briefly holding sway at the weekend.
With only two days to go he is almost six minutes clear of Briton's 2017 champion Sam Sunderland.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
DP World ILT20 Season 3 to begin from 11 January 2025
Sharjah Public Library unveils interactive arts and crafts journey at SCRF 2024
"Wonder Walks” show makes an enthralling debut at SCRF 2024
Remarkable Young Minds Light up the Stage at Sharjah Children’s Reading
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 12 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 12 May 2024
Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman's visit schedule being discussed
Govt decides to procurement wheat from farmers
Deputy PM to pay 4-day visit to China from Monday
Pakistan seeks foreign investments in diverse sectors: PM
Digital transformation key priority for govt to improve tax collection: Aurangze ..
President-designate of COP29 for collective efforts to deal with climate change ..
More Stories From Sports
-
Pak White beats Pak Colour in Tchoukball match
52 minutes ago -
AFC-PFF join hands to strengthen Pakistan football
1 hour ago -
Central Asian Volleyball League: Pakistan outplays SL
2 hours ago -
Hamza suffers setback at PSA World Squash C'ship
4 hours ago -
SAF National Physical Disability T20 cricket championship: Lahore phase to start from Tuesday
4 hours ago -
Softball gaining popularity in Pakistan: Asif Azeem
6 hours ago
-
DP World ILT20 Season 3 to begin from 11 January 2025
6 hours ago -
IPC Minister praises Pak hockey team for superb performance in Sultan Azlan Shah Cup
10 hours ago -
Japan wins Sultan Azlan Shah Cup
23 hours ago -
Central Asian Volleyball League kicks off
24 hours ago -
Lahore wins National Women’s One-Day Cricket Tournament by 8 wickets
1 day ago -
SA Gardens, Wapda move in National Challenge final
1 day ago