Motorsport: Alphand wins ninth stage of Dakar Rally

DAKAR - Frenchman Luc Alphand won the 361km ninth stage of the Dakar Rally on Saturday, finishing one minute 31 seconds ahead of his Mitsubishi team mate Stephane Peterhansel.

Alphand, the former World Cup downhill skier, closed the gap on race leader and defending champion Peterhansel to just over 20 minutes with his first stage victory. American Robby Gordon was third.

German Jutta Kleinschmidt is in third place overall, more than 40 minutes adrift of the leader.

Spaniard Isidre Esteve Pujol won the motorcycle stage ahead of Fabrizio Meoni, who took the overall lead.

Friday's eighth stage was cancelled due to stormy weather conditions.

- REUTERS