Former world rally champion Carlos Sainz, of Spain, used all his experience of road-racing to win the first stage of the Dakar Rally from Lisbon yesterday.
Sainz covered the 370km stage, including 83km of timed sections, in a fast 56m 20s ahead of Portugal's Carlos Sousa by 1m 30s with France'sBruno Saby at 1m 51s.
France's Cyril Despres, riding a KTM, was the first competitor home in the motorcycle section.
