Former top French skier Luc Alphand had victory in sight in the Dakar Rally after winning Friday’s 13th stage marred by the death of a young boy hit by a race car. Alphand, driving a Mitsubishi, extended his overall lead by clocking the fastest time over the day’s 348-km timed section on narrow dirt tracks between Labe, Guinea, and Tambacounda, Senegal. The boy, who had come with his parents to watch the rally pass just outside the Guinean village of Kourahoye, 25 km into the stage, was hit as he crossed the road. “A young boy that had come with his family to see the rally go by was hit by vehicle #420 of the car class while crossing the track,” organizers said. “He immediately received treatment from the medical staff of the rally, but died during his transfer by helicopter to Labe.” Saukans drives with Dambis Andris. Friday’s stage runs from Labe to Tambacounda, Senegal. The boy is the second casualty of this year’s rally after Australian motorcyclist Andy Caldecott died in a crash during the ninth stage on Monday. Alphand, the 1997 Alpine skiing World Cup champion, won the day’s stage ahead of twice world rally champion Carlos Sainz of Spain and South African Giniel De Villiers, both driving Volkswagen Touraeg prototypes. Alphand, who was the world’s best downhiller before switching to rallying, was more than 22 minutes ahead of De Villiers overall with two stages remaining before the race ends in Dakar on Sunday. In the motorcyle section, the KTM riders continued to dominate, filling the top six spots. Italian Giovanni Sala won ahead of Frenchmen Cyril Despres and Alain Duclos. Spaniard Marc Coma came fourth to retain the overall lead. The gruelling race across seven countries and covering more than 9,000 km started in Lisbon on Dec. 31.(ESPN.com/AP), NASCAR’s Robby Gordon was in the race but his race ended after stage 8, see more on my #7 Team News and Links page.(1-13-2006)
AND For the second day in a row, a boy died after being hit by a vehicle involved in the Dakar Rally. A support truck hit and killed a 12-year-old boy Saturday, said organizers of the cross-continental road race — which ends Sunday. The truck struck the boy during the 14th stage on a road reserved for support vehicles. Police were investigating the accident, which occurred between the Senegalese cities of Tambacounda and Dakar.(ESPN.com/AP)(1-14-2006)
