Peterhansel extends lead as Loeb crashes out in Dakar Rally

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Defending champion Stephane Peterhansel extended his lead in the Dakar Rally by winning Wednesday's fifth stage in southern Peru.

The Frenchman finished the 266km stretch from San Juan de Marcona to Arequipa in two hours 51 minutes and 19 seconds in his Peugeot, almost five minutes faster than the Toyota of Dutchman Bernhard Ten Brinke.

South Africa's Giniel de Villiers was third in his Toyota, 12 minutes and 47 seconds behind Peterhansel.

It was a wretched day for nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb, who was forced to withdraw from the event after his Peugeot ploughed into a crater. The Frenchman was unhurt but his co-driver Daniel Elena suffered a tailbone injury.

"The sand was extremely loose," Loeb said. "We were following Nasser (Al-Attiyah) and saw him go over, so we did the same, but I hadn' t realized there was a hole behind the crest. And, bam, we went right into the hole."

Bidding for his first Dakar Rally title, Loeb, had begun the day second in the overall standings after winning stage four.

China's He Zhitao and Zhao Kai, racing for the Boundless Yong Racing Team, crossed Wednesday's finish line in 34th place, two hours 19 minutes and 18 seconds behind Peterhansel.

Peterhansel, a 13-time Dakar champion, now leads Spaniard Carlos Sainz by more than 31 minutes in the overall standings. Ten Brinke is third, one hour 15 minutes and 16 seconds off the pace. He and Kai are 43rd in the overall standings.

In the motorcycle category, Spain's Joan Barreda won the stage on his Honda, 10 minutes and 26 seconds ahead of Austria's KTM rider Matthias Walkner and more than 12 minutes clear of Argentina's Honda rider Kevin Benavides.

China's Zhang Min was 78th for Daming Racing Team, two hours 26 minutes and 39 seconds off the pace. His countryman and Daming teammate, Zhao Hongyi, finished the stage in 91st place, three hours six minutes and 59 seconds behind Barreda.

In the overall standings, France's Adrien Van Beveren leads on his Yamaha, a minute ahead of Benavides, with Walkner just one minute and 14 seconds in arrears. Zhang is 82nd and Zhao 86th. Enditem