CRI NEWS

Kleinschmidt, Coma Win 11th Stage

2005-1-12 3:17:56 CRIENGLISH.com

Germany's Jutta Kleinschmidt from Volkswagen and KTM's Marc Coma of Spain won the 11th stage of the Dakar Rally.

Kleinschmidt finished the 400-kilometer special in five hours 29 minutes 37 seconds, followed by the Mitsubishi's Frenchmen Luc Alphand and last year's winner Stephane Peterhansel.

Peterhansel retains the overall standings with a 19 minutes 50 seconds advance over Alphand and more than one hour over Kleinschmidt.

In the motorbike race, Marc Coma came home in five hours 58 minutes 59 seconds, over one minute ahead of Frenchman Cyril Despres and almost four minutes ahead of compatriot Isidre Esteve Pujol.

Despres dominates the overall standings with 35 hours 13 minutes four seconds.

Tuesday's stage marred by the death of motorcyclist Fabrizio Meoni.

The 47-year Italian, who won the Rally in 2001 and 2002, died of a heart attack after a crash.

Competitors face a grueling 819km 12th stage, with a 586km timed special, from Kiffa to Bamako, the capital of Mali.

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