Paul Carruthers | January 15, 2007
Janis Vinters gave Latvia its first-ever stage win in the Dakar Rally, the KTM rider storming through today’s 308-mile run from Ticht to Nema to beat Gauloises KTM’s Cyril Despres by seven minutes and 31 seconds.
Control of the overall standings, however, still very much remains in the hands of Repsol KTM’s Marc Coma, the Spaniard finishing third in today’s stage but leading the overall by 54 minutes and 36 seconds.
Third place today went to Pal Anders Ullevalseter with Jean de Alzevado finishing fourth. American Chris Blais, meanwhile, ended the day sixth on his Red Bull KTM.
In the overall standings, Blais eeked closer to David Casteu in the run for the final podium spot with the Frenchman finishing one spot behind the American today.
Fifth place overall is held by Ullevalseter.
Casey McCoy finished 28th in today’s stage and now sits 31st overall.
Vinters’ best finish in the rally prior to today’s victory was a seventh in stage seven.
Paul Carruthers | Editor
Paul Carruthers took over as the editor of Cycle News in 1993 after serving as associate editor since starting his career at the publication in 1985. Carruthers has covered every facet of the sport in his near-28-year tenure at America's Daily Motorcycle News Source.
