Barreda rides to Dakar stage victory, Sanders retains lead

Spanish rider Joan Barreda won his first stage of this year's Dakar Rally on Wednesday taking the honours in the fourth stage of this year's race with Australia's Dominic Sanders retaining the overall lead.

Barreda, on a Honda, timed 16 seconds faster than Chilean team-mate Pablo Quintanilla with the ultra-consistent Skyler Howes of the United States third, 1min 5sec off the pace.

Howes's compatriot Mason Klein was the big loser on two wheels on the 425 kilometres special raced around Hail.

He led for most of the stage until a fuel intake problem 20km from the finish cost him dearly, losing 12 minutes.

As a result he dropped from second overall to sixth.

"I had to stop, take the tank off and pour it in the back," he said.

"Then I couldn't get the skid plate bolt back in.

"I was getting very stressed. It's pretty disappointing because the day was going so well, but at least we made it here."

Sanders -- winner of Tuesday's stage -- leads Howes by 3min 33sec with Kevin Benavides of Argentina third, 4min 5sec adrift of the Australian.

Sanders, though, worryingly for his fans said he was suffering from a sore arm after posting the eighth fastest time, over 10min off the winner.

"I think for me now it's just a case of trying to get some recovery and take it easy for the next few days because my arm is pretty sore already and the elbow isn't 100 percent," said Sanders, who fractured his left elbow and wrist when he crashed in last year's race.

"We'll take it easy. It's a long race. I'm just trying to calm myself down every day. I said to myself and the family and friends back home that after the year off I'll be happy with a top 10 finish."

Chile's Jose Ignacio Cornejo earned plaudits in stopping to help injured Hero rider Joaquin Rodrigues, who ultimately had to retire from the race.

Cornejo had the time lost for his act of selflessness restored by the organisers.

al/pi/bsp