Sainz wins Dakar fourth stage

Spaniard Carlos Sainz won the fourth stage of the Dakar rally by six seconds from Qatar's Nasser Al Attiyah on Tuesday to maintain the overall lead in the controversial race.

Sainz, who also won Sunday's second stage, completed the 459-kms stage across the dust-laden back roads of southern Patagonia in three hours 42.57 minutes with his Qatari rival, winner of the first and third stages, in hot pursuit.

Sainz, who clinched the 11th Dakar rally stage of his career, retained the overall lead where he is 3.49 minutes ahead of Al Attiyah after the section from Ingeniero Jacobacci to Neuquen.

Marc Coma completed a double for Spain when he won the motorcycle stage in four hours 9.32 minutes to extend his overall lead to 42.57 minutes ahead of Johan Street.

Coma, who has won three of the four stages, finished 1.17 minutes ahead of Frenchman Cyril Despres with Street in third place a further four seconds behind.