Alphand wins stage marred by young boy's death

Luc Alphand had victory in sight in the Dakar rally after winning yesterday's 13th stage marred by the death of a boy hit by a race car.

Alphand, driving a Mitsubishi, extended his overall lead by clocking the fastest time over the day's 348-km timed section on narrow dirt tracks between Labe, Guinea, and Tambacounda, Senegal.

The boy, who had come with his parents to watch the rally pass just outside the Guinean village of Kourahoye, 25 km into the stage, was hit as he crossed the road.

The boy is the second casualty of this year's rally after Australian motorcyclist Andy Caldecott died in a crash on Monday.

Alphand won the day's stage ahead of twice world rally champion Carlos Sainz of Spain and South African Giniel De Villiers.

Alphand was more than 22 minutes ahead of De Villiers overall with two stages remaining before the race ends in Dakar tomorrow.