Defending bike champion Despres takes charge

Defending champion Cyril Despres took the overall lead in this year's Dakar Rally on Tuesday after the 10th stage, a 636km ride including a 357km timed section from Cordoba to La Rioja. The 38-year-old KTM rider had made his charge on Monday when, having been over 24 minutes off the pace, he stormed to his first stage victory of this year's edition and on Tuesday he showed he was the man in form in finishing second in the stage. Spaniard Joan Barreda Bort took the stage honours on his Husqvarna bike, finishing 1min 15sec ahead of Despres. Despres, seeking his fifth Dakar title, leads overnight leader and team-mate Ruben Faria by 1min 37sec in the overall standings in the race which finishes on Sunday. From : AFP