 Alphand won the stage by 53 seconds |
Colin McRae put his problems of the last few days behind him to move up the standings at the Dakar Rally. The Scot was 41st at the start of Tuesday's 12th stage, which covered 213km between Bobo-Dioulasso and Bamako, but he finished 13th to move up to 21st overall.
Frenchman Luc Alphand, the 1997 World Cup skiing champion, won the stage.
But his compatriot Stephane Peterhansel remains in the lead overall thanks to his third place finish on the stage.
Peterhansel, who is bidding to become only the second competitor to win the race on four wheels as well as two, now has an overall lead of one hour four minutes and 43 seconds.
Defending champion Hiroshi Masuoka of Japan is in second place.
Wednesday's 13th stage heads for Ayoun El Atrous in Mauritania.
Overall positions after stage 12:
Cars:
1. Stephane Peterhansel (France) Mitsubushi 30:16:53
2. Hiroshi Masuoka (Japan) Mitsubishi 1:04:43 behind
3. Jean-Louis Schlesser (France) Schlesser Ford 2:18:16
4. Luc Alphand (France) BMW 3:53:58
5. Gregoire De Mevius (Belgium) 4:15:30
Motorcycles:
1. Nani Roma (Spain) KTM 33:00:13
2. Richard Sainct (France) KTM 10:06
3. Alfie Cox (South Africa) KTM 28:53
4. Cyril Despres (France) KTM 33:29
5. Pal Anders Ullevalseter (Norway) KTM 1:01:43
MMIX
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