LIMA, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Stephane Peterhansel won the third stage of the Dakar Rally on Wednesday as the Frenchman's X-raid Mini teammate Carlos Sainz saw his hopes of defending his title all but disappear.

Peterhansel, a 13-time Dakar champion, endured a tight battle with Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah before racing clear in the latter stages of the 331km timed section between San Juan de Marcona and Arequipa.

The Frenchman crossed the finish line in three hours 54 minutes and 31 seconds, three minutes and 26 seconds ahead of Toyota driver Al-Attiyah.

Jakub Przygonski was third, 11 minutes and 47 seconds further back.

Sainz lost more than three hours after damaging his car's front-left suspension and wheel early in the stage, leaving him among the stragglers in the overall standings.

Nine-time world rally champion Sebastian Loeb, the winner of Tuesday's second stage, also encountered problems on Wednesday and finished 42 minutes behind Peterhansel.

Al-Attiyah leads overall, almost seven minutes ahead of X-raid Mini's Yazeed Al Rajhi of Saudi Arabia. Poland's Jakub Przygonski is third, 11 minutes and 47 seconds off the pace. Enditem

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