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2010 champ Carlos Sainz wins brief first stage of Dakar Rally in Peru

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Driver Carlos Sainz of Spain and German co-driver Timo Gottschalk jump with their buggy as they compete in stage one of the 2013 Dakar Rally between Lima and Pisco, Peru, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013. The race finishes in Santiago, Chile, on Jan. 20. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano) (The Associated Press)

Mini driver Stephane Peterhansel of France competes in stage one of the 2013 Dakar Rally between Lima and Pisco, Peru, as a helicopter follows, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013. The race finishes in Santiago, Chile, on Jan. 20. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano) (The Associated Press)

Former champion Carlos Sainz of Spain rebounded from missing last year's Dakar Rally by winning the first stage of this year's race around Pisco on Saturday.

Drivers had to rally only eight miles after driving down the Pacific coast from the official start in Lima.

Sainz, the 2010 champion who's trying out new buggys with teammate and 2011 winner Nasser Al-Attiyah, won his 25th Dakar stage.

Lucio Alvarez of Argentina was 24 seconds behind in second overall, and 30 seconds down were Guerlain Chicherit of France and Al-Attiyah, the Qatari who won the skeet bronze in the London Olympics.