Sainz takes overall lead in Dakar Rally

Carlos Sainz took the overall lead in the Dakar Rally as Volkswagen swept the podium in the fifth stage on Wednesday. American Mark Miller won the grueling stretch across the Atacama Desert from Copiapo north to Antofagasta, Sainz finished 2 minutes, 10 seconds behind, and Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah was third.

Sainz leads Al-Attiyah by 4:37 overall, and Miller is 9:39 off the pace in third. Stephane Peterhansel, the overall leader going into the stage, stalled at least twice and finished 2 hours, 14:35 minutes behind Miller.

In motorbikes, Chilean Contardo Lopez won the stage and Cyril Despres was 1:30 behind, allowing the Frenchman to extend his overall lead to 37:37 on Lopez.