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Subscribe to RSSSouth Africa's Riaan Van Niekerk rides his KTM during the 5th stage of the Dakar Rally 2013 from Arequipa in Peru to Arica in Chile, on Jan. 9.
This image was made available to NBC News on Jan. 11.
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Jacky Naegelen / Reuters
Dakar Rally's Stage 3 victorious for some, costly for others
Franck Fife / AFP - Getty Images
Poland's Jacek Czachor competes during Stage 3 of the 2013 Dakar Rally between Pisco and Nazca, Peru, on Jan. 7. The rally takes place in Peru, Argentina and Chile from Jan. 5 - 20.
Felipe Trueba / EPA
Russian driver Vladimir Vasilyev overturns with his vehicle during Stage 3 or the 2013 Dakar Rally in the Nasca desert, about 450km south of Lima, Peru.
Jacky Naegelen / Reuters
Spectators watch as co-pilots Czech Republic's Tomas Vratny, Miskolci Jaroslav and Milan Holan compete with their Tatra truck.
Jacky Naegelen / Reuters
Sherco's rider Alain Duclos jumps during Stage 3 of the Dakar Rally.
Franck Fife / AFP - Getty Images
Sherco's rider Alain Duclos jumps during Stage 3 of the Dakar Rally.
See images from previous Dakar Rallies in PhotoBlog
Peterhansel wins stage and takes overall lead at Dakar Rally
Jacky Naegelen / Reuters
France's Stephane Peterhansel and his co-pilot Jean-Paul Cottret of France drive their Mini Monster during the fourth stage of the fourth South American edition of the Dakar Rally 2012 from San Juan to Chilecito Jan. 4, 2012.
AP reports: CHILECITO, Argentina -Nine-time champion Stephane Peterhansel moved into first place in the Dakar Rally with a commanding victory in Wednesday's fourth stage.
The Frenchman, racing in a Mini, won the 326-kilometer (202-mile) special stage from San Juan to Chilecito in northwestern Argentina, a tricky drive featuring dried riverbeds, by more than five minutes.
The pre-race favorite, Peterhansel rose from fifth, and nearly three minutes behind, to first, and 5:41 up on the field.
He has won six times on motorbikes, and three in cars, and the stage win was his 58th.
Jerome Prevost / AFP - Getty Images
France's Olivier Pain rides his Yamaha during the Stage 4 of the 2012 Dakar Rally between San Juan, San Juan province and Chilecito, la Rioja province, Argentina, on Jan. 4, 2012. Spain's Marc Coma won the stage.
Bryn Lennon / Getty Images
Cyril Despres of France and Team Red Bull KTM arrives at the bivouac after stage four of the 2012 Dakar Rally from San Juan to Chilecito on Jan. 4, 2012 in Chilecito, Argentina.
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Frederic Le Floch / AP
A man takes pictures as Toyota's driver Abdulla Alheraiz and co-driver Khalid Ahmad, both of the United Arab Emirates, compete in the third stage of the 2012 Argentina-Chile-Peru Dakar Rally between San Rafael and San Juan, Argentina, Tuesday Jan. 3, 2012.
Argentina-Chile-Peru Dakar Rally features 15 days of racing
No grandstand, no chairs, no problem.
AP reports:
This is the fourth consecutive year the race is being held in South America. It had been run in Europe and Africa until the 2008 race was canceled because of fears of terrorism. The rally moved to South America the next year.
The past three years the race consisted of loop courses from Buenos Aires to Chile and back to Buenos Aires. This year the race began in Argentina, passes through Chile and finishes in Lima, Peru, on Jan. 15.
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Motorcyclist found unconscious at Dakar Rally.
Dakar Rally website.
Natacha Pisarenko / AP
Helder Rodrigues of Portugal races his Yamaha in the seventh stage of the 2011 Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally between Arica and Antofagasta, Chile, on Sunday Jan. 9, 2011.
Spotlight on Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally
Another awesome photo from the motorcycle race of the Argentine-Chile Dakar Rally. I really love the texture and lighting.
Natacha Pisarenko / AP
KTM MRW Rally Factory's Juan Pedrero Garcia rides his motorcycle during the sixth stage of the 2011 Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally between Iquique and Arica in Chile, Friday, Jan. 7.
Competitors race through the desert during the Dakar Rally
Natacha Pisarenko / AP
Volkswagen's driver Carlos Sainz and co-driver Lucas Cruz, both from Spain, compete during the fifth stage of the 2011 Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally between Calama and Iquique in Chile, Thursday, Jan. 6.
This looks insanely fun.
Natacha Pisarenko / AP
Volkswagen's driver Nasser Al-Attiyah, from Qatar, and co-driver Timo Gottschalk, both from Spain, compete during the fifth stage of the 2011 Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally between Calama and Iquique in Chile, Thursday.
Eric Gaillard / Reuters
Spectators run for cover as Carlos Sainz of Spain drives his Volkswagen Touareg during the fifth stage of the third South American edition of the Dakar Rally 2011 from Calama to Iquique January 6.
Eric Gaillard / Reuters
A competitor rides his motorcycle from Tucuman to Jujuy during the third stage of the South American edition of the Dakar Rally, Jan. 4, 2011.
Motorcycle rider races across the desert during the South American Dakar Rally
I like Eric Gaillard's use of light in this picture.
Natacha Pisarenko / AP
Volkswagen's driver Carlos Sainz and co-driver Lucas Cruz, both from Spain, compete during the second stage of the 2011 Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally between Cordoba and San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina, on Jan. 3.
Daniel Garcia / AFP - Getty Images
Cows run away as Spain's driver Carlos Sainz steers his Volkswagen with co-driver Lucas Cruz on January 3, on the stage 2 Cordoba-Tucuman of the 2011 Dakar Rally. Defending champion Carlos Sainz added a second stage win in as many days Monday at the Dakar Rally in Argentina, dominating the 324km special stage from Cordoba to San Miguel de Tucuman.