Buenos Aires  - Spaniard Carlos Sainz edged Qatari driver Nasser al-Attiyah by six seconds to win the fourth stage of the Dakar Rally on Tuesday.

Sainz, driving a Volkswagen Race Touareg, fought an exciting duel with BMW X3 driver al-Attiyah on the ascent to the 1,314-metre-high Col Calderon during the
484-kilometre stage from Jacobacci to Neuquen in Argentina.

It was a second stage win for the two-time rally world champion who now has a lead of three minutes 46 seconds over X-Raid driver al-Attiyah, who won both the opening stage and Monday's third leg.

Luc Alphand of France in a Mitsubishi Racing Lancer was 2:24 back in third place in the stage, with Mark Miller of United States in a second VW Touareg fourth, 4:20 behind Sainz.

South African Giniel de Villiers in a VW Touareg stays third overall, 11:33 behind, while nine-time winner Stephane Peterhansel of France in a Mitsubishi, eighth quickest on the day, is 15:51 back in fourth.

Marc Coma (KTM) of Spain chalked up his third stage victory in the motorcycle rally and now has a lead of 42:57 over Jonah Street (KTM) of the United States, with David Fretigne (Yamaha) of France, a further 45 seconds behind in third place. (dpa)