Dakar Rally ninth stage shortened by fog

Dakar Rally ninth stage shortened by fog

Mechanics of Chinese Great Wall Team check the car at the Dakar Rally camp at La Portada, near to Antofagasta, Chile on Jan. 9, 2010. Racers of Dakar Rally Argentina-Chile 2010 had a rest day.

SANTIAGO, Jan. 9 -- The ninth stage of the Dakar Rallyon Monday between Copiapo and La Serena has been shortened by 267.75km because of fog in the area, organizers said on Saturday.

The special will cover 170.25 km, instead of 338km, through the dunes around Copiapo.

Over 59 percent of teams who started the race on January 2 will continue into the second week, organizers said.

Lu Ningjun, Chinese rider for Rely Team, poses for a picture at the Dakar Rally camp at La Portada, near to Antofagasta, Chile on Jan. 9, 2010. Racers of Dakar Rally Argentina-Chile 2010 had a rest day.

Some 110 motorcycles and quads will race Sunday, of the 177 who started a week ago with 69 cars out of 134, and 36 trucks of 52.

"We had a big first week. It's been a difficult Dakar compared to other years. We wanted that. The Dakar should be difficult," said sporting director David Castera.

The mechanic of Jincheng Team checks the motorcycle at the Dakar Rally camp at La Portada, near to Antofagasta, Chile on Jan. 9, 2010. Racers of Dakar Rally Argentina-Chile 2010 had a rest day.

Lu Ningjun, Chinese rider for Rely Team, checks his car at the Dakar Rally camp at La Portada, near to Antofagasta, Chile on Jan. 9, 2010. Racers of Dakar Rally Argentina-Chile 2010 had a rest day.
(Victor Rojas)