Helder Rodrigues wins stage, Marc Coma`s lead cut

Calama: Portugal`s Helder Rodrigues won Tuesday`s ninth motorbike stage of the Dakar Rally as Marc Coma had his overall lead cut by three minutes.

Rodrigues completed the 538 kilometre (450km timed) ride from the Chilean Pacific coastal city of Iquique to Calama in the Andes almost four minutes clear of his teammate and fellow countryman Paul Goncalves.

In third came Coma, whose advantage over Goncalves in the riders` title race is now only five-and-a half minutes.

In third in the overall standings is Chile`s Pablo Quintanilla -- who won Monday`s stage on home turf -- almost half an hour adrift of the front pair.