BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Nani Roma won the first stage of the Dakar Rally in a BMW and David Casteu of France led home the bikes on a Saturday marred by the first death of a fan in four years.
Roma finished the shortened stage from Colon to Cordoba 2 minutes, 7 seconds ahead of Spain's Carlos Sainz in a Volkswagen, and 2:50 in front of BMW teammate Stephane Peterhansel. Giniel De Villiers of South Africa, the 2009 champion, was 4:31 off the lead in a Volkswagen.
"It's only just the start," Roma said. "We haven't really had a battle with the VWs yet. There is still a lot of the race to go."
The fatality occurred when a woman watching the rally was struck by a 4x4 driven by Mirco Schultis and partner Ulrich Leardi, who veered off course in north central Argentina.
Norberto Brusa, a spokesman for Rio Cuarto Hospital, said 28-year-old Natalia Sonia Gallardo died from injuries suffered in the crash. Brusa said four other people were injured, but the extent of injuries was not available.
"There was no place and the police did not stop people," a witness, Gaston Harriague, told TV station TN. "The fields around there are all private. They are not permitted places."
French motorcyclist Pascal Terry died last year in the rally, which is widely regarded as one of motorsport's most dangerous events.
The rally, which finishes Jan. 16 in Buenos Aires, was moved to South America in 2009 because of safety concerns and the possibility of a terrorist attack in Africa.