The weekend stages of the Dakar Rally in Mali have been cancelled due to security reasons, organisers said on Friday.
A statement on the official rally website said the decision had been taken after advice from the French and Malian authorities.
The Eurosport website said there were reports of armed gangs awaiting the rally in Mali.
Organisers said competitors would head from Mauritania to Bamako, with motorcycle riders being flown to the Mali capital, before a further liaison to Bobo Dioulasso.
"The rally will therefore stop on Saturday the 10th of January in Bamako and will head to Bobo Dioulasso on Sunday the 11th," the statement said. A rest day will be staged there as planned."
Saturday's 910 km 10th stage was to have been from Nema to Mopti while the 11th was 747 km.