Stage 2 : OUED EL AATCHANA / TAOURIRT MOUCHANNE :
38,5 KmThe dunes make an entrance
At 8am. Hygrometry: 20%. Temperature: 20,4°C.
At 12h. Hygrometry: 13%. Temperature: 38,7°C.
Number of competitors on the start line: 849. Withdrawals from leg 1: 4.
Sandy patches, dried-up wadis and the first dunes were on today’s menu, together with a high humidity rate and extreme heat (38°C).
8.35am. The sun was already roasting wadi El Aatchana, where the second leg of the 27th Sultan MARATHON DES SABLES started. The 38.5km journey will take the runners to Taourirt Mouchanne.
At the front of the race, Al Aqra (D148-JOR) from Jordan took the lead in the first dunes, in front of Ahansal (D8-MAR) and El Rachidy (D1-MAR). But 9km before the finish line, when reaching the dried-up lake that leads to it, El Rachidy moved to full gear, caught up with Al Aqra and won the stage by 2 minutes over his Jordanian challenger.
Slightly behind, the French were doing well: Christophe Le Saux (D113-FRA) ended up in 9th position, 27’58’’ behind the winner.
On the women’s side, Laurence Klein (D322-FRA) again won the stage, broadening the gap between her and her contenders at the general ranking.
Tomorrow the competitors will be enjoying stunning sights in the 35 km between Taourirt Mouchanne and El Maharch, where over 5km of magnificent sand dunes and long stony plains will make their day.
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| Photo credit: Cimbaly/Saulem |
Men ranking
1st : Rachid El Morabity (D1-MAR), 38,5km in 2h50’22’’.
2nd : Salameh Al Aqra (D8-MAR), 2’14’’.
3rd : Mohamad Ahansal (D148-JOR) à 3’18.
Women ranking
1st : Laurence Klein (D322-FRA), 38,5km in 3h51’06’’.
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