General rankings at end of stage 4 Men
1. Lahcen Ahansal (Morocco 1) 14h48m45 – average 12, 39 km/h
2. Mohammed Ahansal (Morocco 2) at 7m55 – average 12,28 km/h
3. Lhoucine Akhdar (Morocco 5) at 1h42m08 – average 11,11
km/h
4. Samuel Bonaudo (France – 280) at 2h05m53 – average
10, 85 km/h
4. David Pasquio (France – 282) at 2h20m27 average 10,70
km/h Women
1. Simone Kayser Diederich (Luxembourg - 785) 22h33m12 – average
8,14 km/h
2. Virginie Thevenot (France - 190) à 24h02m09 – average
7,63 km/h
3. Sophie Satrin (France – 9) 25h47m44 – average 7,11
km/h
4. Isabelle Degrand (France – 92) 25h49m11 average 7,11 km/h
5. Chantal Langlace (France – 269) 26h09m26 – average
7,02km/h
Rankings stage 5 Men
1. Lahcen Ahansal (Morocco 1) – 3h02m28
2. Mohammed Ahansal (Morocco 2) 3h02m28
3. Mustapha Ait Amar (Morocco – 4) 3h22m57 Women
1. Isabelle Degrand (France – 92) – 4h44m09
2. Sophie Satrin (France – 9) 4h52m23
3. Simone Keyser Diederich (Luxembourg - 785) – 5h05m54
It’s the « classic » stage of the Marathon des
Sables : 42.2kms and in very high temperatures indeed. The runners
set off on a plaeau with the odd acacia tree for decoration. The
first part of the course resembles African savannah ; Mohamed Ahansal
wastes no times in attacking his brother. They then embark on a
long rocky climb up to CP2. At this point, Mohamed is still in
the lead, with his brother hot on his heels followed by the Ait
Amar-Akhdar duo at three minutes. The runners descend into the
oued Taghbalt crossing the dry, stoney but sandy river bed to reach
CP3. CP3 is situated in a sandy oasis, next to the village of Taghbalt.
It’s a magnificent spot where palm trees offer some welcome
shade. 135 children from the village are members of the local cross
country club. They’re keen to run the marathon. The Ahansal
effet for sure. André Sicot (France 129), is battling along
with his team Legendre Bretagne Ultra to topple the Moroccan team
CTM from pole position, stops to take much needed breather at CP3
: « things aren’t going great …. In that soft
sand I just couldn’t get on and now I’m not sure this
one bottle of water is enough to get to the end”. The message
is picked up by the organisation that runners are starting to run
out of water. Given the heat the competitors receive an extra bottle
at CP3 to finish the remaining 12 kilometres.
Mohamed Ahansal is still leading at this point. His brother catches
up with him on the neverending straight and flat run to the finish
line. They come in hand in hand, sealing once and for all, barring
accidents, the result of this year’s race.
Monique Kayser from Luxembourg, with a comfortable advance in the
general rankings, ran this stage at a steady rather than frenetic
pace. But Virginie Thévenot, in a comfortable second, found
it difficult to take it easy « I can’t seem to go slowly.
I’m always worried that if I start walking I won’t
be able to speed up again”. The battle for third place overall
in the women’s race remains hot however. By running this
stage out in front from start to finish Isabelle Degrand (Fr) has
caught up with Sophie Satrin (Fr) and looks well placed to win
a place on the podium.
