Provisional general rankings Men
1. Lahcen Ahansal (Morocco-1) 19h09m04 - average 12.83 km/h
2. Mohamad Ahansal (Morocco - 2) at 7m55 - average 12.74
km/h
3. Lhoucine Akhdar (Morocco-5) at 2h08m40 - average 11.54
km/h
4. Samuel Bonaudo (France - 280) at 2h48m58 - average
11.18 km/h
5. Mustapha Ait Amar (Morocco - 4) at 3h02m41 - average
11.07 km/h
6. David Pasquio (France - 282) at 3h13m50 average 10.98
km/h
7. Marco Gozzano (Italy - 489) at 3h42m07 average 10.75 km/h
8. Marco Olmo (Italy - 490) at 3h57m36 average 10.63 km/h
9. Vincent Delebarre (France - 371) at 4h21m00 average 10.45
km/h
10. Eric Plantin (France - 276) at 4h30m21 average 10.39
km/h
Women
1. Simone Kayser Diederich (Luxembourg - 785) 29h36m03 - average
8.30 km/h
2. Virginie Thevenot (France - 190) at 1h07m04 - average
8.00 km/h
3. Isabelle Degrand (France - 92) at 2h49m24 average 7.58
km/h
4. Sophie Satrin (France - 9) at 2h54m52 - average
7.56 km/h
5. Chantal Langlace (France - 269) at 4h39m21 - average
7.17km/h
6. Lorena Antonietta Di Vito (Italy - 478) at 4h59m53 - average
7.10 km/h
7. Maria Isabel Trujillo Barrientos (Colombia - 762) at 5h01m16 - average
7.10 km/h
8. Theresa Benet Graupera (Spain - 755) at 5h27m27 - average
7.01 km/h
9. Louisa Balsamo (Italy - 463 ) at 5h30m09 - average
7.00 km/h
10 Jennifer Segger (Canada - 637) at 5h43m08 average 6.96
km/h
Teams
1. CTM 24h31m01 - Morocco/Tunisie/France - average
13.92 km/h
2. Legendre Bretagne Ultra - France - at 1h39m07 - average
12.87 kmh
3. Ertips Salomon - France - at 2h02m04 - average 12.50
km/h
The 20th edition of the Marathon des Sables ended with the crowning
of two admirable champions. Lahcen Ahansal won for the 8th time
and Simone Kayser for the third. The most experienced runners
were unanimous in finding the course “very difficult”.
Despite that, only 46 competitors (6%) pulled out of the race,
showing that the vast majority came well-prepared.
Race director : Patrick Bauer insists on the runners’ improved
condition : « they arrive physically and technically
better prepared and with a tougher morale. This is partly due to
our internet
site and its chat forums and others that have sprung up on MDS.
We try to put those newly-enrolled in contact with previous participants
living in the same region. The race is also increasingly well-known;
they have a better idea of what to expect.” But once the
race begins the organisation’s support system comes into
effect : « they still need moral support, affection ;
runners have to be made to feel safe, to know we’re there for them.
That’s important for me.”
Over the 245 kilometres the Doc Trotter medical team treated 3,146
cases including 2,567 for foot problems. They used 5 kilometres
of elastoplast, 125 litres of disinfectant, and handed out 5,300
painkillers and 1,700 anti-inflammatories. Gérard Peltre,
director of Doc Trotter points out however that there were fewer
digestive problems on the bivouac than usual, showing competitors
brought better quality food with them that they’re paying
more attention to hygiene.
Lahcen Ahansal: myth and reality
He’s often presented as an
extra-terrestrial. By way of explaining his 8 MDS and his seeming
total domination of the race, we hear
he knows the Sahara inside out and is accustomed to the heat. This
is a somewhat incomplete explanation and fails to take into account
his impressive performances on very different terrain: in the Swiss
Alps and on the beaches of Brazil. The reality is Lahcen has two
strong motivations for getting and staying ahead on MDS. Mentally
for starters. He often says that if it weren’t for the MDS
he’d have ended up with a miserable life. Despite the lack
of genuine competition, he always pushes himself to the limit,
out of respect for the chance he’s been given… his
destiny. His other driving force is physical, based on a rare capacity
for endurance and a slow heart beat which, had he been born elsewhere,
could have given him a far more brilliant career.
People often talk of Lahcen as an old fox as if he took a bizarre
pleasure in seeing rivals get lost.. even leading them deliberately
astray … « The story goes back to 1997 when
my brother Mohamed gave an unfortunate declaration on tv. He wasn’t
used to the media.. and thought it would be taken as a joke. Do
you really think I need to lead other runners astray when most
often they’re already a few hours behind?” He pauses
for a moment: « I’d like to add : I dream of a photo-finish… a
real competition right through to the last few metres…”
