Press release at 14h in Ouarzazate Provisory
general rankings Men
1. Lahcen Ahansal (1, Maroc) 17H14’01
2. Salameh Al Aqra (D164, Jordanie) à 34m44
3. Abderrahmane Maliki (12 Maroc) à 1h10m06
4. AHANSAL Mohamad (D2, Maroc) à 1H27'44"
5. AKHDAR Lhoucine (D369, Maroc) à 1H41'32" Women
1 COURDESSES Geraldine D153 France 26H33'23"
2 DI VITO Lorena 728 Italie 27H34'24"
3 BERTOLINO Alessia 714 Italie 28H17'47"
4 DIDI Touda D3 Maroc 28H47'01" Teams
1 COMANAV 1 (1,2,3,745) 21H54'36"
2 TEAM LORANS SALOMON (D184,185,186) 22H00'33"
3 LEGENDRE BRETAGNE 1 (351,352,353,354) 22H28'47"
4 COMANAV 2 (18,19,20) 22H47'28"
5 PROLIFER (368,369,370,371,372) 25H13'55"
MDS lives up to its reputation : the most difficult
race in the world
During the press conference with journalists from al over the world and the champion
of this edition Lahcen Ahansal, director Patrick Bauer looked back on this great
but very difficult edition. With 731 at the start, from 32 countries, 585 finished
the race i.e. 146 pulled out. Bauer explained that this unusually high level
was due largely to extreme weather conditions as from day one: high temperatures
(up to 42°C), sandstorms and very high hygrometry levels (up to 35%). « Nature
took over. YOU realise how small you are compared to the elements. IN these conditions
what counts is having good mental and physical preparation. We saw that some
competitors weren’t as well prepared as other years. The majority however
did manage their course well and I take my hat off to them.”
According to the director of the Doc Trotter medical team, a record number of
IVs were administered (62). The high hygrometry level was the most unexpected
aspect of the race from a medical point of view (more than 20% higher than usual): “regulating
the hydration level in your body – whether voluntary or involuntary- is
more difficult when the hygrometry level is high. You therefore have to adapt
your water intake accordingly – take in small amounts more regularly and
more salt – 5g per day. That’s when experience really comes into
play… Running is a skill.»
The organisation had to deal with a case of severe hyperthermia, a first on MDS.
Thanks to good rapid reactivity, despite difficult weather conditions, the competitor
was repatriated within time to a hospital in Bordeaux. According to Patrick Bauer “my
greatest sense of satisfaction at the end of this edition is to know that the
competitor came through and has no permanent damage.” [more]
NEWS FROM THE FINISH
LINE
published the 15/04/2006
585 competitors finished the 212km
of this 21st edition of Marathon des
Sables. We overheard some of the comments
as Patrick Bauer handed them their
victory medal.
An enormous thank you for
this enormous ordeal
It was the best
You’re a bastard, but a nice one
Thank you SIR
Thanks for the Kiwis (a New Zealand competitor) Thanks for the pain and the misery
Je suis knackered, the hardest MDS ever. But next year I’m coming
back ….. with my wife. It’s a shame to get here. It’s
all over! (Rory Coleman, GB) Hold on.. gotta get the kiss from Patrick…(Miguel Adams,
GB) I had a hell of time this
week, but now I’m happy (Pierre
Veillard, France) I was expecting a longer
run in. I was saving myself! (Sue
Holliday, GB) Estoy muy contenta y muy
feliz
The pain of yesterday has all gone. It’s the most wonderful moment
of my life” (Ilona Flader, Germany)
La sardegna ha conquistato il deserto E finita, E finita, E Finita,…
I’m a swimmer and having done the Marathon des Sables I now truly
respect the desert (Andrea Pritchett, US) [more]
The Kayser family is running as a team
: « Roi Grenouille et princesses » (King
frog and princesses). Dad and Mum
Kayser and their two daughters Anne
and Lis. Every day they share their
experience of the race
Mark Kayser (5 participations) : «I didn’t wait for my princesses
today, I wanted to use this stage to get a good time (4h24 mn). After a bit of
a rest and footcare I went about 10kms back into the race but didn’t manage
to find the girls. They were waiting for me when I got back to the bivouac. Bit
of a shame… I did 15kms or so for nothing but it was a superb stage… ». [more]
THE EYE OF
THE EXPERT
published the
13/04/2006
Founder and director of MDS,
Patrick Bauer, gives his daily
impression of how the race is
going.
« … At the end of the first three days the competitors are exhausted.
There’s a record number of retirements : 122 for the first three days [less
thanb 50 for the whole course last year]. It’s due to a combination of
high temperatures, strong winds and unusually high hygrometry levels (20% compared
to the usual 6%). I also think the competitors are less well prepared this year
compared to last.
As a result of these factors we reduced the length of today’s
stage and the level of difficulty involved by scratching the parts
with very steep hill climbs and crossing of ergs. [more]
June 2005 : opening date for application.
31 july 2005 : application deadline.
28 february 2006 : closing date for fees.
07 april 2006 : departure* France/Morocco, transfer to first bivouac.
08 april 2006 : technical and administrative checks,
acclimatisation day.
09 - 15 april 2006 : the event.
16 april 2006 : transfer, dinner and night at hotel, relaxation,
lunch (at participants’expense), awards, entertainment,
dinner, night at hotel.
18 april 2006 : return* to France.
* those not taking the charter flight to and from France are required to book
their own flight arrangements. Contact your country representative for further
details.
