Stage rankings
Men
1. Lahcen Ahansal (1 Mor) 2h03m44 - 2. Mohamad Ahansal (2 Mor) 2h06m34
3. Abderrahmane Maliki (12 Mor) 2h07m59 - 4. Salameh Al Aqrah (164 Jordan) 2h14m47
5. David Pasquio (186 France) 2h15m26

Women
1. Geraldine Courdesses (153 France) 3h10m36
2. Touda Didi (3 Morocco) 3h16m04
3. Simone Kayser (761 Luxembourg) 3h16m09

Withdrawals: 5

General rankings : see stage rankings

The competitors had one thing in mind on waking up this morning: that the infernal windstorm finally stop. Their wish was granted and spirits were high as they embarked on today’s 28km stage. It began with a long straight section to the ksar of Ihendar – an ancient fortified bastion. Children from the village ran alongside the competitors just like a certain Lahcen Ahahsal had years earlier. At check-point 1 (CP1) the Ahansal brothers were first through followed closely by the two Jordanians Salameh Al Aqrah and Mohammed Al Swaity and Moroccan Abderrahmane Maliki (12), winner of last year’s Zagora Marathon. The section between CP1 and CP2 with a steep hill climb (15% slope factor) is the decisive point in the race. Lahcen and Mohamad Ahansal break away, extending their lead over Salameh AL Aqrah by 5 minutes and leaving the second Jordanian well behind. Abderrahmane Maliki hung on despite a problem with his pack which cuts his back. Few surprises at the finish line: Lahcen moved ahead of his brother, and won the stage confirming that the favourites are in full swing in the competition.
On the women’s side, most of the course was headed by two MDS newcomers : Ahansal protégée Touda Didi (3, Morocco) and 30-year old Géraldine Courdesses (153) from France. Towards the end of the race the Corsican finally broke away from the Moroccan; the latter was in turn caught up by the favorite Simone Keyser (761) from Luxembourg.