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PRESS RELEASE AT 13h AT THE FINISH
LINE
Stage 6: Kourci Dial Zaïd/Merzouga
Distance
: 11.8km - 0 checkpoints
Saturday 14 april 2006
Temperature : 34.3°C at 12h
Hygrometry : 19% at 12h
Route : 7.5kms of flat stoney terrain,
crossing of sandy wadi, 3kms of highest
dunes in Morocco
585 runners at start
of today’s
stage, 146 retirements
Retirements for this stage : 0
PROVISORY STAGE RANKINGS
Men
1 AHANSAL Lahcen (D1) 43'35" MOR
2 AL AQRA Salameh (D164, Jordan) 44'50"
3 MALIKI My Abderrahmane (D12, Morocc)
45'01"
4 AHANSAL Mohamad (D2, Morocc) 45'14"
5 AKHDAR Lhoucine (D369, Morocc) 45'19"
Women
1 DIDI Touda (D3 Morocc) 54'57"
2 BERTOLINO Alessia (D714, Italie)
1H05'08"
3 BALSAMO Luisa (D715, Italie) 01H07'35"
4 DI VITO Lorena D728, Italie) 01H07'43"
5 COURDESSES Geraldine (D153, France)
01H08'44"
Teams
1 COMANAV 1 (1,2,3,745, Morocc) 48'45"
2 TEAM LORANS SALOMON (D184,185,186,
France) 50'43"
3 LEGENDRE BRETAGNE 1 (D351,352,353,354,
France) 52'46"
4 POMPIERS DE LA LOIRE (238,239,240,
France) 53'20"
5 COMANAV 2 (18,19,20 Morocc) 53'52"
PROVISORY GENERAL RANKINGS
Men
1. Lahcen Ahansal (1, Morocco) 17H14’01
2. Salameh Al Aqra (D164, Jordan) à 34m44
3. Abderrahmane Maliki (12 Morocco) à 1h10m06
4. AHANSAL Mohamad (D2, Morocco) à 1H27'44"
5. AKHDAR Lhoucine (D369, Morocco) à 1H41'32"
Women
1 COURDESSES Geraldine D153 France
26H33'23"
2 DI VITO Lorena 728 Italy 27H34'24"
3 BERTOLINO Alessia 714 Italy 28H17'47"
4 DIDI Touda D3 Morocco 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"
For the first time in its 21 year
history the MDS ended at the Merzouga
dunes – the
highest in Morocco. An amazing decor
for this final short stage which
began with stretch of flat stoney
ground and finished with a 3km crossing
of beautiful ochre dunes. The 585
competitors set off at 9h05 with
clear skies, pleasant temperatures
( 23°C) and a tail wind. Whereas
the top runners quickly imposed a
rapid pace (15km/h) the vast majority
of the runners lived up to their
name today and went full out to run
the stage. The Moroccan champion
Lahcen Ahansal, 9 times winner of
MDS, managed to defend his title
despite genuine competition, and
crossed the finish line in just 43'35".
Proudly sporting the Moroccan flag
he acknowledged with a smile. « I
found the race harder this year….
there was more competition. That
put the pressure on and meant I had
to manage my efforts more. But it
was a good thing. I’m as happy
as ever ! » Different flag,
but same joy for Jordanian Salameh
Al Aqra (D2) who came in just one
minute 15 seconds later. With this
admirable performance he wins back
his dignity following a very disappointing
show on MDS in 2002. Maliki My Abderrahmane
(D12, Morocco) finishes right behind
: a strong show from this high level
marathon runner (best time 2h15m30’’),
but who was hampered by back injuries
due to ruck-sack problems.
On the women’s race, the Ahansal
brothers protegée Toudi Didi
(D3, Morocco) wins this stage in 54'57".
After a disappointing start to the
race, she seemed to get stronger each
day. She was followed by the strong
Italian trio: Alessia Bertolino (D714)
in 1H05'08", Luisa Balsamo (D715)
in 01H07'35" and Lorena Di Vito
(D728) in 01H07'43". Géraldine
Courdesses (153, France) came in 5th,
hand in hand with her partner Alain
Aubrion (154). The French woman wins
the race overall in 26H33'23".
For three hours race director Patrick
Bauer and his stewards place a medal
around each finisher’s neck to
rounds of applause from the spectators:
competitors who pulled out, the organisation,
local people and many friends and family
members who’d travelled over
to welcome and congratulate their loved
ones. Some shout, laugh, sing and joke
as they cross the line : « you
really did us in this year Patrick
says Jean Maurice Bensoussan (D267,
aged 52. “Well I think you look
more alive than ever” he replies.
A fair number of strapping lads crumble
in the director’s arms, in tears.
In the words of French football coach
Paul Le Guen (355), member of the Legendre
team, it was « a week that will
leave its mark ». At 12h07, in
just over three hours, the last competitor
crosses the finish line along with
the camel sweep. Sporting his traditional
hat throughout, Dominique Lacroix from
the island of Martinique says not without
some pride: « It’s been
a personal challenge and it was brilliant.
But for me it’s not a sporting
challenge, it’s a human one.
If you want it, you can!
Note that the competitors arrive so
thick and fast there are moments when
they have to queue to get over the
finish line. Some may have been deprived
of their sprint finish but not even
that could hide or spoil the joy of
pulling off what is without any doubt
this year, one of the most difficult
editions ever. |
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Results 6 are available
(last update 15/04/06 - 22h50
french time)
number of dropping out (stage 6) : 0 |
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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.
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