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DUTCH DES SABLES
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| 27/03/2007 - Communiqué n°4 |
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Stage
n°3 : JEBEL EL OFTAL/JEBEL ZIREG OUEST – 32.3
km
Number of participants starting the stage: 749
Terrain: 2 hills, stony plateau, sandy plateau, salt
flats, 2 hill climbs, 1 steep sandy hill climb
Temperature : 44.8° at 14h.
Hygrometry : 11% at 14h
Sunny and hot, tail wind
2 CPs (check-points)
STAGE RANKINGS :
Men:
1- Lahcen AHANSAL (MOR- D 1) 2h25’47’’
2- Mohamed AHANSAL (MOR –D 3) 2h 27’14’’
3- Aziz EL AKAD (MOR- D 26) 2h 28’34’’
4- Jorge AUBESO MARTINE (SP D551) 2h33’34’’
5- Philippe REMOND (FR – D 314) 2h36’06’’
6- Abderrahmane MALIKI (MOR – D25) 2h37’06’’
Women:
1- Laurence Fricotteaux (FR –D 347) 3h07’24’’
2- Didi Touda (MOR - D6) 3h10’22’’
3- Géraldine Courdesses (D163 FR) 3h35’17’’
4- Weronika Troxler (D459 CH) 3h38’44’’
5- Véronique Matur (D229 F) 3h41’06’’
6- Ann Sutton (D546 GB) 3h4616’’
GENERAL
PROVISIONAL RANKINGS
1- Lahcen AHANSAL (MOR-
D 1) 07H29’05
2- Mohamed AHANSAL (MOR –D 3) at 26’
3- Abderrahmane MALIKI (MOR – D25) at 20’27’’
4- Jorge AUBESO MARTINE (SP D551) at 21’36’’
Sunny start to today’s stage, 22.7° and
26 % humidity. Nights continue to be cold. Traditional
photo regrouping all the competitors in the shape
of « 22 » is taken before race begins
at 9h05. 649 begin the course (8 withdrawals since
start of race). Stage begins with 10km crossing
of stony plateau up to CP1 situated at a picturesque
oasis and where the MARATHON DES SABLES helped
install a solar pump last year. From CP1 to CP2,
series of sandy plateau and passages through small
cols. The serious business begins once through
CP2, at the entry to Jebel Zireg. Competitors take
narrow and very sandy paths to cross the jebel.
3 arduous climbs and descents to reach the summit
at Km 27,5. The runners then go through small dunes.
The bivouac (Km 32,3) is in the midst of a spectacular
plain surrounded by dark grey mountains and ochre
sand. This stage was run last year but in the opposite
direction and in far more arid conditions. Heavy
rains here in December have transformed the desert
into a festival of colour with bright green grasses
of all kinds and an array of white, yellow and
violet flowers.
The male runners set a rapid pace today with the
two winners finishing in 2h25. The stage was decided
in the last climb, just before KM27.5. Jorge Aubeso
(SP D551) had been in the lead, but champion Lahcen
Ahansal (MOR, D6) broke away during the climb,
spurred on perhaps by the news of the birth of
his son yesterday. He won the stage.
Atmosphere on the race was very positive from the
start, with the leaders setting a rude pace, and
the walkers a steady and determined one. The Doc
Trotter medical team note competitors are overall
still in a good physical state and well-prepared.
Most of the medical aid given has been for foot
problems, some severe. It’s worth mentioning
that even Mohamad Ahansal, hardly a beginner, has
let the docs see to his feet.
Note the striking performance of El Akad Aziz (MOR
D26) who gets a well-earned third place today.
In the general Jorge Aubeso (SP D551) is in fine
form, closing the gap on Abderrahmane Maliki (MOR
D25). The battle for third place in the general
promises to be rude.
On the women’s side, Laurence Fricotteaux
(FR 347) came in first having broken away from
Didi Touda (MOR D6) at around Km 27.5, similar
to the men. The two women had run most of the race
together. Laurence extends her lead in the general
by 3 minutes. Géraldine Courdesses (FR 163)
arrived in third position, battling on but clearly
suffering from her knee injury this winter. She’s
managed however to keep well ahead of her nearest
rival Weronika Troubles (CH D459) .
At time of writing three competitors have withdrawn
today : D616, D746 and D260. All three made their
own decision to withdraw due to foot problems.
Tomorrow begins the classic « grand étape » or
long stage of the MARATHON DES SABLES : 70.5km,
run over two days for some and during part of the
night for everyone. Competitors leave in 2 groups:
the first at 9H00 and the second consisting of
the top fifty runners in the general plus the top
five women leave at midday. Love it or hate it,
it’s often the most decisive stage of the
MARATHON DES SABLES.
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