Stage
n°4: JEBEL ZIREG OUEST/OUEST
DU KFIROUN – 70 .5 Km
Communiqué n°6 : 29/03/07 at 14h
Stage n°4: JEBEL ZIREG OUEST/OUEST DU KFIROUN – 70
.5 Km
Number of participants starting the stage: 741
Terrain: Long plateaux, stony ground, crossing
of 4 very sandy wadis, long crossing of dunes from
CP3 onwards
Temperature : 12° at 02h
17.7° at 08h
34.5° at 12H
35.8° at 14H
Hygrometry : 38% at 02H
28% at 08h
16% at 12h
16% at 14h
Sunny and hot, occasional gusts of wind
6 CPs (check-points)
STAGE RANKINGS
Men :
1. Lahcen AHANSAL (MOR- D 1) 5h35’21’’
2. Aziz EL AKAD (MOR- D 26) 5h45’31’’
3. Mohamed AHANSAL (MOR –D 3) 5h49’50’’
4. Jorge AUBESO MARTINEZ (SP D551) 6h12’36’’
5. Philippe REMOND (FR – D 314) 6h32’
Women :
1- Laurence Fricotteaux (FR –D 347) 8h06’23’’
2- Didi Touda (MOR - D6) 8h26’10’’
3- Géraldine Courdesses (D163 FR) 9h15’20’’
GENERAL
PROVISIONAL RANKINGS :
1- Lahcen AHANSAL (MOR- D 1) 13h04’26’’
2- Mohamed AHANSAL (MOR –D 3) 13h19’21’’
3- Aziz EL AKAD (MOR- D 26) 13h39’22’’
4- Jorge AUBESO MARTINEZ (SP D551) 14h03’17’’
5- Philippe REMOND (FR – D 314) 14h44’25’’
GENERAL
PROVISIONAL TEAM RANKINGS
1. Kia Motors
(MOR D1, 2, 3, 201) 14h47’12’’
2. Comanav (MOR D4, 5, 6)
3. Afat Voyages (FR D161, 162, 163, 164)
The
mythic non-stop stage has lived up to its reputation.
Lahcen AHANSAL (MOR-D1) has been
crowned prince of the desert. He ran the stage
in a record time of 05h35’21, with a breathtaking
average speed of 12.61km/h, outstripping all
expectations. He’s well on course to claim
his 10th victory ! The key point was KM32s into
the race, just 2km after CP3. Lahcen streaks
ahead of his 4 main rivals at the top of the
jebel. On arriving at CP4 (km42) he’s extended
his lead to 5 minutes. He finishes this long
stage 10 minutes in front of Aziz EL AKAD (MAR-D26),
and 14 minutes ahead of his brother Mohamad (MAR-D3).
Jorge AUBESO is at 37 minutes. In the general
EL AKAD Aziz (D26) moves into third position.
On the women’s side, we note the remarkable
performance of Laurence FRICOTTEAUX (FRA-D347)
who won the stage in 08H06’23, more than
19 minutes ahead of Didi TOUDA (MOR-D6). Laurence
takes 19th place in the general (men and women
combined). Géraldine COURDESSES (FRA-D163)
hangs on to her third place, followed closely
by Véronique MATUR (FRA D229) who manages
to take 2 minutes off Géraldine. It promises
to be a closely-run show off for third place.
Véronique Matur (FR D229) was the top
woman from the first group.
This 5th bivouac is on a small plateau, above
Rheris wadi, surrounded by ochre dunes and small
mountains. Usually very stony, Patrick Bauer
has had all the stones removed so it would be
more comfortable for competitors and the organisation.
28
competitors have so far pulled out of the race,
a lower than average number and far lower
than last year. The DOC TROTTER medical team
have noted a high level of preparation and in
particular favourable weather conditions : slightly
cooler than last year, lower humidity levels
and above all cool evenings and nights which
allow competitors to recuperate better.
The bivouac is saddened and shaken following
news of the death of Bernard Julé (FRA-53)
this morning. He had run a great race, finishing
this long stage in 45th position. Patrick Bauer,
members of the organisation and all the competitors
paid Bernard Julé homage with a minute’s
silence.
The arrival of the last competitor and the
traditional MDS welcome lifts everyone’s
spirits and shows that solidarity here on the
bivouac is
as strong as ever. Dianna Kay Heath (US D512)
crosses the finish well ahead of the cut-off
time. Not only is she given a joyful welcome,
some competitors walk several hundred metres
to accompany her to the finish. In keeping with
the MARATHON DES SABLES tradition, the loudest,
warmest welcome is always reserved for the competitor
that finishes last : he or she has spent the
most time out on the piste, and shown the greatest
courage. |
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