DUTCH DES SABLES
Childcancer.org
Time & Tide Challenge 630
FARM Africa
St Helena Hospice
Mercy Ships
Noma
Facing Africa
Oxfam
Children's Cancer Foundation (Germany)
Fred Hollows Foundation read articles
Could
it be the 10th ?
He needs no introduction, Lahcen Ahansal is the Champion
of Marathon des Sables. Since the 14th edition, no
competitor has been able to rob him of victory. For
this 22nd edition, Lahcen is aiming to realise a
childhood dream : win his 10th MDS. He’s been
training throughout the year and intensively for
the last three months, more than 160km per week.
What counts most in the preparation is to reach top
physical condition. And yet as he says “ every
year when I receive the road book, MDS appears more
and more difficult”. Lahcen thinks he will
have a clearer vision of his chances of winning once
he’s reached stage 3.
Born and bred in the town of Zagora, Lahcen has found
the means of preparing for the different climatic
conditions and terrain that this edition may have
in store.
In terms of competition, he recognises there are
several very strong competitors such as Jorge Aubeso
(ESP, world vice-champion 100km in 2005) and Philippe
Remond (FR twice marathon French champion) but is
confident his preparation will stand him in good
stead this year. He regrets the absence this year
of the Jordanian Al Aqrah Salameh, 2nd in 2006 and
who was « a major rival ».
