Stage 4 - 03/04/09 - Aferdou Nsooualhine/Tizin Ighrs : 42 km

Conditions at 9.45am : 21,4?C and 29,6% hygrometry
Conditions at 12.15pm : 29?C and 16,5% hygrometry

4th stage Men ranking
2 Aziz El Akad (3-Morocco) 2h52m23s
1 Mohamad Ahansal (2-Morocco) 2h54m29s
3 Salameh El Aqrah (357- Jord) 3h04m28
4 Mustapha Ait Amar (8- Morocco) 3h06m00
5 Samir Akhdar (4- Morocco) 3h09m43s
6 Aurelio Antonio Olivar Roldan (529 – Spain) 3h10m32s
7 Jorge Aubeso (458 – Spain) 3h12m15s
8 Anton Vencelj (220 – Slovenia) 3h12m41s
9 Michael Wardian (870 – USA) 3h14m15s
10 Lorenzo Trincheri (460 – Italy) 3h19m57s

General Men ranking
1 Mohamad Ahansal (2-Morocco) 16h27m26s
2 Aziz El Akad (3-Morocco) 4m14s (time difference with top runner)
3 Salameh El Aqrah (357- Jord) 47m40s (time difference with top runner)
4 Anton Vencelj (220 – Slovenia) 1h47m09s (time difference with top runner)
5 Mustapha Ait Amar (8 Morocco) 1h49m11s (time difference with top runner)
6 Lorenzo Trincheri (460 – Italy) 2h14m27s (time difference with top runner)
7 Samir Akhdar (4- Morocco) 2h16m06s (time difference with top runner)
8 Michael Wardian (870 – USA) 2h17m23s (time difference with top runner)
9 Aurelio Antonio Olivar Roldan (529 – Spain) 2h23m24s (time difference with top runner)
10 Julio Gomez Camacho (473- Spain) 2h33m36s (time difference with top runner)
 
4th stage Women ranking
1 Touda Didi (265- Morocco)  4h16m52s
2 Luz Perez Carbajo (480 – Sapin) 4h18m33s
3 Rosa Espachs Olivera (504- Spain) 4h24m49s
4 Meghan Hicks (825 – USA) 4h30m51s
5 Simone Keyzer (434 – Luxemburg) 4h38m41s

General Women ranking
1 Touda Didi (265- Morocco)  23h30m44s
2 Meghan Hicks (825 – USA) 58m52s (time difference with top runner)
3 Luz Perez Carbajo (480 – Spain) 1h07m48s (time difference with top runner)
4 Simone Keyzer (434 – Luxemburg) 2h46m27s (time difference with top runner)
5 Rosa Espachs Olivera (504- Spain) 3h11m01s (time difference with top runner)
5 Jennifer Salter (782- GB) 3h14m04s (time difference with top runner)

Mohamad Ahansal robbed the precious trophy from his brother, keeping it in the family patrimony.
He has won his second Marathon des Sables in the row despite his main pretender's best efforts, Aziz El Akad, at the second place. 6 minutes behind Ahansal at the general ranking, Aziz El Akad did a phenomenal stage today trying to fill the gap. He won this stage ahead Ahansal, who simply contented himself to keep control over the race. The Jordanian Salameh Al Aqrah won a well deserved third general rank, 47 minutes behind Mohamad Ahansal.

No overpowering heat and sand storm for this edition but fresh nights, muddy ground and an high hygrometry throughout the race. Usually organised in a small city, the end the 24th Marathon des Sables is set in the middle of nowhere. Families are there to share the runners' joy. Tonight, all the competitors will relax themselves : a classical concert will be given by musicians from the Paris' Opera and will share dinner with the organisation's staff.

The Prize ceremony for the 24th Marathon des Sables will take place on sunday in Ouarzazate.