The 16th MDS was both hot and challenging and the many media covering the event were spoilt for choice in the number of themes they could cover. From the first to the last stage, the race was packed with emotion and action.
Favourites and modest walkers alike had to really battle to finish and those that didn't make it to the end gave up only when their own physical limits at that moment forced them to do so.
As for the winner, in seizing victory for the fourth time in the MARATHON DES SABLES, Lahcen AHANSAL (Mor) proved just how adept a runner he is. You can only admire the apparent ease with which he finishes each stage and having won every one of them he showed the extent of his capacity to adapt over all distances. Bravo Monsieur AHANSAL !
In fact we should say Messieurs because, in taking 2nd place once again, Mohammed AHANSAL (Mor) is much more than an eternal second ran. He's a real champion capable of rivalling the best (1st in 1999) and that includes his brother. On the women's side there was also a great champion: Franca FIACCONI (ITA) put in a brilliant performance to win the women's category, but also secure an extraordinary 8th place in the general ranking. Like AHANSAL, she won every stage. The battle for second place on the women's podium between Kazuko KAIHATA (J) and Tania PACEV (US) was thrilling and in the end it was Japan that won the day.
With Mohamed AHANSAL 2nd, Marco GOZZANO (I) 4th and Gilles DIEHL (F) 6th, the team victory had to go to NETIKOS.
All that of course only concerns a bunch of let's say extraterrestrials who deserve to be praised to the skies. But one mustn't forget all the less well known runners and walkers whose only glory is to have triumphed over themselves. Apart from their family and close friends, few will be showering them with praise. But does it really matter in the end? Whether you're in the first 100, 310th or last, what really counts is the wealth of memories that each individual with keep close to their heart.
So here's to next year, should you feel like battling with the Moroccan desert. A heartfelt thank you to all of
you -competitors and volunteers for this wonderful week spent together.
Whilst we wait for the 17th MDS to come around, there's the DESERT CUP Jordan Telecom 2001 and true to form the event will see champions fighting it out this November. As with MDS, there'll be a gritty story played out between all those with the courage to take up the challenge.

We'll be in touch soon,
AOI.

During the prize giving ceremony on the 16th MDS, an error occurred in the organising of the files. AOI sincerely apologises for having omitted to call out the delegation of its EUROSPORT partner who were there at Ouarzazate to reward the winning female. As a loyal partner in the MDS, the European sports channel has close relations with the organisation. A EUROSPORT team is present at each MDS event and the EUROSPORT trophy is awarded to the top female competitor. Not only does the channel follow the course daily, but it publicises the event through many ads on television. In addition, it broadcasts the 26-minute film made by the Cimbaly production team several times.

SPECIAL THANKS
THE PARTNERS
OUR REPRESENTATIVES	Anke MOLKENTHIN (D-AUT) Mary GADAMS (USA- AFS- RPC) Chris LAWRENCE (GB- AUST- NZ- IRL) Toshio MATSUNAGA (J) Kana Production (M) Cedric O.GRANT (CH - L) Paolo ZUBANI (I) Javier DE LAS MUELAS (SP) Sylvain DESCHENES (C)
THE COMPETITORS	Special thanks to the 612 COURAGEOUS participants.

All information on the 16th Marathon des sables (general ranking, emails, pictures, news...) and Desert Cup 2001 on our site
http://www.darbaroud.com

ATLANTIDE ORGANISATION Internationale
BP 98 - 10003 TROYES Cedex - FRANCE
Phone. : (33) 03 25 76 57 77 / Fax : (33) 03 25 76 87 75
E-Mail : aoi@darbaroud.com - WEB : http://www.darbaroud.com
Sahara News number 47 realized by CIMBALY International - Pépé and Marie

Sahara News n°47 - www.darbaroud.com - Webmaster : Neuromedias

SPECIAL 16th EDITION
THE FILM
Always eagerly awaited for, the film made by the production company Cimbaly will be sent to participants of 16th MDS at the end of July. Those who weren't there this year can obtain a copy of the film by using the order form in the next edition of the Sahara News or through our web site : www.darbaroud.com

FFA CONTROLS
Out of the 10 anti-doping controls carried out by the French Athletics Federation in accordance with international norms, none tested positive. We can only be satisfied with these results, as it would be worrying to see adventure sports fans giving in to such practices!

LONG LIVE WOMEN
66 of them reached the finish line on the 16th MDS.Cheerful as well as combative, from Franca Fiacconi (I) to Martine Thenance (F) they proved yet again that they had determination and courage to spare. In particular they seem to know themselves well and know how to pace themselves perfectly: whatever the machos might say, they are statistically twice as less likely to drop out than the men.

COURAGE
All the AOI team hope that A.BENZZINE (M) will get well soon. He had a car accident on 30 March whilst on his way to the airport to join in the 16th MDS. We hope to see you soon in good shape.

EVEN THE BEST
Never think champions don't suffer too. As if proof were needed: Marco OLMO (I), winner of the last DESERT CUP Jordan Telecom, and Karim MOSTA (F) didn't make it to the finish line this year. They too have to fight to stay in the race. Gilles DIEHL (F) could only agree. He was ill, penalised for receiving IV's and nevertheless finished 6th gritting his teeth and thinking of his family. He's also a great champion!

HOMMAGE TO THE OLD HANDS
You have to salute the courage and determination of Claude COMPAIN (F) who at the age of 78 didn't hesitate to try the MDS for the 6th time. Admittedly he had to abandon this year but it was only when the race regulations pronounced him out of time that he was forced to withdraw.

UNDER A BURNING SUN !
This year the searing heat really took its toll. With record temperatures of more than 50°, pacing the water intake became a priority. It's one of the fundamental principles on MDS and those that forgot regretted it deeply.

WATER !
We admit that the last 14 km of the 82 km stage were a bit long as they were particularly sandy, but all the last kms of a long stage seem never-ending… Those that suffered and felt they lacked water hadn't taken the basic precaution of stocking up on water at CP 4 in order to finish in the best conditions. But had they read the road book carefully?…

FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
The Netikos team (Italy, France, Morocco) and the 4 women from the Yves Rocher team (Canada, France, Morocco, Japan), both illustrate just how international the MDS is. The same goes for the women's podium, which brought together Italy, Japan and the USA. Competitors from 33 countries took part in the race this year.
With more than 1000 emails received and 150 sent per day from the bivouac, the message service worked very well. Messages addressed to our usual email or sent without ID number could not, however, be distributed. You had to follow the instructions given in the Sahara News N° 45.
Statistics for the darbaroud.com site during the 16th MDS:
Number of connections : 4,085,393
Number of pages viewed : 1,063,602
Number of visitors : more than 76,000

VETERAN
The latest European norms are calling for a new age bracket to be attributed for women, with the veteran category beginning at age 35. As we don't much care for the term "Veteran", AOI has used the occasion to changeover to the term "Master". There will therefore be awards for "masters men" 1, 2 and 3 and "masters women" 1 and 2 on the DESERT CUP.

RECORD TO BEAT
The record laid down by Marco OLMO (I) during the 2001 edition stands at 21H 41' 34'' and waits to be beaten. The person who establishes a new record will be invited to the following edition of the race. It's certainly feasible, but won't be easy...