Marathon des sables, Stage 3. Jorge Aubeso cuarto de la etapa, vamós campeón!!

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 14hSunny 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.