After every week of racing, the 2024 Marathon des Sables Legendary stage race has concluded in Morocco’s Sahara Desert. Rachid El Morabity and Aziza El Amrany took residence victory for the host nation within the males’s and ladies’s races. For El Morabity, it was his tenth win of the occasion, and for El Amrany, her first.
The seven-day, self-sufficiency stage race is commonly recognized as one of many hardest footraces on this planet. All through the race, runners navigate dunes, climb jebels (mountains), and run throughout a large number of surfaces in an try and make it to the end line.
Runners carry a backpack of self-sufficiency, containing the meals and tenting gear wanted for the week; the race group supplies solely a shade tent and water. Every of the race’s six levels provides a novel problem and nobody is assured to make it to the tip, not even these within the elite discipline.
The race bivouac earlier than the 2024 Marathon des Sables Legendary. Picture: MDS/Ian Corless
The 2024 race began on Sunday, April 14, and concluded on Saturday, April 20. This yr’s 252.8-kilometer (157 miles) course was divided into the next six levels:
- Stage 1: 31.1 kilometers (19.3 miles)
- Stage 2: 40.8 kilometers (25.3 miles)
- Stage 3: 85.3 kilometers (53 miles)
- Stage 4: 43.1 kilometers (26.7 miles)
- Stage 5: 31.4 kilometers (19.5 miles)
- Stage 6: 21.1 kilometers (13 miles)
This yr was set to be a quick one. The temperature firstly of the race was a average 18 levels Celsius (65 Fahrenheit), making it cool in comparison with earlier years and simpler for athletes to make a fast getaway on the pretty straightforward first day. Nonetheless, because the week went on, temperatures rose to the intense, together with wind and sandstorms, too.
Within the males’s race, eyes had been turned to the Moroccan El Morabity brothers — older brother Rachid and youthful brother Mohamed El Morabity — who had been favorites main as much as the occasion. Morocco’s Aziza Raji was the favourite within the girls’s discipline, having gained the race in 2021. However Morocco’s Aziza El Amrany, with one earlier podium end final yr when she took second, was certain to problem.
The early going of Stage 1 within the 2024 Marathon des Sables Legendary. Picture: MDS/Ian Corless
The competitors was set throughout an enormous yr of change for the longtime race, with this yr being the occasion’s thirty eighth version. Iconic race founder Patrick Bauer handed the reigns to Cyril Gauthier, operator of the Half Marathon des Sables occasions. By this, the week-long stage race took an developed title, the Marathon des Sables Legendary.
Moreover, logistical shake-ups abound for runners on the bottom, specifically the shift of the infamous lengthy stage to Stage 3 moderately than Stage 4. Additionally, the ultimate Stage 6 has been for some years a non-competitive charity stage, however this yr it was timed and part of the general competitors.
Learn on for a way the race performed out.
2024 Marathon des Sables Legendary Males’s Race
Forward of the race, all eyes had been turned to nine-time Marathon des Sables winner Rachid El Morabity of Morocco, in addition to his brother Mohamed El Morabity (Morocco), a six-time finisher with one win and 5 second locations to his title. Rachid made a robust begin to Stage 1, dashing off at a median tempo of 18 kilometers per hour, testing the remainder of the competitors to see if they might sustain. By midway by the primary stage, Rachid slowed when his brother Mohamed El Morabity (Morocco) and Aziz Yachou (Morocco) had been the one athletes shut behind.
On the finish of Stage 1, it was the youthful brother Mohamed within the lead, successful the stage in 2:11:09, adopted by Rachid (2:11:36) and Aziz (2:11:38). In fourth, it was fellow Moroccan and older brother of Aziz, Hamid Yachou, with Ahmed Ouikhalfen additionally of Morocco in fifth.
Mohamed El Morabity successful Stage 1 of the 2024 Marathon des Sables Legendary. Picture: MDS/Antonio Miranda
Stage 2 remained regular all through, with the highest three males — Mohamed, Rachid, and Aziz — operating collectively earlier than crossing the end line hand in hand forward of the race’s longest stage the following day.
The three race leaders operating collectively in Stage 2. Picture: MDS/Antonio Miranda
Now for the large one: Stage 3. This was the longest stage, with 85.3 kilometers (53 miles). It takes place over two days with a 35-hour cut-off time. Often, throughout the lengthy stage, we see the leaders create a spot with their opponents, simply as Mohamed did this yr. He began competitively and received higher because the day unfolded. After 25 kilometers, Mohamed accelerated forward of his competitors by the stage’s technical sections. By the tip of the stage, Mohamed had a lead of over 10 kilometers, ending in 7:37:47.
However the Stage 3 race wasn’t over. Behind Mohamed, his brother Rachid battled it out with Aziz. Proper till the final second, the pair had been face to face. With 200 meters to go Rachid launched a dash, however Aziz’s pace couldn’t be matched. Aziz crossed the road at 8:31:52, only one second earlier than Rachid. There was additionally a shock entrance from Yoann Caught of France, who completed simply seven minutes behind Rachid and Aziz, overtaking Hamid for fourth within the stage.
Yoann Caught operating a stage within the 2024 Marathon des Sables Legendary. Picture: MDS/Ian Corless
In an try and reclaim total fourth place, Hamid raced forward throughout the begin of Stage 4 however was caught by the El Morabity brothers after the primary sandy part. Regardless of his efforts, he was ultimately overtaken by Caught, who hung onto fourth place for the stage, beating Hamid by a mere second. Additional forward, Rachid broke away from his brother Mohamed and Aziz by the 30-kilometer mark, successful the stage and solidifying his total second-place place forward of Aziz within the total standings. Mohamed and Aziz would end collectively 95 seconds behind Rachid.
There was a dramatic flip of occasions throughout Stage 5. Mohamed began the stage with a 53-minute total lead however began slowing by 10 kilometers into the 31-kilometer stage, slowed vastly by 20 kilometers, and stepped out of the third checkpoint with a bandage round his thigh. He limped over the end line in thirty fifth place. This opened up the sector for Rachid and Aziz, who now each had an opportunity to assert first place. Rachid accelerated to the end line, 40 seconds forward of Aziz and, simply as importantly, greater than 52 minutes forward of Mohamed.
The highest three remained unchanged on the finish of the day, however the total competitors was very tight amongst them heading into the race’s last stage, with Mohamed 35 seconds forward of Rachid and a couple of minutes and 51 seconds forward of Aziz.
Rachid El Morabity on his solution to successful Stage 5. Picture: MDS/Ian Corless
The battle for first place continued into the sixth and last stage, with the highest three runners remaining pretty tight all through the 21-kilometer stage. In the long run, Rachid and Aziz went face to face.
With one other dash end, Rachid El Morabity took a two-second lead and gained the stage with a time of 1:22:05 and an total successful time of 20:42:19, for his tenth total victory on the race. Rachid now stands with just one different runner to have gained the race 10 occasions, Morocco’s Lahcen Ahansal.
Proper behind was Aziz Yachou who crossed the road in 1:22:07 and completed third total with a time of 20:44:37. This was Aziz’s fourth end, and he’s by no means completed slower than fourth place.
Mohamed El Morabity retained third on this stage, crossing the road a minute later than his brother in 1:23:05 and taking second total in 20:42:44 — his sixth time ending second and his seventh end of the occasion.
2024 Marathon des Sables Legendary Males’s Race Outcomes
- Rachid El Morabity (Morocco) – 20:42:19
- Mohamed El Morabity (Morocco) – 20:42:44
- Aziz Yachou (Morocco) – 20:44:37
- Hamid Yachou (Morocco) – 22:56:41
- Yoann Caught (France) – 23:00:14
- Ahmed Ouikhalfen (Morocco) – 23:33:27
- James Miller – (South Africa) 23:56:05
- John Dewey (U.Okay.) – 24:07:34
- Merile Robert (France) – 24:21:23
- Roberto Mastrotto (Italy) – 24:32:44
The toughest working males of the Marathon des Sables: the native employees. Picture: MDS/Ian Corless
2024 Marathon des Sables Legendary Girls’s Race
There was no holding again firstly of the ladies’s race both. Morocco’s Aziza El Amrany led with a median tempo of 14 kilometers per hour, far forward of the competitors. Though she slowed down throughout the second half of Stage 1, El Amrany nonetheless completed method forward in a time of two:45:54 and seventeenth total.
One of many favorites for this yr’s competitors, Aziza Raji (Morocco) was the 2021 winner and has positioned within the high 10 in all 5 Marathon des Sables that she’s accomplished. Raji got here in 26 minutes behind El Amrany and took second place for Stage 1. She was carefully adopted by Adriana Moser of The Netherlands in third place, a first-timer who gained the newest Half Marathon des Sables. Multi-time podium finisher Gemma Recreation (U.Okay.) and three-time winner Laurence Klein (France) adopted in fourth and fifth.
Aziza El Amrany successful Stage 1 of the 2024 Marathon des Sables Legendary. Picture: MDS/Antonio Miranda
Stage 2 took a stunning begin as Klein tried to guide however was rapidly caught by El Amrany, who went on to win the second stage. On the finish of day two, the general podium remained the identical with El Amrany holding a 46-minute whole lead.
Issues remained secure on the rostrum for the third stage of the ladies’s race. There was hypothesis as as to whether El Amrany would be capable to maintain her place on this, the longest stage, after two sturdy days. Nonetheless, there was little question ultimately, as she as soon as once more dominated many of the stage, besting Raji by 38 minutes and Moser by 78 minutes. Main Frenchwoman Klein suffered a blow round 30 kilometers. Fortuitously, her son, who was additionally competing, caught up with Klein they usually accomplished the final 25 kilometers of the stage collectively.
It was one other win for Aziza El Amrany in Stage 3. Picture: MDS/Ian Corless
Throughout Stage 4, issues began to warmth up, actually. With the rising temperatures, El Amrany suffered warmth exhaustion, which slowed her down however didn’t cease her. She nonetheless went on to complete in first place in 4:29:41, 23 minutes forward of Raji.
The largest information of this stage got here from Moser, who made an early exit simply 5 kilometers into the stage. The lengthy third stage prompted extreme blisters on her toes, which led to a change in stride and, ultimately, leg ache. This devastating blow for Moser shifted the U.Okay.’s Recreation as much as third place total, whereas Rajaa Hamdaoua of France completed third on this stage and moved into fourth total. Australia’s Lois Pickering moved as much as fifth place within the total rankings for the primary time.
Lastly, it was time for Raji to shine in Stage 5. After yesterday’s warmth sickness and with a cushty lead, El Amrany understandably held again in Stage 5. This left the sector open for Raji to take the stage win for the primary time within the race, besting El Amrany by eight seconds. Recreation additionally eased as much as fifth place within the stage, however held onto third place within the total rankings.
Aziza Raji ending Stage 3. Picture: MDS/Antonio Miranda
The race for first place was a lot much less aggressive on the ultimate day of the ladies’s race as El Amrany gained the sixth and last stage, taking first place in 5 out of the six levels and making a good way between her and the remainder of the sector. Aziza El Amrany accomplished the ultimate stage in 1:41:21 and gained the general race by greater than two hours with a time of 27:06:27.
Aziza Raji got here second on this stage in 1:55:54 and total with a time of 29:09:04.
Gemma Recreation was additional out within the discipline for the sixth stage however nonetheless managed to retain her total third place, with a ending time of 32:18:58. That is her fourth end of the occasion and her third time ending in third place — a lady of consistency.
Aziza El Amrany and Aziza Raji (proper) shortly after Raji gained Stage 5 of the 2024 Marathon des Sables Legendary. Picture: MDS/Antonio Miranda
2024 Marathon des Sables Legendary Girls’s Race Outcomes
- Aziza El Amrany (Morocco) – 27:06:27
- Aziza Raji (Morocco) – 29:09:04
- Gemma Recreation (U.Okay.) – 32:18:58
- Rajaa Hamdaoua (France) – 32:29:24
- Saskia Plaucheur (France) – 34:32:06
- Lois Pickering (Australia) – 34:45:34
- Amélie Ginter (France) – 35:09:34
- Jessie Couve de Murville (France) – 35:10:30
- Julie Rach (France) – 36:04:29
- Emilie Balthazard (France) – 36:13:11
The celebs preside over the 2024 Marathon des Sables Legendary. Picture: MDS/Arnaud Cailloux