The 2024 MDS Morocco officially got underway after a day of strong winds, sandstorms and rain through the night.

With the glow of fires in bivouac, the sky was ominous and the flashes of light and sound in the distance was a warning of what was to come.

Stage 1, 24.7km and 507m+ was in theory, an easier day passing through very familiar MDS territory. With 2.5km´s of easy terrain before a short sand climb and descent before a long flat section to cp1.

Cp1 to Cp2 contained more soft-sand and soft-sand followed as the runners climbed to the highest point via a mountain pass and then a descent all the way to bivouac.

The story of the day was the weather, the ominous clouds and distance sounds moved to bivouac and then reached the first mountain pass just as the last runner came through.

What followed was nothing short of a biblical downpour turning certain sections of the stage 1 route into a mud bath of flooding, rivers and streams. Cp2 was hit hard, but participants embraced the challenge. Everyone was smiles, fully understanding that they were experiencing a very unique moment in MDS history.

As quickly as the storm came, it disappeared and as the day passed, by midday, skies were blue, the sune was once again beating down and all was resumed for a typical MDS day!

Full MDS Morocco results are available to be viewed HERE

Top 3 for stage 1 came as no surprise for the men with Elmouaziz and El Morabity playing a game setting up Rachid for the long stage tomorrow.

1 – Abdelkader ELMOUAZIZ 2:12:17

2 – Rachid EL MORABITY 2:12:20

3 – Thomas Benjamin BERTIN 2:13:25

For the women:

1 – Lucie MATT 3:02:22

2 – Emilie GARCIA 3:16:40

3 – Délia CLAVIEN 3:21:11

The HANDI race started with the masses and proceed for 1km before transferring via vehicle to Cp1. They then move from Cp1 to Cp2, km8.5 to km12.2 in ´race mode.´ A tough and arduous challenge moving a special wheelchair through the soft sand of the Sahara. One pushes, the other pulls. It’s incredible to see these 10 pioneering teams pave a new way in Morocco.

Tomorrow, stage 2, which is the theoretical long day. Athletes can choose, 20km, 40km or 60km. However, after the heavy rains of today and localised flooding, there may be a change of routes.

Marathon des Sables website HERE

Since 1986, the MARATHON DES SABLES has crossed the world’s most stunning deserts with several unique concepts: the MARATHON DES SABLES THE LEGENDARY (252 km in the Sahara Desert in Morocco), the MARATHON DES SABLES (70, 100, or 120 km spread over 3 stages), and the new 2024 concept, the MDS TREK (4 stages with a total distance of up to 120 km), offering an accessible adventure with optimal comfort. These international events have seen over 50 editions in various countries such as Morocco, Fuerteventura Island, Peru, Jordan, Turkey, and offer adventures that combine running/hiking in the desert with tourism.

Instagram – @iancorlessphotography

Twitter – @talkultra

facebook.com/iancorlessphotography

Web – www.iancorless.com

Web – www.iancorlessphotography.com