flooding | IAN CORLESS

The final stage of the 2024 MDS Morocco started with an early wake up ahead of the 0530 start. There was a chill in the air as participants prepared their last meals.

The stage 3 route had been modified due to flooding, but the course would take place in the same region of the Sahara as planned, just a slight detour avoiding the requirement to swim…

The stage of 25km’s was notable as the HANDI category would complete the entire stage, just one section at around 11km, a narrow gorge, requiring outside assistance from the MDS blue coats to help ensure safe passage.

For the top runner’s, the stage would be completed in almost darkness, with sunrise coming at 0720 and the expected first finisher at 0730.

It was a magical day, the glow and lines of headlamps creating a visual spectacle. The Handi teams inspiring and showing that there are no limits and of course, the sunrise was really exceptional.

The 2024 MDS Morocco will be remembered in the history of the Marathon des Sables legacy; strong winds, sand storms, thunderstorm, torrential rain, flooding and the Handi teams.

The flooding created unique visual moments.

The experience has been all the greater for these moments of test. And for future editions of MDS lessons can be learnt, participants must be prepared for all eventualities. History has shown, the Sahara is not always hot, it is not always dry and it is not always calm and relaxing. This is what makes the adventure and challenge so great and rewarding.

The Handi category, amazing and emotional.

As with all MDS events. there are three distance categories, 70km, 100km and 120km. For the 2024 MDS Morocco, a fourth category, the Handi. A category that we all hope that can grow and develop to more races in the MDS portfolio.

The MDS Morocco 2024 came to an end. Winners were crowned at the awards ceremony, but the top-3 in each distance are only the tip of the iceberg in a race of 630 participants. The MDS format truly appreciates and applauds all who take part, be them fast runner or walker. These races exist to allow all abilities an opportunity to seek an adventure at a pace and a distance that is a challenge to themselves, it’s a wonderful concept.

Full results HERE

120km

RESULTS 1 – Rachid EL MORABITY 2 – Abdelkader ELMOUAZIZ 3 – Thomas Benjamin BERTIN

WOMEN RESULTS 1 – Lucie MATT 2 – Emilie GARCIA 3 – Carine DAVID

100km

RESULTS 1 – Fabrice ARMAND 2 – Morgane GODEFROY 3 – Alberto CAPPAROTTO

WOMEN RESULTS 1 – Morgane GODEFROY 2 – Lisa PUJOLAS 3 – Emily COCKELL

70km

RESULTS 1 – Christian HARTEL 2 – Pierre-Luc VITOUX 3 – Clémence VIENNET

WOMEN RESULTS 1 – Clémence VIENNET 2 – Catarina VILLAS 3 – Jasmine LIBOIRON

Handi

RESULTS 1 – Benoit COLLIOT – L’UN POSSIBLE 2 – Yann GRANDGUILLAUME – L’UN POSSIBLE3 – Guillaume LEGRAS – L’UN POSSIBLE

WOMEN RESULTS 1 – Anais KRAUTH – HANDI MDS 1 2 – Kaïna RAHMOUNI – HANDI MDS 93 – Claire NOLET – HANDI MDS 7

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.