MDS Stage 3 Results / Press Release

Tim's time: 5:03:48 (65th for the Stage!!)
Leader's time: 3:14:50 (Mohamad Ahansal, Morocco)

Overall:
Tim's time: 15:39:11
Leader's time: 8:57:27 (Mohamad Ahansal, Morocco)

Tim's position: 143rd/833 finishers (16 DNFs)
3rd Australian out of 17 (3 DNFs)

Stage 3 : 05/04/2011 - Press release n°6

Stage 2 : 7 withdrawals and 4 outside time limit
At 8am. Temperature : 21,5°C. Hygrometry : 18%.
At 12am. Temperature : 31°C. Hygrometry : 9%.

Third victory for Ahansal, Roca gets back to the top.

Despite the mild temperature, Monday’s stage left its mark on the competitors’ physical condition, hence the 7 withdrawals and 4 competitors who reached the finish line outside the time limit. Today, the 38km long leg between Jebel El Mraïer and the Rheris wadi didn’t exactly give tired or injured runners a chance to recover, as the route took them through a lot of dunes. Orientation also played a crucial part today. Jordanian competitor Salameh Al Aqra (D236-JOR) fell into the trap, getting lost in the dunes whilst the three top Moroccan runners, Ahansal (D1-MAR), El Morabity (D4-MAR) and Mustapha Aït Amar (D6-MAR) won a precious 50 seconds over him after 25km. Then the Ahansal-El Morabity duet sped up again and, as usual, Ahansal, 4 times winner of the Sultan MDS, won the day. Al Aqra ended up 4th, 4’31’’behind. On the women’side, it’s still a trial of strength: Emma Roca has won the leg and gets back at the top of the women’s general ranking, 41 seconds ahead of Laurence Klein (D280-FRA). What’s next will definitely be as riveting, with the famous long stage, 82km, from the Rheris wadi and Rich Merzoug.

Stage ranking - Men
1st : Mohamad Ahansal (D1-MAR), 38km in 3h15’21’’.
2nd : Rachid El Morabity (D4-MAR), 28’’behind.
3rd : Mustapha Aït Amar (D6-MAR), 4’14 behind.

General ranking - Men
1st : Mohamad Ahansal (D1-MAR), 109km in 8h58’.
2nd : Rachid El Morabity (D4-MAR), 5’19’’behind.
3rd : Salameh Al Aqra (D236-JOR), 14’55’’behind.

Stage ranking - Women
1st : Emma Roca (D107-ESP), 38km in 4h02’10’’.
2nd : Laurence Klein (D280-FRA), 1’36’’behind.

General ranking - Women
1st : Emma Roca (D107-ESP), 109km in 11h16’34’’.
2nd : Laurence Klein (D280-FRA), 41’’behind.