MSW Stage 4 - another press release

Stage 4 : 07/04/2011

Press release n°10 - DAY 1

The suffering heroes of the bivouac

At 7.15pm last night, Rachil El Morabity (D4-MAR) won the stage and took a big step towards the final victory for his first participation. Two hours later arrived French competitors Sonia Furtado (D133-FRA), who came first amongst the women, and Laurence Klein (D280-FRA) who seems to be heading for a general victory. Each time, TV and radio crews as well as representatives of the written Press assailed the athletes, hardly giving them a chance to catch their breath. At all. Then slowly the Press swarm dissolved in the cool evening and only a few brave and race officials stayed on, most of the competitors already at the bivouac preferring to go back to the relative comfort of their sleeping bags for a good night’s sleep. At a time when the real heroes of the day were still struggling in the darkness. At Check Point 4, at about 11.30 pm, Atef Benyekhlef (D119-FRA) takes his time so as not to waste any energy: “I found someone to walk with. Right now, she’s asleep, so I’m waiting by the camp-fire. I’m getting my strength back. I’ve had some food and at the next CP, I’ll have a snooze. Running by night is hell, but it’s better than running in the heat.” By then, many have already given up all hope of reaching the bivouac. Ever. Since the first wave of runners set off Wednesday at 9am, 14 competitors, their body and their soul bruised, have withdrwan from the race with heavy hearts. As the sun was rising, three more gave up, unable to take one more step in the Moroccan furnace. It is the opposite on the bivouac, where radiant faces bear witness to the satisfaction to be done with the long stage; competitors are most of all happy to be nearing the end. Only two legs and 59km to go before Patrick Bauer puts a medal around their neck, their duty done.

A very moving last arrival

Mid-morning, the temperature had already reached 35°C (at 2pm, a Polish journalist’s thermometer registered 57°C in the sun). Under his tent, Joël Damas (D253-FRA) is a happy man: “last year, I slept in the desert and I only reached the finish line at 5pm the next day. This year, I haven’t stopped walking and I even ran part of the way. I’m proud of myself, the worst is over. ”

Suddenly, something brings all the competitors resting under their tents out of their torpor: the last competitor is in sight. Following an old tradition, all walk towards the finish line to welcome him. And as if the emotion wasn’t big enough, it turns out it’s a Japanese competitor, Minoru Tanaka (D365-JAP), who gets cheered by the whole caravan. It is 6.05 pm, some 23 hours after Rachid El Morabity (D4-MAR) crossed that very same line.