The adventure continues: Stage 2 of the MDS Legendary 2026
A fast stage
Stage 2 of the 40th edition of the MDS Legendary delivered speed and strategy.
A 6:00 AM. start gave participants a rare advantage: cool desert air that lasted through sunrise, before the midday heat began to set in. The start line glowed with an incredible light, created by the runners’ headlamps. This 40.5 km stage, with checkpoints at 8, 15, 21, 28.1 and 33.7 km, unfolded on a fast and relatively flat course, heading towards a brand-new bivouac.
An intense battle at the front of the race
In the women’s race, this stage was dominated from start to finish by Maryline Nakache, who delivered an impressive performance to win in 3:48:21. Behind her, the race took an unexpected turn as Aziza El Amrany struggled, opening the door for Agathe Teillet-Magot and Desiree Linden to complete the podium. They crossed the line in 4:10:31 and 4:13:00 respectively.
In the men’s race, Michaël Gras set the tone very early, pushing a strong pace in a bold attempt to unsettle the formidable El Morabity brothers. But experience prevailed. By CP3, Mohamed El Morabity and Rachid El Morabity had regained control before making the decisive move. Mohamed claimed victory in 2:58:26, followed by Rachid in 3:03:01. Michaël Gras, after a relentless effort, secured third place in 3:03:46.
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