Stage 4: the 100 km long stage is over

A 100 km adventure

The feared “long stage” has finally arrived: a 100 km point-to-point adventure that took runners on a true journey to explore their limits, both physically and mentally. It is the longest stage in the history of the MDS Legendary, surpassing the previous record of 92 km set in 2009.

A day with two starts: the majority of the field set off at 05:00, while the top 100 started at 07:00.

Darkness and the glow of headlamps accompanied the early runners to CP1, before they faced the Ouzina dune at the 13th kilometer, a true wall of sand.

Pushing all the way to the finish, they endured physical pain, mental fatigue, and dug deep within themselves to cross the line. The last participants, Fanny SALAVERT and Marc SALAVERT, arrived after 38 hours, 40 minutes and 12 seconds of effort.

Among the race leaders

At the top of the standings, Stage 4 reshuffled the podium. Agathe Teillet-Magot and Michaël Gras were the main ones affected, no longer able to keep up with the leaders and finishing respectively in 432nd place overall and 13th place.

In the women’s race, the battle quickly took shape, with Maryline and Aziza breaking away from the very first checkpoint to take the lead.

Behind them, Agathe Teillet-Magot, despite being 2nd overall, encountered major difficulties from the 30th kilometer, suffering from stomach issues that significantly slowed her progress.

On her side, Désirée delivered a controlled race, allowing her to secure third place on the stage.

The men’s race delivered a very high-level spectacle, with an intense duel between Ludovic Pommeret and Mohamed El Morabity.

From the first checkpoint, the two men took the lead, closely followed by Michaël Gras and Ahmed Ouikhalfen, forming a highly competitive leading group.

The race gradually shifted into its second half. From kilometer 70, Michaël Gras (3rd overall) showed signs of weakness, experiencing a dip in form with slight overheating and a lack of energy.

The decisive moment came at CP10: Mohamed El Morabity took advantage of a cooling stop by Ludovic Pommeret to accelerate and set a higher pace. The Moroccan managed to open a gap and crossed the finish line in first place, 12 seconds ahead of the Frenchman, concluding a perfectly executed strategic stage.

Thanks to this strong performance and Michaël Gras’ setback, Ludovic Pommeret moves into the overall top 3.

This Stage 4 will remain one of the most memorable in the history of the MARATHON DES SABLES. Between effort management, strategy, and resilience in extreme conditions, it highlighted the athletes’ ability to push their limits.

Tomorrow, Stage 5: a 42.2 km marathon with 424 m of elevation gain.