As the outright winner of
the latest 3rd edition of the DESERT CUP Jordan
Telecom, Marco OLMO (I) has really made his mark
on the race. Appreciated as much by his adversaries
as the organisers, he remains as modest and friendly
as ever. When you hear him analysing the race, he
makes everything seem so simple, but his apparent
ease doesn't come from nowhere. For this committed
vegetarian, it's the result of an impeccably healthy
lifestyle and years of experience which have given
hear near-scientific insight into the race.
The competition was palpitating from start to finish
with many a turnabout and participants had to show
real determination at every turn if they wanted
the thrill of crossing the finish line. That required
pacing oneself well, good hydration and sleep management,
all in relation to the personal objective chosen
and one's capacities at the time.
Given the difficult political context in the Middle
East, the course stood out as an important symbol
of peace, reuniting participants of 20 nationalities.
ATLANTIDE ORGANISATION Internationale would therefore
like to thank competitors, volunteers and partners
for the trust they showed in the organisation.
Concerning the next edition of MDS, many people
have already sent in their registration files so
don't hang about too long if you want to be sure
of setting off on 4 April 2003.
Having experience
is certainly a plus point when organising such a
race but for organisers and competitors alike,nothing
is ever 100% sure in advance. Runners have to train
hard on a regular basis to optimise their chances
of success, and organisers have to rethink things
through each year to try and improve every area
and offer the best race conditions to participants.
The fact that each player in the event is willing
to give the best of him/herself brings admiration
from both sides and helps to make MDS unique.
Before we meet again and this wonderful energy comes
together in one great shared moment, all the ATLANTIDE
ORGANISATION Internationale team wishes you Season's
Greetings and a very happy New Year.
We'll be in touch soon
AOI
3rd Albert VALLEE (F)1strMarco
OLMO (I), 2nd Jean Michel JOLY (F)
2nd Hanni ZEHENDNER (D),1st Katell CORNE (F), 3rd
Sophie BARENNE (F)
TIMING MDS
Next edition 04 - 14 april 2003
MEDICAL CERTIFICATE
& ELECTROCARDIOGRAM
Some competitors have already sent AOI one or the other of these
two medical certificates. The organisation cannot take them
into account. To be valid, these certificates must
be carried out and dated the month before the race begins (see
Art. 25 of race
regulations). You will therefore have to take the medical and
electrocardiogram again if you made this mistake. The documents
must be brought along to Morocco and shown during the technical
and medical checks.
N.B.: the medical certificate to be validated by a doctor is
the one in the enrolment file sent by AOI.
TIMING DC
The presence of many high level
competitors had us hoping for a tough fight for the lead. Since
the race was run in the opposite direction, making it by and
large faster, it was expected the record would be beaten once
again. But when the starting orders were given both runners
and the organisation were hesitant about prognostics. Who would
win? Was it better to go on the attack or hold back calmly ?
The reply came around 100kms down the line.
Showing a real strategy, the winner of the two previous editions M.
OLMO (I) paced himself perfectly from start to finish. Letting the
more audacious set off ahead of him, he then caught them up one by
one until he finally won in 18H35'15''. A similar tactic gave J.M.
JOLY (F) and A. VALLEE (F) a place on the podium. It wasn't until
the 130km point that they overtook the two Jordanians Al AQRA and
Al SWITTI who were still trailing M. OLMO (I) at this stage in the
race. On the women's side, the course was played out at around the
same spot. M. COUDER PERRET (F) was out in front up to CP 8 (Km 98.5)
where she stopped to sleep. K. CORNE (F), who was following her closely,
then took the lead and kept it until the end. Not far behind H. ZEHENDER(Ger)
and S. BARENNE (F) battled it out between them. Having almost caught
up the German runner, the young French woman couldn't quite beat her
rival's surprisingly strong finish. Joined at CP13 (Km 155.5) by C.
DELANGLE (F) and A. MOLKENTHIN(Ger), she nevertheless managed to keep
her third place. The team rankings saw a fair number of turnabouts
as male and female runners who set off too fast were forced to retire
or those initially in the lead gradually fell back. S. SENEGAS (F),
P. RENAULT (F) and D. LE MAUFF (F) sealed victory for the SOJA SUN
team, ahead of L. HATTAB (JRD), S. AL AQRA
(JRD) and M. AL SWITTI (JRD) of JORDAN TEAM 1 and AGF ELA NIKE made
up of C. DELANGLE (F) C.HEINRICH (F) and P.GROBOST (F). In the Men's
Masters 1 to 4 A.VALLEE (F), M. OLMO (I) J.C. RAYMOND (F) and L.J.
BROPHY (GB) respectively, were each rewarded in their category. A.
MOLKENTHIN (Ger), M. BASTY (F) and H. ZEHENDER (Ger) clinched the
Women's Masters 1 to 3.
TV REPORTS
TV report DESERT CUP 2002 Jordan Telecom
- 26 minutes - TV5
: 28th December 2002 - 16H30 (french time).
EUROSPORT : 8th January
2003 - 22H (french time),
and : the 09th january 2003 - 09.00 am ; the 10th january 2003
- 11.30 am
GENERAL RANKING DESERT CUP
2002 Jordan Telecom
INDIVIDUAL
1st
2nd
3rd
OLMO Marco (I)
JOLY Jean Michel (F)
VALLEE Albert (F)
18H35’15”
20H35’08”
22H14’22”
WOMEN
1st
2nd
3rd
CORNE Katell (F)
ZEHENDER Hanni (D)
BARENNE Sophie (F)
30H35’15”
31H38’44”
32H40’30”
MASTER HOMME 1
1st
VALLEE Albert (F)
22H14’22”
MASTER FEMALE 1
1st
MOLKHENTIN Anke (D)
32H46’20”
MASTER HOMME 2
1st
OLMO Marco (I)
18H35’15”
MASTER FEMALE 2
2nd
BASTY Monique (F)
37H03’29”
MASTER HOMME 3
1st
RAYMOND Jean Claude (F)
34H09’45”
MASTER FEMMALE 3
1st
ZEHENDER Hanni (D)
31H38’44”
MASTER HOMME 3
1st
BROPHY Laurence John (F)
55H18’25”
TEAM
1st
2nd
3rd
SOJA SUN (F)
JORDANTELECOM 1 (JD)
AGF ELA NIKE (F)
27H20’55”
30H34’07”
30H50’14”
ATLANTIDE ORGANISATION Internationale
BP 98 - 10003 TROYES Cedex - FRANCE
Tél. : (33) 03 25 76 57 77 / Fax : (33) 03 25 76 87
75
E-Mail : aoi@darbaroud.com
- WEB : http://www.darbaroud.com
Sahara News n° 60 realized by CIMBALY International
Pépé and Marie - Webmaster : Cimbaly
MARATHON
DES SABLES WEEK END
from 10 to 14 April 2003
As in previous years, families, friends and sponsors
can come along to the finish line during the last 2
stages of MDS.
For information and details, contact :
TERRES D'AVENTURE - Charles POLIDORI
Tel : 01 53 73 76 76 email: c.polidori@terdav.com
TEAM RACING Vendée Sable : After 3 MDS in
a row, D. PEUDUPIN (F) is back with 3 running mates
: P. DUBREIL (F) who was present in 2001, plus H.PALVADEAU
(F) and E. MARTINEAU (F). They're keen to share the
adventure as a team, sporting the Vendée region
flag. Prolifer : 4 times medal-winner including
two outright wins, B. GAUDIN (F) is back on MDS with
friends. He'll be giving B. BOISSEAU (F) and J.J. MICHENOT
(F) the benefit of his experience. Less interested in
winning, he's nevertheless expected to enjoy a good
fight.
A3 Les Trekkeurs Alençonnais: F. CAILLY (F) took
12th place on the 16th MDS.Accompanied by two long-distance
runners from his town of Alençon: A.LEBOSSE (F)
and M. OUTALONG (F), he hopes to share what he considers
an extraordinary adventure. Les Fondunes : Pascale POMMIER (F)
has seized the chance to be part of a great team project.
Alongside M. ZAHOUR (F) who knows MDS well, J.L. GERPHAGNON
(F) and J. CLARET (F) want to show you can still lead
a sporting life after 50. As for N. BELKHIER (F), he
sees it as a real pilgrimage. ALCF : During the 17th MDS, whilst
the sandstorm was raging, A. ABDELMALEK (F) didn't hesitate
to help a steward put his quad back on its wheels. This
year he's happy to show the course to two runners from
his club: Caroline BOURGAULT (F) and F.PELTIER (F).
What's more they're young enough to be his children... Oasis 1 -Sclérose en plaque (multiple
sclerosis) : Y. ROUDAULT (F) and Y. DUQUESNE
(F), back for the second year running, are excited about
joining up with the president of their asociation Malou
LEBAS (F). Their slogan is "you lengthen my stride
but my ankles stay strong" Oasis 2 -Sclérose en plaque
: this team from Brittany have joined forces in the
battle against multiple sclerosis. Participating for
the first time, J.
CAER (F), B. PLAISANT (F), R. BLOC'H (F) and C. LE GALL
want to discover Morocco and push their limits to the
full for the sake of others. I.M.A. Penauilles : Thanks to the "Grand
large" association and their twosponsors, M. FRAYE
(F), R. VALLE (F) and S. M. SPILOTROS (F)will be able
to provide handicapped children from a Moroccan organisation
with 3 wheelchairs. A great initiative that we heartily
encourage. to see what it'll be like the other way around.
After a good MDS, teammate Elisabeth MARQUE (F) feels
like a new challenge.
RECORD
By finishing in 18H05'15'' Marco OLMO (I) has exceeded
the 9 km/h mark. Overa 168km itinerary as demanding
as the DESERT CUP Jordan Telecom, this is indeed some
feat. Given that all records are there to be beaten,
just who will be able to do better? The challenge is
just out there waiting!
A FEW STATISTICS
Start: 231 runners, Finish: 209
Number of women at the finish: 20
Speed of first: 9.29 km/h
Speed of last: 2.74 km/h
Objective: - 24 H = 8; 24 to 36 H = 76; 36 to 48 H =
71; 48 to 62 H = 54
Maximum daytime temperature: 25°
Minimum night-time temperature: 11°
Maximum wind speed: 50 km/h.
Number of nationalities: 19
NO SUCH THING AS GROWING OLD!
With Marco OLMO (I) and Jean-François DESMOULIN-CATONNET
(F), 1st and 5th respectively in the general ranking,
the Men's Masters 2 brigade are showing they're a force
to be reckoned with. The women are hardly biding their
time either with Hanni ZEHENDER (Ger) winning the Women's
Master 3 and securing second place in women's general
ranking in just over 31 H. Jean-Claude RAYMOND (F) took
the Men's Master 3 title in 34 H and L.J. BROPHY (GB)
took just over 55 H to secure the Men's Masters 4. It
would seem experience coupled with talent make the years
just drop off..
