de gauche à droite :
Patrice Kergosien (F,2e), Marco Olmo (I,1er), Albert Vallée
(F,3e)
Anke Molkenthin (D,2e), Katell Corne (F,1ere), Monique Mulhen (Lux,3è)
You had to be both tough and cautious to reach the finish
line on this 1st Malian edition of the Desert Cup. The
heat combined with the difficulty of the course meant that
many competitors found the race a good deal more difficult
than expected. Conducted by Marco OLMO (I) in fine form,
no doubt inspired by the rhythms of Malian folklore, the
course took off at quite some pace. Several virtuosos tried
to follow the score but Marco is a soloist, capable of
accelerating the tempo at any time and leaving the rest
of the orchestra behind. It was therefore without a single
false note that he won his 4th Desert Cup in a row. You
have to hand it to the maestro !
Few participants will forget the Dogon region and the warm
welcome of its people. Even the most blasé amongst
us were bowled over by the traditional dances and party
atmosphere in some villages. Many were also struck by the
difference in daily life there, sometimes seeming centuries
away from the Western world, and which gave the opportunity
to put a different
perspective on things. A new chapter has been written in
the history of adventure sport and many lovers of open
spaces will want to write a few more lines in 2004.
In another country, another adventure: it’ll soon
be Morocco’s turn to welcome several
hundred lovers of the desert for the 19th edition of the
MARATHON DES SABLES. First time participants will discover
not only the course, but a culture and a people.
At the start of 2004, the AOI team extends its best wishes
to all the runners. We hope that people open up their hearts
a little more and look differently upon the most deprived.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all simply be
more fraternal !
Happy New Year to you all
AOI.
TIMING MARATHON DES SABLES
Next edition 09th - 19th april 2004
CERTIFICATE MEDICAL & 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
obtained and dated the month before the race begins (see Art.
25 of race regulations).
So if you made this mistake, you will have to take the medical
and electrocardiogram again. 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 (signed
+ stamped) is the one in the enrolment file sent by AOI.
TEAMS
No team can be enrolled once in Morocco. The team’s
name and number of teammembers must be stated in the reservation
file. Team names must also bequite short so they can be read
correctly on the computer print-out.
There were 179
km to the finish line. That figure alone should have sent
out
messages to take it steady. But not so ! Competitors set off
at quite some pace and paid the price: 49 of the 152 didn’t
make it.
Marco OLMO (I) plus Siaka SANGARE and Ibrahim KANTE from Mali
were the first through CP1 and CP2, followed closely by Albert
VALLEE (F), Patrice KERGOSIEN (F), Maurice MONDON (F) and Jordi
NOU ROSSEL (SP). At CP3 (Km 37) following the shattering ascent
and descent OLMO slightly extended his lead.
He went on to further increase it
at CP4 (Km 45) once runners had crossed the steep slopes of
the "Sacred Mountain”". No one would get within
sight of the Italian again. Back at CP3 catastrophe had struck.
21 runners had were no longer in the race, having either dropped
out or been out of time. The pace plus 40°+ heat was exhausting.
For the last ones still out on the slopes of the “Sacred
Mountain” there were Dogon guides around especially once
night fell when it would have been dangerous to be alone. Again
for safety reasons, a race steward and doctor circulated from
morning onwards, ready to intervene at any time between the
summit (Km 43) and CP4.
Simone KAYSER (L), Katell CORNE
(F) and Maria TRUJILLO (COL) were the leading women from the
start but at CP4 KAYSER managed to break away ahead of CORNE.
At this moment Marielle COUDER (F) caught up with the Colombian.
They arrived at CP6 after nightfall; COUDER, by then joined
by Anke MOLKENTHIN (GER), opted to pull out. V2 Maurice MONDON
did the same. Up to CP8, Siaka SANGARE continued his surprising
performance, staying ahead of P. KERGOSIEN and A. VALLEE. But
at CP9 the Malian needed an hour’s rest before setting
off again. Albert VALLEE could no longer keep up with his comrade
and watched him fly off ahead. At CP8, it was the Colombian
runner’s turn to find herself in difficulty; she stopped
for 5h then another 3h at CP9 thereby ruining all chances of
winning. A dramatic turn at CP9 when CORNE was the first woman
through. KAYSER had got lost in the savannah, along with her
husband. She set off again but had lost her morale, finally
throwing in the towel at CP10. And when winning female racer
Katell CORNE crossed the finish line Marc KAYSER (Lux) was
at her side…
Anke MOLKENTHIN (GER)came in second and Monique MUHLEN’s (Lux) courage
and regular pace were well rewarded with 3rd place. M. OLMO (I) finished in 21h
46' 18'', ahead of P. KERGOSSIEN (F) and A. VALLEE (F) who had pitted themselves
one against the other throughout. The JOGGING INTERNATIONAL team, made up of
A. MOLKENTHIN (GER), M. OLMO (I), and Christian GINTER (F), came in ahead of
LEGENDRE BRETAGNE ULTRA with K. CORNE (F), A. VALLEE (F) and Patrice BALLARD
(F). The NATIONALE DU MALI team secured an impressive 3rd place and were well
applauded by all during the awards ceremony. Congratulations Fanta TRAORE (MAL),
Siaka SANGARE (MAL) and Ibrahim KANTE (MAL). A real feat !
INDIVIDUAL
1er OLMO Marco (I) 21H46’18”
2è KERGOSIEN Patrice (F) 24H28’14”
3è VALLEE Albert (F) 26H25’16” WOMAN
1er CORNE Katell (F) 33H15’53”
2è MOLKENTHIN Anke (D) 35H37’15”
3è MULHEN Monique (LUX) 40H30’27” MASTER MAN 1
1er VALLEE Albert (F) 26H25’16”
CLASSEMENT MASTER FEMME 1
1er MOLKHENTIN Anke (D) 35H37’15”
MASTER
MAN 2
1er OLMO Marco (I) 21H46’18” MASTER WOMAN 2
1è MULHEN Monique (LUX) 40H30’27” MASTER MAN 3
1er VILLANO Fulvio (I) 45H33’47” MASTER MAN 4
1er LE LOUARN Joseph (F) 54H36’52” TEAM
1er JOGGING Inernational (I, D, F) 29H41’30”
2è LEGENDRE BRETAGNE ULTRA (F) 30H30’25”
3è Equipe NATIONALE DU MALI (MAL) 39H07’00
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° 69 realized by CIMBALY International
Pépé et Marie - Webmaster : Cimbaly
HE NEEDS YOU
He’s the only one in the world to have run and
finished all editions of MDS and all participants know
how kind he is. Sadly, Moroccan Brahim EL JAOUAL is
suffering from a serious cardiovascular problem and
must be operated on in the next 3 months. Weighing
in at 6,000 euros, the operation is too costly for
him. AOI is therefore appealing to everyone’s
generosity to raise the necessary funds. Please send
any donations in the form of cheques made payable to “AOI-
soutien pour Brahim” - BP 98 - 10003 Troyes Cedex-
France. All funds will be directly handed over to the
Moroccan hospital in charge of theoperation. There’ll
be an update in the next Sahara News.
ENVIRONMENT
The organisation considers respect for nature as a
priority. So it’s worth remembering that throwing
away bottles or packaging on the race route is forbidden
and subject to penalties (see Art. 26 and 27). Rubbish
bins are available at each check-point and in tents
on the camp-site.
TEAMS 517° RT : By including civilian Ronald SECHERESSE
(F) in a military team, the 517th regiment is sealing
its partnership with the town of Châteauroux.
P.QUERNET (F), V. VIANES (F) and S.LARRIEU (F) are
delighted with the arrangement. Altaïr France Maroc : After 2000 and 2002 Dalila GHAZALI (Mor) is back
this time with M.
THOMACHOT (F), V.TIROLIEN (F) and J.F. PLECHAT (F)
to share this “very special MDS atmosphere”. MDS RTNE : Another force (Région
Terre Nord Est) from the NE this time. F. MOUNIER (F)
promised
to come back one day in a team. It took him 10 years
but he made it!…. As for team-mates R. BERNARD
(F) and L. AUGRY (F) they only have word to say : "Passion". Les Eoliennes-Espoir pour Cindy : Following the Desert
Cup where she finished 3rd in the team rankings, Christine
DELANGLE (F) is out to discover MDS with Isabelle GREGOIRE
(F) and Martine VOLAY. These three women are gathering
under the "Femininity, Sportsmanship, Solidarity" banner. Sport'Ev – The North Face : M. MEMBRANO (F),
C. DESTRUHAUT (F), L. BOUTIER (F), C. QUINTANE (F)
and Y. BURDZY (F) are experienced runners hoping for
a collective place on the podium. It’ll be a
tough challenge, but then it will for everyone.
UNEXPECTED WEATHER
The “average” maximum temperature is 32° in
December, but the day the race began it went above 40°.
What’s more it hadn’t rained so much in the region
for decades leading to exceptionally high humidity levels
for the area. This rare phenomenon at the time of the year
really took its toll on competitors.
QUITE A CLIMB !
The degree of slope was calculated according to the
distance to be covered between the bottom of the
hill and its summit. However the technical nature
of the ascent and descent changed the situation quite
a bit. This will be more clearly stated in the future.
TOP
SPEED !
That Marco OLMO went through CP1 at 13 km/h is incredible,
but that the majority of the runners went through
at more than 8 km/h is madness and certainly helps
explain why many felt so weak by CP3…
THAT’S
AFRICA FOR YOU !
First you could hear the drum-beats, then they came
to the bivouac from all around forming an impressive
troop in traditional hunting costume. Along with
dancers on stilts, it all made for an extraordinary
and fascinating spectacle. In the villages, local
people stood in rows of honour to watch and encourage
the runners, breaking out into chanting and dancing.
At CP2 children slapped hands with the runners, sometimes
following them over considerable distances. And everywhere
you looked the same smile: a real treat!
USEFUL INDEED
Thanks to Michel BACH (F), around 12 schools in the
Dogon region and the savannah had the pleasure of
receiving precious school equipment. In line with
the wishes of Mrs LUONGO, whose husband, an enthusiastic
runner, died this Autumn, a cheque for 1067 Euros
was awarded to a charity looking after disadvantaged
young girls. DOC TROTTER also did their bit, giving
their needy Malian counterparts a large quantity
of basic medicines.
