Morocco asserted its dominance from the outset of the 39th edition of the Marathon des Sables, which kicked off on Sunday between Jbel Erhraz and Oued Tijekht in the province of Errachidia. In this first 32 km stage, Mohamed El Morabity took the lead, crossing the finish line first with a time of 2h20'29''. «As always, the first stage is difficult—it's about finding the right rhythm», he said at the finish. He was closely followed by his brother, Rachid El Morabity—multiple-time winner of the event—who finished second in 2h21'37'', just over a minute behind. Another Moroccan, Hamid Yachou, rounded out the podium with a time of 2h23'11''. Despite some technical sections, including sandy stretches and cracked terrain, participants generally described the first stage as «accessible». In the women's race, French runner Maryline Nakache dominated the stage, finishing first in 2h58'22''. She was ten minutes ahead of Morocco's Aziza El Amrany (3h08'12''). Dutch athlete Ragna Debats, one of the favorites going into the event, completed the podium in 3h17'14'', nearly 19 minutes behind the leader. Held under the High Patronage of King Mohammed VI, the 39th edition runs from April 4 to 14, 2025. More than 1,000 runners from 52 countries will tackle the grueling 250 km course across six stages. This record-breaking distance for the legendary race through the heart of the Moroccan desert challenges each participant to their physical and mental limits, making it an adventure of both endurance and athletic excellence.
