Michiel Van Aelbroeck and Bart Seynaeve pick up their ride at Roc du Maroc
The fourth stage in the Roc du Maroc between El Kelaa M'Gouna and Alnif over 123km with 1700 altimeters was labelled beforehand as the ride with the most beautiful panoramas and did not disappoint. The Sahro Mountains are hugely rugged and offer a multitude of colour and different landscapes. The ideal ride for the many challenge riders to bring out their cameras.
In the race, it was again Jelle Hanseeuw and Frederik Decaesteker who led the forcing on the climb after the first checkpoint and came through with a good 40 seconds' lead at the top after 50km, but in the strip on the road after that everything got back together and we had five leaders with, in addition to the leaders, Van Aelbroeck - Seynaeve and solo rider Joris Franckaert who also crossed the finish line with the winners yesterday. At the finish, the victory was in a sprint for Van Aelbroeck - Seynaeve.
The masters, grandmasters and mixed categories had the same winners as the previous days, but respectably behind. Luc Bellings and Alice Pirard had a difficult start due to Alice's breathing problems, but do move up and over Wim Tollenaere and Franky Taelman who suffered a hunger pang today in the overall standings.
Andy Peelman of the Neighbourhood Police rides the challenge category on an electric Ednine mountain bike. Andy: “I was totally untrained when I came to this and I am completely broken. The legs feel relatively good, but my neck and pooch are not used to this. I get up completely stiff every morning and on top of that, I crashed today when I didn't get out of my click pedals in time when turning at a standstill.”
In the Challenge category who ride out of competition, the fastest time after four days is for Joris Vermang who took just under 24 hours for the four rides.