Longest stage Roc du Maroc in totally different landscape
The fifth stage in the six-day stage race across Morocco promised to be tough. The organiser labelled them beforehand as physically and mentally challenging: “you love it or you hate it...”. 151km across a desolate and flat desert landscape with a surface ranging from gravel to loose sand. With the start at 7.30am, much of the ride was covered before the sweltering heat took over, but for the many recreational riders who often did not reach the finish line until dusk, it was mostly a battle with themselves. “The Mummy”, a large hangover in the middle of the desert and known from the film of the same name but also the last Bond film was the setting where the finish line lay and redemption awaited.
In the race there was a cease-fire between the various strong duos and in the end the three duos who had been calling the shots the previous days were left to ride the final. In it, it was once again Jelle Hanseeuw and mate Frederik Decaesteker who pulled off a four out of five after a late demarrage with sight of the finish line. Michael Ossieur and Stefaan Vaes finished second and first in their master category this time, while Michiel Van Aelbroeck and Bart Seynaeve had to let go a good twenty kilometres before the finish and came in third.
The mixed and grandmaster categories also featured the same winners who perpetuated their leadership position.
Tomorrow follows a 66km short stage with mainly the golden sand dunes of Ergchebbi as a tough calf bite towards the finish line in Merzouga where everyone can look back on a wonderful adventure.