Each day, Roc du Maroc race director and triple world cyclo-cross champion Erwin Vervecken reports on the day's events.<\/p>\n
Stage 0 - Prologue in and around Ouarzazate<\/p>\n
The third edition of the Roc du Maroc started today with a warm-up in the form of a 34km prologue starting and finishing in Ouarzazate. This prologue was mainly to test the material and stretch the legs after yesterday's plane ride. The ride over 492 altimeters does not count towards the classification and was therefore mainly a first quiet trip to already get a taste of what's to come in the following days.<\/p>\n
Stefan Vaes and Michael Ossieur of the Granfondoteam.be completed the route in a time of 1.46.27, making them the fastest duo of the day, ahead of Jelle Hanseeuw and Frederik Decaesteker (Laeremans Ednine Cycling Team) at 7 seconds and Michiel Van Aelbroeck and Bart Seynaeve at 2:57. The first mixed duo with Luc Bellings and Alice Pirard rode and smooth fourth time over the 34km. Six racers had minor technical or medical problems and could not complete today's stage as a result.<\/p>\n
Tomorrow the real work begins with a first stage starting at the \u201cKingdom of Heaven\u201d castle just outside Ouarzazate with a Le Mans start with all 180 participants taking up posts side by side. The ride takes participants through the world-famous A\u00eft-Ben-Hadou Kasbah where many film classics such as Lawrence of Arabia were shot. The finish is after 115km and 1700 altimeters in Ghasset. This is where the first cards will be laid on the table...!<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"