The 35th Marathon des Sables 2021 has been postponed from April to 01-12 October 2021.
This most famous of all stage races is a six-day, 251 km (156 mi) race, approximately the distance of six regular marathons. The event features one long single stage that varies each year. This multiday race is held annually in southern Morocco, in the Sahara Desert. It has been regarded as the toughest foot race on Earth.
The brainchild of French concert promoter Patrick Bauer who in 1984 traversed the Sahara desert on foot and alone. He covered 350 km (214 mi) in 12 days without encountering a single oasis or desert community along the way. Two years later in 1986 the first Marathon des Sables was run. Twenty-three runners participated in the race with Bernard Gaudin and Christiane Plumere, both of France, finishing as the winning man and woman.
The Moroccan brothers Lahcen and Mohamad Ahansal, have dominated the top podium spots winning 10 and 6 editions respectively, Mohamad also being 7 times second behind his brother.[
In 2017, two new Marathon des Sables events took place for the first time: the Half Marathon des Sables on Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands in September, and another full-length Marathon des Sables event in Peru in November.
Race website: Marathondessables.com