The 2026 version of the Marathon des Sables is a longer than usual 270km six-day ultra marathon which takes place in the Sahara Desert in southern Morocco.
It starts on Sunday, April 5 and finishes on Saturday, April 11.
The route is usually around 250 kilometres, distributed over six stages, but the ‘queen’ stage has been increased from around 80km to 100k this year to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the event, making the total distance 270km.
As ever there is an impressive difference in altitude – and temperatures that can reach 50 degrees in the full sun though it’s forecast to be cooler this year.
It’s a true test of endurance and solidarity, where team spirit and physical and mental preparation are essential keys to success. This is a self-sufficient adventure. Participants carry all their own equipment and food, except for water and a tent.
[All images used are courtesy and copyright of Marathon des Sables]
Marathon des Sables live tracking
Marathon des Sables runs a race tracking website to follow competitions. They do so by tracking the geolocation through ‘spot’ tags – here’s the live link for 2026.
The tracking devices allow the race organiser to ensure no competitors get lost on the course.
Marathon des Sables
start list
Record-breaking 11-time and defending men’s champion Rachid El Morabity of Morocco wears the #1 bib again this year but he faces some fascinating rivals.
They include legendary French ultrarunner Ludovic Pommeret and German André Schürrle who now tackles extreme endurance events having won football’s World Cup in 2014!
Click here for full start list.
And in the women’s race we’ve got the winners of the last three editions – Maryline Nakache of France and Morocco’s Aziza El Amrany who look set for another great battle.
The full start list is here.
Notable runners
Route
Sunday 5 April, Stage 1 – 35km
Monday 6 April, Stage 2 – 40km
Tuesday 7 April, Stage 3 – 29km
Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 April, Stage 4 – 100km (two days)
Friday 10 April, Stage 5 – 42.1km
Saturday 11 April, Stage 6 – 23.2km
Past winners
Men’s Past winners
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- 10 – Lahcen Ahansal (Morocco) – 1997, 1999-2007
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- 5 – Mohamad Ahansal (Morocco) – 1998, 2008-2010, 2013
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- 4 – Hassan Sebtaoui (France) – 1987, 1989-1991
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- 3 – André Derksen (Russia) – 1994-1996
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- 2 – Mohamed Bensalah (Morocco) – 1992-93
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- 2 – Bernard Gaudin (France) – 1986, 1988
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- 1 – Salameh Al Aqra (Jordan) – 2012
Record Time: Bernard Gaudin (France) – 1988 (14:39:44)
Women’s Past Winners
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- 3 – Laurence Fricotteaux-Klein (France) – 2007, 2011-12
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- 3 – Simone Kayser (Luxembourg) 2002, 2004-05
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- 2 – Elisabet Barnes (Sweden) – 2015, 2017
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- 2 – Touda Didi (Morocco) – 2008-09
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- 2 – Rossana Pellizzari (Italy) – 1997-98
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- 2 – Moniqúe Frussote (France) – 1991-92
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- 2 – Marie-Ange Malcuit (France) – 1987-88
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- 1 – Anna Comet (Spain) – 2022
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- 1 – Aziza Raji (Morocco) – 2021
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- 1 – Ragna Debats (Netherlands) – 2019
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- 1 – Magdalena Boulet (USA) – 2018
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- 1 – Natalia Sedykh (Russia) – 2016
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- 1 – Nikki Kimball (USA) – 2014
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- 1 – Meghan Hicks (USA) – 2013
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- 1 – Mònica Aguilera Viladomiu (Spain) – 2010
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- 1 – Géraldine Courdesse (France) – 2006
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- 1 – Magali Juvenal (France) – 2003
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- 1 – Franca Fiacconi (Italy) – 2001
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- 1 – Pascal Martin (France) – 2000
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- 1 – Lisa Smith (USA) – 1999
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- 1 – Anke Molkenthin (Germany) – 1996
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- 1 – Béatrice Reymann (France) – 1995
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- 1 – Valentina Liakhova (Russia) – 1994
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- 1 – Irina Petrova (Russia) – 1993
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- 1 – Claire Garnier (France) – 1990
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- 1 – Claude Battistelli (France) 1989
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- 1 – Christiane Plumere (France) – 1986
Record Time: Béatrice Reymann (France) – 1995 (21:25:22)
*No race in 2020.
Past winners
Tab 2 content.
