There was a sense of calm before the storm on the third stage of the Marathon des Sables in the Sahara in southern Morocco.
For the 29.1km stage, with 413 metres of elevation, preceded the likely decisive 100km fourth stage which takes place on Wednesday.
And here’s how things stand ahead of that in what is billed as ‘the toughest foot race on earth’…
Men’s race
It’s tightened up in the battle between brothers Mohamed and Rachid El Morabity of Morocco.
Rachid is the record-breaking 11-time winner but he had a deficit of nearly five minutes at the start of Tuesday’s action.
He crossed the line in front in 2:17:29 to at least cut the gap by 59 seconds, with Mohamed second in 2:18:28 and France’s Michaël Gras a further three minutes back.
That means it’s all to play for with less than 13 minutes separating the trio. And ultrarunning legend Ludovic Pommeret (FRA) is in fifth, 25 minutes down.
Women’s race
Barring a huge mishap it looks as if France’s Maryline Nakache is poised to join the other two women to have won the women’s race three times.
The 2023 and 2025 winner again claimed a commanding victory in the stage, stopping the clock in 2:55:21 which was nearly 14 minutes ahead of her great rival Aziza El Amrany (MAR).
Agathe Teillet-Magot (FRA) was third but remains in second on the overall standings, 58 minutes adrift of Nakache but six minutes ahead of El Amrany.
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