Leg 6 – Marathon

IDEAL KM 230km

ESTIMATED TIME 18:30

The final stretch through the desert features a two-day marathon leg and a major challenge: the dunes of Erg Chegaga.

And this year, a new twist adds excitement to the adventure… the choice, as in Leg 2, between three routes, X, Y or Z, each with its own level of difficulty.

But first, the Gazelles head west. On the map, the route looks almost straight… but on the ground, nothing is ever that simple. To the north, the Djebel Bani mountains stand guard. To the south, the Draa River frames their progress. And between the two… sand, nothing but sand.

For kilometre after kilometre, the dunes stretch out one after another, like frozen waves. The Gazelles tackle them head-on, climbing and descending relentlessly. Maintaining a heading, even an approximate one, is an achievement in itself. They must constantly readjust, adjust their trajectory, read the terrain, anticipate the hazards…

And the wind… always the same. If it picks up, everything can change. Landmarks will vanish, tracks will fade, and navigation will become a constant struggle against the elements.

At the end of the first day, the competitors will reach the first dunes of Erg Chegaga (it's called that for simplicity's sake, but its real name is Erg Rhouâl). While seemingly less impressive than its (distant) neighbor Chebbi, it's just as formidable in reality. Here, each dune has its own character. Some are manageable, while others are more unstable or exposed to the wind, bringing even the most optimistic gazelles’ ambitions to a screeching halt.

Come evening, the desert is transformed. The sand, so feared during the day, becomes soft and inviting for pitching tents. In a space unpolluted by artificial light, the sky can be seen in all its glory. Look up, breathe, contemplate… and savor these moments.

The next day, there is just one goal: to cross the Erg. Whatever route was chosen (X, Y or Z), the Gazelles will have to brave these tangles of dunes while attempting to drive as straight a line as possible, keeping extra distance to a minimum.

Getting stuck in the sand means wasting time. And that time could prove costly when it comes to passing checkpoints, which will gradually close as the sun rises.

Once the sand is behind them, the adventure continues. Lake Iriqui, the slopes of Small M'daouer the footless mountain and the imposing cliffs of its big brother… still more challenges before they can hope to see the finish line.

And then finally, the last few turns of the wheels. The emotion. The pride. The relief.

The joy of having reached the end and the privilege of taking away with them, forever, a little piece of the desert.