MARATHON DES SABLES 2026 PREVIEW: EL MORABITY CHASES A 12TH TITLE IN THE 40TH EDITION

Forty years ago, a Frenchman named Patrick Bauer walked 350 kilometers across the Sahara alone. That solo crossing became the Marathon des Sables, and the 40th edition begins on April 3 in the Moroccan desert outside Ouarzazate. Approximately 900 runners from more than 50 countries will cover roughly 250 kilometers across six stages over seven days, carrying everything they need on their backs except water.

The Defending Champion

Rachid El Morabity won his 11th Marathon des Sables title in 2025, surpassing the 10-win record held by Lahcen Ahansal between 1997 and 2007. The Moroccan's dominance of this race has become one of ultrarunning's defining statistics. His younger brother Mohamed El Morabity has finished second behind Rachid seven times, a streak of familial near-misses that has become part of the race's broader history.

At 40, the question surrounding Rachid is not whether he can still win, but when attrition will finally catch him. He has shown no signs of slowing. His 2025 victory was controlled and tactical, built on conservative early stages and decisive moves during the long stage.

The Women's Race

Maryline Nakache of France took her second title in 2025, finishing in 23:57:20, more than 90 minutes ahead of runner-up El Amrany (25:36:23). Nakache first won in 2023 and has established herself as the most consistent female performer in the modern era of the race. Her 2025 margin of victory suggests the women's field needs new talent to arrive before the gap closes.

The Course

The exact route remains secret until the day before the race starts, when competitors receive the road book at the bivouac. That uncertainty is by design. Runners cannot recce the course or plan around specific terrain. They train for sand, rock, dunes, and heat, knowing only the approximate daily distances.

Stages range from 20 to 80 kilometers, with the long stage typically falling on day four or five. Temperatures regularly exceed 40 degrees Celsius. Competitors carry their own food and gear in packs weighing 6 to 12 kilograms. Water is rationed at checkpoints. Medical withdrawals claim roughly 10% of the field each year.

What Makes the 40th Special

The milestone anniversary will draw a larger-than-usual field of first-timers alongside hardened desert runners. The MDS has expanded its brand in recent years with spin-off events in Namibia and along the Atlantic coast, but the Legendary edition in the Sahara remains the original and the standard. Patrick Bauer, now in his seventies, still oversees the event.

For competitive runners, the race-within-a-race dynamic is unique. The top 20 or so athletes are racing each other across the stages, accumulating time gaps that build and collapse over the week. Everyone else is racing the desert itself. Both contests are legitimate.

Race Details

Date: April 3-13, 2026. Location: Saharan Morocco, near Ouarzazate. Format: Six stages over seven days, approximately 250 km total. Coverage: Live GPS tracking via marathondessables.com; daily stage results posted each evening.