A MIRAGE MADE REALITY
With the Moroccan desert as background
and adventure as principal attraction, the Titan Desert MTB Marathon,
the most exotic Mountain Bike competition in the world, returns for the
second consecutive year. It begins on April 27th and will be divided
into five stages with almost 300 cyclists competing.
Giving up the basic pleasures of
civilization can become really uncomfortable, but at the same time, can
also be extremely gratifying. In a race like the Titan, comfort
disappears out the window and adventure takes control in a desert full
of open spaces so desolate and vast, to the point of feeling
claustrophobic. It’s as if the magnitude of its immensity
oppresses you.
It could be precisely because of these extreme conditions that this competition has been able to captivate so many Mountain Bike lovers, who have discovered in the characteristics of the Titan the perfect combination of navigation and adrenalin that they were looking for. The first because it’s a competition where path-finding is essential to stay in the race, while the second is given by all the emotions felt in each and every fragment of the route.
Proof of all the excitement that the Titan arouses is the avalanche of registrations for this second edition, counting 295 cyclists for 2007, more than twice as many as last year. All of them are attracted by an experience which leaves a clear print in every participant’s memory, not only because of the location, nor for all the physical strength that the race requires, but also for the moments of peace offered by the surroundings.
This race is an inexhaustible source of sensations with an amazing route that, for this edition, is focused on increasing the levels of navigation. The cyclists can further develop their skills and instincts, so that along with the road book provided by the organisation and taking the mountains as reference, they’ll be able to find the path to glory.
The challenge stage by stage
This year, the route of the Titan was designed as a symphony, with carefully picked stages so that the cyclists could enjoy all the contrasts offered by Morocco. For this reason, a totally new route is proposed, where the only remaining stage from last year will be run in the opposite direction. Apart from that, the competition will host another stage so that the cyclists are pushed to the absolute limit.
Maadid- Maadid
Considered as a recognition stage, this part of the race will be key for the cyclists to get an idea of the route and of the type of landscape that many of them have never encountered before.
Maadid- Lamdouare
It’s a stage where cyclists will have to put in practice their navigation skills, as there are no tracks to show the way to the finishing line.
Lamdouare- Ramlia
The most important stage of the Titan due to its toughness. In this stage, cyclists will find themselves on a sandy track where it is hardly possible to pedal.
Ramlia- Erg Chebbi
Ideal for good runners, this stage will allow participants to pedal at full speed on a main track of nearly 112 km. This stage contains many constant gradients which continue until they reach a point where a spectacular view of the endless sea of dunes will reward the competitors.
Erg Chebbi-Maadid
As well as being the last stage, where fatigue has already accumulated, navigation comes back into focus. This stage wanders through a most varied land with zones of sand, stones, off-track and most of all, hard and dry landscape.
It could be precisely because of these extreme conditions that this competition has been able to captivate so many Mountain Bike lovers, who have discovered in the characteristics of the Titan the perfect combination of navigation and adrenalin that they were looking for. The first because it’s a competition where path-finding is essential to stay in the race, while the second is given by all the emotions felt in each and every fragment of the route.
Proof of all the excitement that the Titan arouses is the avalanche of registrations for this second edition, counting 295 cyclists for 2007, more than twice as many as last year. All of them are attracted by an experience which leaves a clear print in every participant’s memory, not only because of the location, nor for all the physical strength that the race requires, but also for the moments of peace offered by the surroundings.
This race is an inexhaustible source of sensations with an amazing route that, for this edition, is focused on increasing the levels of navigation. The cyclists can further develop their skills and instincts, so that along with the road book provided by the organisation and taking the mountains as reference, they’ll be able to find the path to glory.
The challenge stage by stage
This year, the route of the Titan was designed as a symphony, with carefully picked stages so that the cyclists could enjoy all the contrasts offered by Morocco. For this reason, a totally new route is proposed, where the only remaining stage from last year will be run in the opposite direction. Apart from that, the competition will host another stage so that the cyclists are pushed to the absolute limit.
Maadid- Maadid
Considered as a recognition stage, this part of the race will be key for the cyclists to get an idea of the route and of the type of landscape that many of them have never encountered before.
Maadid- Lamdouare
It’s a stage where cyclists will have to put in practice their navigation skills, as there are no tracks to show the way to the finishing line.
Lamdouare- Ramlia
The most important stage of the Titan due to its toughness. In this stage, cyclists will find themselves on a sandy track where it is hardly possible to pedal.
Ramlia- Erg Chebbi
Ideal for good runners, this stage will allow participants to pedal at full speed on a main track of nearly 112 km. This stage contains many constant gradients which continue until they reach a point where a spectacular view of the endless sea of dunes will reward the competitors.
Erg Chebbi-Maadid
As well as being the last stage, where fatigue has already accumulated, navigation comes back into focus. This stage wanders through a most varied land with zones of sand, stones, off-track and most of all, hard and dry landscape.