22eme édition - du 17 au 31 mars 2012
Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles
La référence féminine depuis 1990
Daily Report
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Daily Report
Taking down the Nejjakh bivouac
The bivouac is just like a small village in the middle of nowhere: restaurant, camping area, medical tent, post office, etc... A village we have to wrap up each time the bivouac has to move. The big tents are dismounted, everything is loaded on trucks, the logistics team goes into action to organize the transfer of material and personnel. The objective is for everything to disappear, to restore the place to its natural state, as if we had never been there.
Then everything will have to be set up after a 10-hour trip, to be ready when the Gazelles arrive after their first marathon leg...
Then everything will have to be set up after a 10-hour trip, to be ready when the Gazelles arrive after their first marathon leg...
Starting Leg 5: the "Economiste" marathon
Morrocco's leading private press group, Eco Media, is partner of the 2011 edition of the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc. As a way of being with the teams during the highest moments of the rally, the name of the group's newspaper "L'Economiste" has been associated with the first marathon leg.
The human values shared by our Gazelles during these marathon legs are the same as the values upheld by Eco Média: performance and solidarity between Gazelles!
6th leg and 2nd marathon
Start of the 2nd marathon leg under windy conditions. Ski masks to protect their eyes, impromptu cheichs wrapped around the head and face, the Gazelles eat a hearty breakfast before setting out on this second marathon and 6th and final leg of the competition. This leg is one of the most challenging for the navigators, who will have very few clear features to guide them.
The Gazelles will deal with the meandering course of Oued DRAA and cross the multiple dunes of Chegaga.
The Gazelles will deal with the meandering course of Oued DRAA and cross the multiple dunes of Chegaga.
During this two-day leg, the teams will be able to choose their level of difficulty in the dunes.
Teams 163 and 128 confront the rocks
The first marathon leg was going well for Team 163 (Dorianne SCHILLACI and Nicole BANO DEMAY - TOUSLESPRIX.COM), already at C9 early this morning.
Unfortunately, 15 minutes after CP9, they ripped their 2 right tires on a sharp rock. No choice, the two Gazelles were forced to call for mechanical assistance. After patching up the tire they had damaged the previous day, they were able to carry on... with a very late start. Reaching the bivouac at 23:30, thay are waiting for the verdict of the mechanics who are taking a look at the vehicle. Morale is low at the moment, but they still have hope; above all, they don't want to miss any of the last leg. In any event, they would like to thank the organizers and Gazelles: "there is a real spirit of solidarity".
Team 128 (Marion ROUSSEAU and Ludivine CORNU - ENTENDRE) also had several flat tires along this marathon leg, but were able to continue every time. Let's keep our fingers crossed for these two teams!
ANALYSIS AFTER LEG 5: a Marathon doesn't always make all the difference
1 leg over 2 days, with sand, vicious rocks, mountains, the Tagounite palm grove... there is no lack of things to say about this long, very long Marathon leg. But what about the rankings?
In 4x4 class there are those who established themselves as leaders from the start, and those who have taken the time to advance as the competition progresses. This is exactly the case for Team 133 (Nadia MANTIN and Sophie GASTINE - THE FRENCH HOUSE), who have been climbing the rankings leg by leg. They only finish in 5th place of this 2-day leg, however, behind the usual 124, 109 and 136 as well as Team 190 (Sandrine CHAZELAS and Elodie PROVANSAL - PV2C) who put in a good performance on this leg. But it is enough to put them in 3rd place in the general ranking, a place previously occupied by Team 120, who finished the Marathon leg in... 24th place. In 3rd place with 224.19 points - may even 133 pose a threat to the two leaders: Team 124 (Syndiely WADE and Carole MONTILLET-CARLES - AXECIBLES) has 106.96 points, while U.S.A.-France Team 109 (Emily MILLER and Armelle MEDARD - ROD HALL RACING) has 159.51 points...
In 4x4 class there are those who established themselves as leaders from the start, and those who have taken the time to advance as the competition progresses. This is exactly the case for Team 133 (Nadia MANTIN and Sophie GASTINE - THE FRENCH HOUSE), who have been climbing the rankings leg by leg. They only finish in 5th place of this 2-day leg, however, behind the usual 124, 109 and 136 as well as Team 190 (Sandrine CHAZELAS and Elodie PROVANSAL - PV2C) who put in a good performance on this leg. But it is enough to put them in 3rd place in the general ranking, a place previously occupied by Team 120, who finished the Marathon leg in... 24th place. In 3rd place with 224.19 points - may even 133 pose a threat to the two leaders: Team 124 (Syndiely WADE and Carole MONTILLET-CARLES - AXECIBLES) has 106.96 points, while U.S.A.-France Team 109 (Emily MILLER and Armelle MEDARD - ROD HALL RACING) has 159.51 points...
Spotlight on the Quebec teams
If you happen to drive past the closed zone where the competitors' vehicles are parked for the night, don't be surprised to see the Quebec fleur de lys, white on blue, flying over certain vehicles...
They won't be sleeping at the bivouac tonight
Teams 20 (Catherine KERAMIDAS and Veronique DULUC-JOVER - CENTRE E.LECLERC) and 140 (Sophie HEWERTSON and Julie KOHLMANN - JET SOLUTIONS TRAVEL) are spending the night away from the bivouac. Teams of organizers will be their guardian angels tonight, spending the night nearby, ready to intervene at the slightest problem. 45 vehicles have not yet returned at the time of publication, which is normal, given the length of the leg.
Too bad for the teams who will be driving through the impressive Tafenna by night - they won't be able to appreciate the enormous crater, which looks live a scene on Mars.
Team 180 (Melanie LAFFITTE and Lucie PESQUET - AGRI 33) has broken a wheel that they had probably not tightened properly. Nothing serious, they are helped by Team 127 (Dominique TREMAUD POULAT and Beatrice BAZILE - CEGELEC) and carry on.
The teams that are already at the bivouac head straight for the showers after these two days spent in the desert. We wish them a good night's sleep, because tomorrow they will start the second marathon leg... this time through the infinite Chegaga dunes...
RACE NOTES 14:00
Team 149 is currently running at the head of the course, approaching CP14.
Among the top contenders, Team 124 is approaching CP13 with flawless navigation, followed by Teams 190, 136, 188, 112, 115 and 101.
Currently running in 2nd place, Team 109 has already left CP13 in search of CP14.
Most of the teams are between CP9 and CP12.
All teams have now reached CP8; the last vehicles are preparing to tackle today's route, which begins at CP9.
Among the top contenders, Team 124 is approaching CP13 with flawless navigation, followed by Teams 190, 136, 188, 112, 115 and 101.
Currently running in 2nd place, Team 109 has already left CP13 in search of CP14.
Most of the teams are between CP9 and CP12.
All teams have now reached CP8; the last vehicles are preparing to tackle today's route, which begins at CP9.
Among the top "First Participation" teams, 172 is navigating very well, having reached CP11 at 12:30. Teams 175 and 140 made navigation errors that cost them precious kilometres in finding CP10.
In Crossover class, Team 319 is in the lead at CP13, followed by the rest of the group between CP12 and CP13.
In Quad class, Team 22 has reached CP13, 21 is approaching CP12 and 20 is near CP11.
In Crossover class, Team 319 is in the lead at CP13, followed by the rest of the group between CP12 and CP13.
In Quad class, Team 22 has reached CP13, 21 is approaching CP12 and 20 is near CP11.
Team 137 was forced to withdraw from the competition yesterday after a series of mechanical failures. A great disappointment for the two Gazelles, who are taking it philosophically: they will still be attending the festivities in Essaouira.
RACE NOTES 11:22 - Refuelling
After spending a peaceful night along the edge of Oued Rhéris, the teams are pressing on. Most are currently between CP11 and CP12. CP11 is an important stop for the Gazelles today - it is where the Total truck is waiting to provide them with the precious fuel they need to be able to finish this marathon leg.
Monday night: Sleeping outside the bivouac...
... Tonight the list is long, because every team is on it - this is a marathon leg! No bivouac, no hot shower tonight - a quiet night under a canopy of stars, in the heart of the Moroccan desert.
Live from the mobile Race PC, at the top of a dune with a 360° view! Linked by radio to the organization vehicles, connected to the internet by satellite, the Race PC is on the move, tracking the competitors as they cross the desert and coordinating the team of organizers scattered across the terrain - mechanics, medical staff, sheriffs, media...
Every team has reached CP4 by nightfall. The Gazelles are spending the night between CP5 and CP8, except for a dozen teams, the leaders of the pack, who are sleeping at CP9, waiting for it to open tomorrow morning at 6:00.
Most of the Gazelles are camping near CP8 at the edge of the ruined village of Bahalou.
Their evening: dinner between teams and organizers, followed by a good night's sleep! Many have brought along their favourite delicacies to share for the occasion: good wine, foie gras, cheese and more... The Marathon is a great Rallye tradition!
Live from the mobile Race PC, at the top of a dune with a 360° view! Linked by radio to the organization vehicles, connected to the internet by satellite, the Race PC is on the move, tracking the competitors as they cross the desert and coordinating the team of organizers scattered across the terrain - mechanics, medical staff, sheriffs, media...
Every team has reached CP4 by nightfall. The Gazelles are spending the night between CP5 and CP8, except for a dozen teams, the leaders of the pack, who are sleeping at CP9, waiting for it to open tomorrow morning at 6:00.
Most of the Gazelles are camping near CP8 at the edge of the ruined village of Bahalou.
Their evening: dinner between teams and organizers, followed by a good night's sleep! Many have brought along their favourite delicacies to share for the occasion: good wine, foie gras, cheese and more... The Marathon is a great Rallye tradition!
The force of the desert
You don't tackle a Marathon leg the way you would approach a regular leg. The Marathon is a leg that takes place over 2 days, creating an increased sense of freedom and of being one with nature in all her splendour... This is what draws us here: this mysterious, almost mystic, force of nature that is the desert...
The Erg Chebbi dunes, still visible on the horizon, beckon us back in spite of (or because of) the extreme challenge they represent... The Gazelles plunge through a series of rough rocky desert valleys, dusted with fluid sand, wavelets sculpted by the wind.
Under the merciless and inexorable desert sun, shade is a rare and precious resource, to be found under the acacia trees that seem to be the only living things to resist the waves of heat radiating from every surface.
Somewhere on this volcanic rocky terrain, women from every horizon are daring to confront the desert. Step by step, kilometre par kilometre, they attempt to gain ground against their formidable opponent. Proud and beautiful, they overcome their doubts and uncertainties heading by heading, checkpoint by checkpoint. In this place without limits, time seems suspended, giving way to a raw happiness sculpted by shared experience and discovery. In this place, more than ever, they are determined and courageous fighters: they are Gazelles.
Under the patronage of his majesty King Mohammed VI