- STEEP: Jean Paul Legendre (360, France) was struck by the terrain on today’s stage. He was able to measure the slope factor on his altimeter-watch: « to reach CP2, we had a 255-metre climb, really really tough… »
- BABY : While Ali Wehbi (192) embarks on his first MDS, his wife is about to give birth. The happy event is due Sunday or Monday. The future father looks remarkably serene.
- A MINI-UN : Tent 71 is a bit special… 8 people, 9 nationalities ! There are 3 Nepalese, a Welshman, an American, a Germano-Croate, a Belgian-swiss and a Franco-brit. What’s more the little planet all speak perfect English !
- MONDOVISION : The three stunning Japanese actresses Aina Nishiaki (749), Mina Fukui (750) and Takayo KAshiwagi (748), were rather reserved on arrival and are being followed close-up by a Japanese television crew. But they’re settling into the MDS family in style… they’ve performed several songs from their repertoire in front of a delighted audience of fellow competitors.
- TOO MUCH : too windy, too hot, too dry. Some runners are already suffering and make no secret of the fact. When the wind storm sets in here we call it the « Berber scrub”