The eye of the expert
Founder and director of MDS, Patrick Bauer, gives his daily impression of how the race is going.

« I’m glad we decided to give out an extra bottle of water before the competitors went into the dunes. It was blowing a gale and was even hotter than yesterday. They needed that water. It’s been a crazy day.. with more IVs and more people pulling out because they’re drained but also due to low morale. These winds are draining, and they sap your energy. It was also a tough afternoon for us… we thought we’d lost one of the competitors. We spent an hour searching for him with the helicopter. The risk of losing a competitor is a continual worry when you organise this kind of event. But in fact it turned out there’d been a mistake at the check-point and he’d crossed the finish line no problem. It was a huge relief for us and a very emotional moment… We all get emotional …. but that reminds you you’re alive.. you’re human.
Tomorrow’s stage is longer : 38km. There are hill climbs but there won’t be the vast sandy plaines of today so I hope we’ll be more protected from the wind. Also, the competitors will get to see the inauguration of a new solar pumping station that we helped to install. They’ll see the project finished. »

[every year AOI (the association of MDS) helps to open a solar pump on the MDS route)].