Chaima Elhamrione of the two Moroccan women who participated for the first time in Skoda Titan Desert Morocco in its 17-year history and starts tomorrow Sunday, He confirmed that he is ready to face this challenge in his first mountain race, a sport that for him requires “great resistance”.
Elhamri, 21, who has a degree in law, explained in a telephone interview with EFE his “enthusiasm” and “pride” for being his first time participating in this international competition which is celebrated between April 30 and May 5.
“My partner (Rajae Chakir) and I are the first two Moroccan women to participate in this competition. But in my case, I have never participated in this type of running and with long distances (600 kilometers). We will do our best,” he emphasized.
Another cyclist Rajae Chakir (18 years old) has competed in both mountain biking and road bikingwhere he excelled in the time trial stages, with a podium at the African sub-23 championship this year 2023.
As for Elhamri, he was the Moroccan road cycling champion last year organized in Bouskoura (about 100 kilometers south of Raba), but this was the first time he participated in a mountain race.
“This competition requires a lot of stamina. Also, it is not easy to travel 100 kilometers with just your bike because you have to adjust your meal plan and deal with mechanical issues in case your bike breaks”, he emphasized.
Despite these challenges, Elhamri is confident that he can achieve good results, adding that he “feels a great responsibility” to represent his country. At the same time, the young woman highlighted the work of the Royal Moroccan Cycling Federation for “its commitment to women’s cycling” and for the support it offers to female cyclists.
Elhamri emphasized the interest of young women from his country in mountain and road cycling, inspired -according to the young cyclist- by the success of other compatriots who participated in continental and international competitions.
Elhamri and Chakir will compete in the elite women’s individual race classificationwhere they will face another thirty runners who will want to take the throne left vacant by Anna Ramírez, winner of the general in 2022.
Almost 700 athletes from thirty countries will cover 639 kilometers in the eighteenth edition of the Škoda Titan Desert Morocco, considered one of the most prestigious mountain bike races at the international level.
Among the participants are Miguel Induráin, considered a legend of Spanish cycling and five-time winner of the Tour de France, two Giros d’Italia and Olympic time trial champion, and Abraham Olano, the first cyclist to do a double road and time world trial. champion.
The competition is divided into six stages starting in Boulmanes Dades and ending in Maadid, each with a different distance: 89 kilometers on the first day, 106 on the second, 129 on the third, 134 on the fourth, 98 on the fifth. and 71 on the last day.
The race starts in the Atlas area with a constant climb that sometimes ends at more than 2,000 meters of altitude.
Source: La Verdad
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