Francisco Herrero defeated Looser in the first Titan Desert duel

The Segovian cyclist Francisco Herrero (Cannondale TB), Spanish ultramarathon champion in the MTB category, had a great start in the desert by wearing the leader’s red jersey in the 17th edition of Titan Desertafter a tight sprint duel with defending champion, Swiss Konny Looser, he surpassed a centimeter at the finish line in Merzouga after completing the 119 km course.

Herrero (Carbonero El Mayor, Segovia, 32 years old), came and won. The Spanish ultramarathon champion and fourth in Europe in modality has made his debut in a big way, at least defeat Looser in an exciting outcome next to the sands of Erg Chebbi, in Merzouga, where he raised his arms and shouted his victory from the rooftops.

THE DUO HERRERO-BOU CAN BE WITH LOOSER

As a cyclist in Cannondale, who replaced cycling in the poultry farmer profession, he set a finish time of 3:46:49, averaging 31.4 km/hour on a difficult 119 km journey where the heat, close to 40 degrees, and the rock and sand tracks were very difficult for the 640 participants of the most important BTT race in the stages on the calendar.

Blacksmith and Looser entered at the same time. Euphoria for the Spaniard, disappointment for the Swiss, who suffered cramps in the endat the decisive moment, among other things because Roberto Bou, the winner’s ally, tore him apart several times in maneuvers approaching the finish line, and the 2021 champion suffered subsequent damage.

The Herrero-Bou duo were deadly for Looser, hurt at the finish line, but ready to return from the stage next Monday. The Spaniards made the entire stage at the forefront of the race, ventured into sailing and deserved to take two positions on the podium.

“I can’t believe, I came with doubts about navigation, on sand, on rocks, I still can’t imagine I won.. I came from running the ultramarathon and after the fourth hour I was feeling fine. The truth is I owe the success to Bou for his work on strategy and sprint preparation ”, said Francisco Herrero at the finish line.

The worst part of the first day was taken by Joseph Betaluthe four -time Titan laureate. The fall in the latter part of the stage caused injuries to his knees and shoulders. His choices ended in the midst of loss.

ANNA RAMÍREZ UNSTOPPABLE TO WOMEN

In the female category, experience has added value. The Catalan Anna Ramírez (Vic, 41 years old) dominated the stage from start to finish and single-handedly reached the finish line, unopposed, with a time of 4:14:40at an average of 28 km/hour, which puts the ground in general.

Ramírez is a cyclist with extensive experience, as he won Spanish road champion titles with a 10-year break (2004 and 2014) and participated in the 2016 Giro. In the Moroccan desert he has won the title 3 times and is seeking a fourth.

Second place is highly contested between Ramona Gabriel, a cyclist with 2 Titans on her record and Namibian Vera Looser, wife of desert king Koony Looser, an Olympic runner in the road test of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro 2014 and Tokyo 2020. Both came into the sprint with the same time and 4.19 minutes behind Anna Ramírez.

This Monday the adventure continues with the second phase of the one hundred percent desert, 102 km between Merzouga and Ksar Jdaid. To start, you have to cross an “oued”, a dry river that will give way through sections of sand and rock until you reach a canyon that crosses the mountain. An important step for the Berber tribes, because in this area they have a well that gives them water.

Before reaching camp, the platoon had to cross an area of ​​sands and another river before crossing the finish line. This stage will be a marathon, which means participants will not receive external assistance at the end of the stage, either mechanically or personally.