Konny Looser took the Titan Desert from Francisco Herrero at the last moment

In an exciting ending, full of intrigue, the Swiss Konny Looser achieved the success of proclaiming himself king of the Titan Desert for the second consecutive year, thanks to a “cut” near the finish line that allowed him to erase the 3-second advantage where he started in Francisco’s sixth and final stage. Herrerohaving to live between tears of despair in second place.

Emotional tears from Looser (Hinwill, Switzerland, 33 years old), who did not give up despite adversity. Tears and tears for Francisco Herrero from Segovia, who was red from the first period and was stripped of a title he had already tasted after falling into the trap of his rival who had already seen the finish line.

SUCCESSFUL LOOSER CUT OUT

The sixth and final stage, the shortest between Erg Chebbi and Maadid, 76 km long, These are heads or tails. Glory or defeat is separated by 3 seconds. Any error, a minimal navigation error can be key.

And there is the key. The favorites are together in the same group with 3 km more. This is the moment Looser decided to take a different path. The coin was left in the air. Herrero chose to follow the marked route. And he was wrong. Swiss achieves one hundred meter rent for “shortcut”, which allowed him to arrive 14 seconds before the Spaniards. He achieved his second consecutive Titan.

However, he did not win on stage, as the partial victory was secured by a teammate of Herrero, Pablo Guerrero (Cannondale TB), who appeared at Maadid’s finish line with a time of 2: 29.32. Luis Enrique López followed with 4 seconds and Looser with 8.

The general decided by the smallest margin in race history, 12 seconds for Looser against Herrera, with third place on the podium for Julen Zubero from Biscay, 8 minutes behind.

“I knew near the finish line there was a detour because I knew last year, I played it and I didn’t know if Herrero would follow me or not.. When I saw no one, I pressed and did not look back. It was so hard, I almost gave up a few times, but I had to try. I had doubts at the beginning of the stage, but you don’t have to give up, ”Looser said at the finish line, being recognized as the king of the endless desert.

HERRERO PROMISES THAT HE WILL COME BACK TO WIN

The joy of the Swiss, who is a marathon professional and European specialty champion, is contrast Herrero’s despair, lying on the ground, in tears, not believing that the Titan had escaped him hands a step away from the goal.

“I felt pressure all week, we controlled the race well and I was able to withstand all the attacks, I had the legs to beat Konny, but I also knew that anything could happen. It was a unpredictable career, ”he said.

Herrero commented on the important moment of the stage and of Titan, the deadly moment for his aspirations.

“The key was he made a cut, he made a cut that confused us, then we threw the block, but I held on.. I’m calm with myself, I’ve given it my all. It will not stay this way. I’ll be back ”, said the Spanish marathon champion, who was at least entertained by two partial victories and 4 by his team in 6 days.

ANNA RAMIREZ’S FOURTH TITAN

In the midst of the party of the first titans, the queen of the trial appeared. The Catalan Anna Ramírez once again showed her fitness by winning on stage and the fourth Titanwhich puts him on the overall record above Josep Betalú, who also has 4 desert crowns.

Ramírez (Vic, 41 years old), Spain’s double champion on the road (2003 and 2014), excelled all the time, he scored 3 stages and didn’t give a chance to Namibian Vera Looser, Konny’s wife , who was with him. there was a good rivalry. Raised the women’s podium as third Ramona Gabriel.

“I was so happy with this fourth win, it wasn’t that easy because I also had bad chances. The years are remarkable. I don’t know if I’ll be back next year because I appear every year, but it’s a career that’s always special. “