Lahcen Ahansal wins second day of Marathon des Sables

Local runner, Lahcen Ahansal won, in Zagora Monday the second day of the 20th marathon des sables.

The Moroccan runner finished the 37.5 km endurance contest with an official time of 2h 55mn 44sec, a minute earlier than his brother, Ahmed Ahansal, who won the first day.

Luxembourg's Simone Keyser Diederich dominated the course of the race and finished with an official time of 4h 36mn 27sec, advancing first day winner, French Virginie Thevenot (4h 44mn and 41 sec).

The Marathon des Sables is a six-day event through the Sahara Desert in southern Morocco.

Each day of the Marathon is an adventure unto its own, as each of the six "stages" ranges from 20 to 80 kilometres in length.

The racing is tightly monitored, with all participants required to go through numerous "check points" along the way.

The adventure takes place in the stunningly beautiful desert to the east and south of the town of Ouarzazate.