The 36th edition of the Marathon des Sables, a 250km ultra-marathon in the Moroccan Sahara, began with a demanding 37km opening stage on April 5, 2026. Defending champion Rachid El Morabity of Morocco won the stage, with his brother Mohamed El Morabity finishing second, establishing an early Moroccan dominance in the men's race.
Organizers reported that over 900 runners from more than 50 countries are participating in the seven-day, self-sufficient race across the desert. The first stage featured challenging terrain with rocky plateaus and sand dunes, with temperatures reaching approximately 30Ā°C (86Ā°F).
In the women's competition, Aziza Raji of Morocco also secured a strong position by winning the opening stage. The event, founded by Frenchman Patrick Bauer, is considered one of the world's toughest footraces, testing competitors' endurance across roughly 250 kilometers of desert.
The race continues with further stages of varying distances, culminating in a final marathon-length stage. The overall winners will be determined by the cumulative time after all stages are completed.
