São Paulo – Registrations are open for the 10th Ultra Trail Atlas Toubkal, a 105-km ultramarathon across the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. The highest point in the race is 3,500 meters high, near the summit of the Atlas (the highest point in Morocco and second highest in Africa at 4,167 meters). The world’s tallest summit, the Everest’s, is 8,848 meters high. The race spans a combined 6,500 meters worth of uphill stretches.
The event will take place from October 4 to 8. The actual race begins at midnight on Saturday, October 8, from Oukaïmeden station at 2,620 meters of altitude. On the first two days there will be a technical congress, and athletes will take this time to acclimate themselves to the altitude. Registration costs EUR 420 and the deadline is September 15.
The race includes up and downhill, narrow and broad stretches. There will be six support stations with beverages and food available, and 16 medical checkpoints. The fastest race time ever was 13 hours, and the maximum time is 40 hours.
Portuguese is the most widely spoken language at the event – although Morocco’s official language is French – since lots of racers from nearby Portugal usually join. Some 500 people compete each year, mostly from Morocco, France, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and Italy. Since 2016, Brazilian athletes have also been joining Ultra Trail Atlas.
Morocco Imperial Tour operator Morocco Imperial is officially in charge of arranging trips from Brazil. Its partner Lilian Akkouh said the agency also offers tours to several Moroccan cities after the race.
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The event also includes four shorter races: menores, the 42-km Marathon de l’Atlas, the 26-km Trail de la Virée d’Ikkiss, and Challenge du Haut Atlas, a two-day challenge including the 42-km marathon and the 26-km race Virée d’Ikkiss, on October 6 and 7; and the 12-km Amazigh Trail. All races start and finish at Oukaïmeden station.
For additional information check out the Ultra Trail and Morocco Imperial websites.
Quick facts
Ultra Trail Atlas Toubkal
October 4 to 8, 2018
Race starts at midnight on October 6 at Oukaïmeden station, Morocco
Registration: EUR 420
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
