After two days, the favorites for the overall victory in the Titan Desert 2021 are clearly defined. If the first stage was for the Swiss Konny Looser, who surprised by not having a team or assistance, the second was for the Catalan Guillem Muñoz, who was fourth the previous day. It was a heads-up between Spanish and Swiss … although the latter acknowledged against AS that he did not sprint for the victory. “This is good for both of us,” said the Swiss, more leader of the race and who is shown as the strongest man in the Moroccan desert … for the moment. Navigation, key for the final days, will be key, and Looser recognizes that it is not his strong run in those conditions. “I have my doubts”.
The two runners completed the 127 km (the day with the most kilometers of this edition and with 2,626 meters of unevenness) in 5:13:11. Third was, for the second day in a row, Haimar Zubeldia, and the Basque also shows legs to be in the fight. On this second day the temperatures dropped slightly, with the wind increasing in intensity as the day progressed. Two were the hard ascents that selected the race, although coincidentally the two of the head left in the descent of the last one.
The winner of the last four Titan Deserts on Moroccan soil, Josep Betalú, entered fifth position and regained his sensations. “The options for the general I lost them all the first day. It is not easy to change the chipo, but now the key is to try to help the young companions so that they gain experience for future editions,” he said about his “friends” at KH7. The winner of the day, Guillem Muño (42 years old), admits that his intention is to conquer the general … but that the Swiss Looser for the moment “is very strong”.
“I was looking forward to a stage like this: many kilometers, hardness, two great passes … in the second ascent we crowned the four of us who did first the day before and on the way down I jumped. I did not expect victory, but it is always beautiful. Third stage that I manage to follow, “added the Catalan, who in 2003 and 2004 came to compete in numerous road tests and in 2019 in the Murcia Nationals won by Alejandro Valverde (he was 47th). Looser’s rivals hope to be able to take time out of him in the dunes and in the navigation. “I’ll be prepared,” he commented. In the women’s category, Ariadna Rodenas won an exciting sprint with Ramona Gabriel, winner the day before, and burst into tears at the finish line after the effort. Both will play the general in principle. This Tuesday, third stage with 99 kilometers between Ait Yahya and Tafraout, with the aforementioned, and feared by many, dunes getting closer and closer.
Classification of the second stage
1st Guillem Muñoz: 5h 13:11
2nd Konny Loser: 5h 13:13
3rd Haimar Zubeldia: 5h 14:32
General ranking
1st Konny Loser (SUI): 9:05 a.m.
2nd Guillem Muñoz: 9h 07:23
3º Pablo Guerrero: 9h 08:18