The sand dunes, rocky sections, and majestic mountains create a unique and contrasting landscape in the vast expanses of the desert. With six stages covering a distance of 600 kilometers and an accumulated elevation gain of 7,000 meters, the Skoda Titan Desert 2024 in Morocco offers an unparalleled challenge. This year, Miguel Indurain, along with his Kosner – Saltoki Home team, including renowned cyclists like Óscar Pereiro, Luis León Sánchez, Sylvain Chavanel, and Pruden Indurain, is ready to take on this arduous adventure. During the team presentation in Madrid, the five-time Tour champion shared, “It will be my first time participating in the over 60 category, but my goal is to complete the race and enjoy the team. As long as I don’t have a terrible time, I will be satisfied.”
But why did Indurain return to the Titan Desert after initially declaring it would be his last in 2023? “I still don’t have a definite answer. The truth is, after having a New Year’s Eve dinner with the team, we all signed up again a week later,” explained Miguelón, captivated by the inhospitable Saharan landscapes and the camaraderie in the peloton to ensure everyone finishes the race.
Starting on April 28 in Boumaine Dades and culminating at the traditional finish line in Maadid on May 3, the Titan Morocco pushes physical and mental limitations to the edge. “This edition will have a bit of everything, including a presence in the Atlas mountain range, dunes, and some new surprises in terms of provisions,” shared Cristian Llorens, the largest shareholder of the Titan World Series. It is an adventure that transcends mere sports and becomes an inner journey, where the values of camaraderie weigh just as heavily.
As Indurain himself confessed, “You go through tough times, yet you also find yourself wanting to return. Let’s see if this year I discover the reason to sign up again,” fully aware of his limitations under the scorching Moroccan sun, where temperatures can reach a blistering 48ºC. “I struggle in the sand, and the GPS never seems to work for me, so I simply follow whoever is in front of me. I have never used the navigation system, and I don’t plan on learning now. It would be so much easier if there were signs indicating the remaining distance,” joked the Navarrese champion. Sometimes, in life, you have to make do with what you have.
On the other hand, Óscar Pereiro boasts more experience with GPS, as his first participation in the Titan dates back to 2011. “I must say, though, that back then, I resembled Paco Martínez Soria in the desert,” admitted the winner of the 2006 Tour, emphasizing that knowing how to navigate is crucial in this race if one aims to compete for victory. After three months without riding, Pereiro will commence his training on Thursday. “It’s not just about dealing with the challenges of sand, rocks, or steep climbs. The most difficult part, in my opinion, is the psychological suffering of looking ahead and seeing nothing but endless horizons,” analyzed the cyclist from Mos.
Luisle, at 40 years old, sees the Titan as a stage in his intricate retirement process, which he completed last September. “We want to learn as quickly as possible and see if we can match those ahead of us. Being the newcomer in the team, I have to take it day by day. Morocco will be an entirely new experience for me,” warned the four-time Tour stage winner between 2008 and 2012, who also ventured into mountain biking last year in the NEOM Titan Desert in Arabia and the Titan Almería stages.