M A U R I T A N I EL'AVENTURE EN LIBERTÉ

GOING FURTHER

WHAT YOU MUST CARRY WITH YOU :

• A inReach mini, SPOT, or similar satellite tracker (GPS tracking device)
• A GPS device to download and follow the GPX route (e.g. COROS DURA for autonomy)
• Tubeless with 250 ml of sealant, or inner tube with 250 ml of sealant + 1.6 mm anti-puncture liner*.
• A bivy or tent to protect against scorpions and horned vipers (very rare in winter, but once is enough)
• A certified helmet
• High-quality front and rear lights**
• A first-aid kit, + emergency blanket
• A 3-liter CamelBak as emergency reserve (in addition to your main water supply) for the 380 km section without water points
• A phone or GoPro to record your thoughts and emotions at selecte

** If you use a wheel equipped with a dynamo hub, choose a light with a buffer battery (to keep the light on when stopped) and a USB output for charging your other devices. Be sure to carry a backup headlamp as well, in case the dynamo system fails.

For a standard lighting setup, bring at least a handlebar light and a headlamp.

*** Since entry is free, we ask participants to take a few seconds to record their emotional state at key points along the route, or whenever they feel the need.

€500 DEPOSIT :

• In the event of a withdrawal, for whatever reason, and if you activate your tracker to request the intervention of a support vehicle, the deposit will be partially or fully used to cover the assistance costs.

  As an indication, the intervention rate from Atar is €150 per day, plus fuel costs (between 15 and 30 liters per 100 km depending on terrain conditions).

  The assistance provider will issue an invoice that you may submit to your insurance company for a reimbursement claim, particularly if the withdrawal is due to medical reasons.

  If the total cost of the assistance exceeds the €500 deposit, you will be required to pay the remaining balance directly to the service provider.

• In the event of a cancellation after your registration has been validated (except in cases of force majeure), cancellation fees will be deducted before the deposit is refunded.

  These fees amount to €25 for cancellations made more than two months before the event, €75 between one and two months before, and €150 during the last month preceding the event.

Except in the cases mentioned above, the deposit will be fully refunded after the event.

USEFUL INFORMATION AND TIPS :

In sandy terrain, always avoid 4x4 tracks: the sand there is often much softer. That’s why the rules allow you to deviate up to 100 meters from the GPX track.

Depending on summer rainfall, it may exceptionally happen that certain areas in the middle of the desert, particularly around Aouker and N’Beika, become flooded. In that case, you will be allowed to move away from the official track to bypass them.

In the event of persistent winds, it is worth noting that in the desert, the wind typically drops after sunset in nearly 90% of cases and does not pick up again until around 9 a.m. the following morning. This can be an advantage for participants who choose to ride at night.

Outside of Atar, Tichit, and N’Beika, there will be no possibility to recharge your devices. Make sure to bring a power bank and a solar charger such as a BigBlue, especially if you are not using a Coros Dura or a dynamo system.

Your tracker must operate continuously, day and night, transmitting a location point every 30 minutes to optimize battery life. If you fail to keep it sufficiently charged, the organization may disqualify you from the ultra.

Bring Micropur tablets. Water from wells fed by the groundwater table is generally naturally filtered as it passes through the various geological layers, but it is still not immune to contamination, for example from a small animal that may have fallen into the well.

It is strongly recommended to use tubeless tires with sealant. In some regions, Tribulus terrestris (also known as Maltese cross) can cause dozens of punctures in just a few meters.

If you are using inner tubes, fit them with a 1.6 mm leather protective strip, like those used on electric fat bikes, and add at least 250 ml of puncture sealant per tube. With this setup, I rode 930 mi in the desert without a single puncture, despite removing more than 500 Tribulus terrestris thorns from my tires.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Very unlikely, of course, but it is always better to prepare for the worst. It may be wise to carry a compass and a paper map. If your bike breaks down and both of your tracking beacons as well as your GPS become inoperative, your compass, your map, and your own two legs will then be your only allies to get you out of the situation. Obviously, if you also break a leg, things will become considerably more complicated.

Upon registration, the organisers will provide you with information about the main landmarks and support points located closest to each section of the route: water points, nomadic camps, palm groves, military bases, and transport routes. Wherever you are on the route, you will have the necessary information to try to make your own way to a safe location in the event of withdrawal from the event or a mechanical issue. A small backpack will be essential to avoid having to carry your water bottles by hand if you find yourself continuing on foot.

In a survival situation and as an exceptional emergency measure, limit your water intake to 100 ml per hour (hydration management strategy to reduce urinary losses). Take electrolytes to improve water retention in your body. Depending on the temperature, prioritize night travel and remain under your survival blanket during the day to reduce sweating.

For your psychological and practical preparation, I recommend reading this essential survival guide :

* Some sections of the route are covered with hundreds of Tribulus terrestris plants, each capable of causing 1 to 5 punctures. This is in addition to the risk from acacia thorns. For these conditions, tubeless tires are strongly recommended. If your fatbike uses inner tubes, install a 1.6 mm leather anti-puncture liner between the tire and the tube. In both cases, use 250 ml of tubeless sealant per wheel, rather than the usual 150 ml typically recommended.

Here, several hundred

Tribulus in the tire, 

more than 500 holes