Noel Martín, a Spanish cyclist from Massi ISB Sport and a world champion in tandem cycling as well as a bronze medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, showcased his prowess by clinching victory in the second stage of the Titan Desert Morocco. This challenging segment, which stretched 105 kilometers with an elevation gain of 1,550 meters, saw Martín outpace the race leader Luis Ángel Maté and fellow competitor Luis León Sánchez in a thrilling sprint finish. The stage unfolded between Boumalne Dades and Battou, where Martín demonstrated his racing acumen and resilience.
At 36 years old, hailing from El Arenal in Ávila and currently residing in Valladolid, Martín is no stranger to the world of mountain biking. His impressive resume includes not only a world championship title in tandem cycling but also the Olympic bronze medal he secured in Tokyo. This victory in Battou marked his third triumph in the Titan Desert, solidifying his reputation as a formidable competitor in this grueling event.
The race began with an aggressive attack from Jonathan Castroviejo and Chilean cyclist 'Pipo' Rodríguez, who forged ahead towards the town of Iknoiun, setting the stage for the day’s decisive and challenging segments. Notable former road professionals, including leader Maté, Luis León Sánchez, and Dani Moreno, attempted to assert their dominance against skilled mountain bikers like Martín, Portuguese rider Bruno Rosa, and Pablo Guerrero. As the six cyclists, including Czech competitor Fojtik, tackled the toughest climb of the day, their combined efforts led to an intense battle that ultimately culminated in a sprint finish.
After conquering the mountainous terrain, Noel Martín emerged victorious in a nail-biting finish, clocking a time of 3 hours, 54 minutes, and 40 seconds, averaging 26.85 kilometers per hour. The overall standings remained unchanged, with Maté, affectionately known as 'Lince', maintaining a comfortable lead of eight minutes over Rosa and nine minutes ahead of Martín, who currently sits in third place.
Reflecting on his performance, Martín expressed surprise at his strong showing in the mountainous stages, stating, "I didn’t expect to feel this good in the mountain stages. In the end, we managed to work together as a group. With the headwind, there weren’t many brave enough to attack. I learned to endure on the climb, and when I realized there were no more ascents left, I knew I had a good chance if we finished together." He is also the coach of Fran Herrero, who placed second in the Titan 2025.
In the women's category, Dutch cyclist Tessa Kortekaas continued to impress, competing alongside the male riders and once again finishing in the fourteenth position in both the stage and overall standings. Meanwhile, Madrid’s Pilar Fernández found herself nearly an hour behind the Titan 2025 champion. "If I keep going like this every day, I don’t know if I’ll have enough strength for the last stages. Competing with the guys makes it more enjoyable and provides a lot of motivation and adrenaline," she remarked.
The Titan Desert is now set to venture into the heart of the desert, with the third stage scheduled to take place between Battou and Sidi Ali, covering a distance of 98 kilometers with an elevation gain of 352 meters. This will be the first marathon stage, where cyclists must rely on their self-sufficiency to navigate two sections without external assistance.
As reported by esciclismo.com.
