{"id":195442,"date":"2024-04-28T07:00:30","date_gmt":"2024-04-28T07:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=195442"},"modified":"2024-04-28T11:16:00","modified_gmt":"2024-04-28T11:16:00","slug":"the-director-of-the-skoda-titan-desert-morocco-manuel-tajada-on-the-races-trickiest-moments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2024\/04\/28\/the-director-of-the-skoda-titan-desert-morocco-manuel-tajada-on-the-races-trickiest-moments\/","title":{"rendered":"The Director of the \u0160koda Titan Desert Morocco, Manuel Tajada, on the Race\u2019s Trickiest Moments"},"content":{"rendered":"

Manuel Tajada\u2019s name has been inseparably tied to the \u0160koda Titan Desert Morocco for 18 years. He has been in charge of the race since the first edition in 2006 and still plays a pivotal role. It\u2019s no easy feat to set up a multi-stage and multi-day race spanning 590+ km and about 6,500 m of accumulated elevation in the stunning yet unforgiving Saharan landscape and climate \u2013 so we asked the most qualified person about how it all goes down. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In 2022, with Mr Tajada, we\u2019ve mainly touched upon the history<\/a> of the race but this year, we wanted to shed light on some of the most challenging aspects. From the event\u2019s logistics and unforgettable moments to the special \u0160koda Adventure category where utmost self-sufficiency is the word of the day (and night).<\/p>\n

Mr Tajada, thank you for giving us your time so close to the race. Your colleague Jes\u00fas Garcia previously called the \u0160koda Titan Desert \u201ca world reference event in MTB stage races\u201d. Do you feel like it has become that since 2006?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Titan Desert started in 2006 as \u2018the Dakar of mountain biking\u2019 and it was a big adventure for all the competitors and also for all of us organisers. Back then, there were not so many mountain bike stage races in the world, and after all these years, we have made one of the best races and a great challenge for a lot of riders in the MTB community.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

When do the logistics for this race start, since you need to move a huge amount of equipment into the desert?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We start working on the race more than a year before. Today, we are already thinking about the 2025 edition.<\/p>\n

Which day seems to be the hardest on the riders and which stage gives them the most trouble?<\/strong><\/p>\n

For sure the first one because it is a long day with a big elevation gain. Also, stage 5 where the riders will cross the Erg Chebbi during the \u2018navigation\u2019 stage. There, the peloton will have no route markings or guidance for several kilometres, they will have to find the best paths to connect to dessert points on their own. The dunes of Erg Chebbi and the Atlas Mountains in the first two stages are also two locations I look forward to.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
Zobrazit p\u0159\u00edsp\u011bvek na Instagramu<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

P\u0159\u00edsp\u011bvek sd\u00edlen\u00fd Manuel Tajada Vitales (@manueltajada23)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n