The 2022 Rallye du Maroc winner Skyler Howes was just 35 seconds behind his teammate Ricky Brabec in the fast, open farm tracks of the Prologue. However, the short stage proved to be far from straightforward, featuring steep climbs, ditches and a shallow river crossing that demanded precision and focus from all riders. Mistakes could easily cost valuable seconds, making concentration key throughout the winding, technical course.
“The prologue was a bit different to what we expected,” explains Howes. “They were telling us very slippery tracks with lots of cliffs and it turned out to be really big, rolling farm fields which was actually really nice, so we got a bit more traction than I expected. I had a clean run, made some bike adjustments, too, I rode a bit tight out there but I enjoyed the stage a lot. I’m happy to start and now looking forward to making our way out to the open desert tomorrow.”
Stage 1 will cover a total of 780 kilometres, including 300 kilometres of timed special, as competitors head east from Fez to Erfoud. The route will take riders into the heart of Morocco’s desert terrain, setting the stage for an intense week of racing and navigation challenges.
