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A perfect storm100km del Sahara stage race, Tunisia. 10-13 March 2006By Fulvio Massini (transl.Silvia Stagni)Our story begins at gate C24 ofRome’s Fiumicino InternationalAirport, a couple of days beforethe race was due to start. This waswhere the cast assembled inpreparation for the eighth editionof this adventure race organisedby the Italian travel companiesTerramia and Zitoway Travel. Thejourney took them from acosmopolitan European capital ofseveral million people out intothe wide expanses of the SaharaDesert where apart from eachother there was rarely any otherhuman presence within a day’sjourney.Like the race, the journey to ithappened in stages. After a shortflight from Rome, and maybe aslightly longer one from otherjumping-off points within Europe,all 120 participants arrived on theTunisian holiday island of Djerba.The 100 km del Saharais much more than just arunning competition.Adriano Zito, who conceived andpromoted this event together withTerramia, was waiting to greetthem. The group transferred to theHomere Hotel for an overnightstay, and began get to know eachother. It is a mainly Italianventure, but there is alwaysinternational participation. Thisyear six Californians came, alongwith six Uruguayans, five Brits,two Germans and lonerepresentatives of Ireland,Switzerland and Spain.On the second day the groupboarded buses bound for thePhotos: ©Mauro CottoneDISTANCE RUNNING April - June 200619