Ksar sghir: The 4th edition of Morocco’s international cycling race Tour du Nord officially got underway on Wednesday in Ksar Sghir, with the opening stage linking the coastal town to Oued Laou over a distance of 110.4 kilometers.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the event is organized by the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Cycling League under the aegis of the Royal Moroccan Cycling Federation. It forms part of celebrations marking the 23rd anniversary of HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan. This year’s edition features the participation of several Moroccan and international teams, including the Moroccan national team, the Northern and Saharan regional teams, as well as the Sidi Ali Unlock Team. Foreign participation includes clubs representing Saudi Arabia, France, Netherlands, Spain, and Belgium.
Speaking to MAP, the president of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Cycling League, Mustapha Rahmouni, stressed that this edition carries particular significance as it is open exclusively to teams affiliated with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), in addition to Moroccan teams, with a view to integrating the Tour du Nord into the UCI’s official calendar. Rahmouni also noted that the route was redesigned to showcase the North region’s natural diversity, offering participants and spectators an immersion into landscapes ranging from Mediterranean coastlines to mountainous terrain. He added that the event represents an important lever for promoting tourism in the region.
Meanwhile, Tangier cyclist El Hou§aine Sabbahi, Morocco’s 2024 road racing champion and winner of the Tour du Sahel in 2018 and 2020, expressed pride in taking part in the competition. He described the event as important for both himself and Moroccan cycling, while voicing determination to achieve a top performance.
The Tour du Nord is set to continue on Thursday with the second stage between Jebha and Al Hoceima over 108.7 kilometers. Riders will then head on Friday toward Issaguen for a 113.8-kilometer stage, before racing on Saturday between Chefchaouen and Ouezzane across 83.8 kilometers. The five-stage competition will conclude on Sunday with a final 117.3-kilometer stretch linking Ksar El Kebir to Tangier.
The staging of this international sporting event further confirms the growing stature of the Tour du Nord within Morocco’s national sporting calendar, while also serving as a showcase for the region’s natural, cultural, and tourism potential.