In the highly competitive women’s competition, German Anne-Marie Flammersfeld, 31, won her second-straight women’s event, leading the Gobi March 2012 from Stage 1 through the finish line in a time of 27:53:21. Flammersfeld finished fourth overall.

 

“I am so happy,” said Garcia Beneito, at the finish line at a village school outside of Kashkari. “Some moments were very difficult but it was good I had my wife Mariana here, so it gave me hope. The most difficult day was the first day because the pack was the heaviest. Stage 4 was my favourite, but also the finale was spectacular with all the children. It made me remember my son.”

 

Flammersfeld was equally thrilled with her achievement.

 

“I’m feeling great, no pain,” Flammersfeld said. “Just the stomach had some problems. I felt very good during this whole race. The difference from the Atacama Crossing was that there I was running with a lot of people and here I went at my own pace. On my own, I go faster.”

 

The ninth edition of one of the world’s most popular endurance races was held in the Kashgar region of China’s farwest province of Xinjiang. Of the 160 starters, 145 competitors crossed the finish line.

 

Said RacingThePlanet CEO and founder Mary Gadams: “I’m extremely proud and impressed of the level of competition in the Gobi March 2012, both with our many former winners and competitors as well as the many competitors making their RacingThePlanet debuts. I would like to congratulate Vicente and Anne-Marie, whose strength and talent were once again on display as they won every stage this week.”

 

The Gobi March 2012 supported the Esquel-Y.L. Yang Foundation. Since 2005, RacingThePlanet has worked with the foundation to donate sporting equipment and over 8,200 books to schools along the route of the Gobi March.

 

A truly international event, competitors representing six different nationalities comprised the top-three overall and top-three women.

 

Second overall was first time 4 Deserts competitor Mo N. Foustok of Saudi Arabia, 30, while third was France’s Philippe Gatta, 33. The strong women’s field saw Canadian Stephanie Case, 29, finish second behind Flammersfeld (11th overall) and Beijing-based Belgian Virginie Goethals, 36, the third-fastest woman (16th overall). The Shanghai-based Team STC, which includes Zhang Ling, 32, Pei Jun, 40, Tina Wailing, 51 and Wei Liang gang, won the team competition.