Half Marathon Des Sables MDS CRAZY LOOPS

Crazy Loops – La Rosière

YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE THE DIFFERENCE

Registration opens on June 25, 2025, at 12:00 PM (UTC+2)

MDS Crazy Loops – The Inclusive Mountain Adventure

MDS Crazy Loops – The Inclusive Mountain Adventure

The MARATHON DES SABLES is heading to the mountains, bringing its legendary spirit to the Alps for a brand-new sporting and festive challenge: MDS Crazy Loops.

From July 18 to 20, 2025, in La Rosière, come experience 3 days of human adventure, driven by effort, connection, and celebration, all in the heart of a breathtaking alpine setting.

THE CHALLENGE?  Get ready for an extraordinary adventure: 24 hours of racing, day and night, to complete as many loops as you can.

Everyone moves at their own pace, lifted by the group energy and the magic of the mountains. One loop, ten, twenty... anything is possible.  Take part the way you want, solo or in a team, walking or running, fast or slow.  

3 to 5 Handi teams will share the course with you. You'll cross paths with their determination, their smiles, and sometimes, you’ll even help them tackle a steep hill.

Everyone is a Helping Runner.  On a tough climb, a tricky downhill, or just for the joy of it: you can join a Handi team at any moment and help them move forward.

No fixed roles, no rules: just solidarity in motion.

And to fully immerse yourself in the experience, the MDS bivouac awaits you.  Two nights in tents, high in the mountains.

But if you prefer your own bed in the resort, the format is flexible: choose your accommodation, your comfort, your adventure.

MDS Crazy Loops is not just a race. 

It’s a basecamp, a tribe, a playground to push limits and reconnect.

A sporting, human, and inclusive adventure where everyone gives, receives, and grows in their own way.

Come live the ultra-differently.

At altitude. Together.

THE CRAZY LOOPS SPIRIT

THE CRAZY LOOPS SPIRIT

MDS Crazy Loops is where our differences draw the same path.

Here, the ultra-champions aren’t necessarily the fastest or those who go the furthest.

They’re also the ones we call “Handi” — because for them, ultra is everyday life.

Every movement is an effort. Every effort, a victory.

Crazy Loops is an experience to be lived together:

  • A 3 to 5 km loop, repeated freely over 24 hours
  • We run, we walk, we push, we pull, we stop... and we go again
  • We celebrate, we share a meal, we connect with a glance

Here, we learn to stop seeing disability as a weakness and start recognizing it as a strength that lifts us all. Come with your legs, your arms, your wheels, your doubts, your energy.

Leave with connections, stories, and sometimes, a new spark.

Crazy Loops isn’t a race. It’s a tribe.

A tented camp in the heart of the mountains, just like in the desert.

A space of freedom where roles fade, perspectives shift, and hearts open.

Because here, you give just as much as you receive.

And if you thought you knew what ultra meant, get ready to rediscover it

But in humanity. 
 

RANKINGS & TEAMS

RANKINGS & TEAMS

Objective: Complete as many loops as possible in 24 hours 
At the end of the event, awards will be given in the following categories: 

  • Men
  • Women
  • Handi Men
  • Handi Women 

For safety reasons, any participant using a wheelchair must be part of a Handi team (including one puller and one pusher).

EVENT PROGRAM

EVENT PROGRAM

Friday – Arrival & Discovery

  • Arrival on site and bivouac setup
  • Welcome & technical checks
  • Discovery of the Crazy Loop
  • Equipment testing

Saturday – Race Day

  • Final preparations and possible morning arrivals
  • Official start between 10 AM and 12 PM (exact time to be confirmed)
  • 24 hours of racing on the Crazy Loop

Sunday – Finish & Celebration

  • Arrival of the final teams
  • End of the race (between 10 AM and 12 PM)
  • Awards ceremony
  • Free departure to the resort or home

KEY DETAILS

KEY DETAILS

Accommodation: The Flexi-Bivouac

Two options are available to experience the adventure your way:

  • Bivouac Option: Individual tent provided at the camp (with adaptations available for participants with specific disabilities).
  • Independent Option: No tent provided, so you can book your own accommodation in the resort.

The MDS Crazy Loops bivouac at La Rosière is within walking distance from the resort. The bivouac is also a shared living space, with continuous access to drinking water and hot water points for meal preparation.

 

Food

You manage your own meals throughout the weekend. You can bring your own food and snacks; water is continuously provided both at the camp and along the course, as well as hot water for freeze-dried meals.

Restaurants will also be available nearby during the entire MDS Crazy Loops event.

 

Gear: Simple and Essential

No heavy logistics. Carry only what you need to complete the loops.

With or without a backpack, you’ll need to carry at least 500 ml of water, some food, and suitable clothing for the conditions.

A full equipment list will be sent to you once your registration is confirmed.

The offers

What is included in the offer:

  • Race bib for the adventure   
  • 24-hour race access
  • Access to the bivouac   
  • Timing chip
  • Support from the event and medical teams during the race
  • Secure storage for personal belongings
  • Full medical support

The Independent Offer

Race bib to take part in the MDS Crazy Loops – La Rosière adventure

Free and self-managed accommodation

€95/person

The Bivouac Offer

Race bib to take part in the MDS Crazy Loops – La Rosière adventure

2 nights in a tent at the bivouac (Friday and Saturday nights)

€145/person

YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE THE DIFFERENCE

INFOS MDS Crazy Loops – La Rosière 2025

HOW TO GET THERE?

  • Take the train to Bourg-Saint-Maurice. The station is located just 20 km from La Rosière resort.
  • From there, you can reach the resort by carpooling, taxi, or shuttle. 
    For the shuttle, take line S80 (Transdev/Altibus), which connects Bourg-Saint-Maurice to La Rosière in 30 to 60 minutes. 
    Shuttles run several times a day, are comfortable, and equipped to carry luggage. 
    The fare is €3 depending on the route, and free for people with reduced mobility or under 18.

WHEN TO ARRIVE?

You can arrive at the bivouac from Friday at 2:00 PM until Saturday at 10:00 AM.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

For safety reasons, any participant using a wheelchair must be part of a Handi team (including one puller and one pusher).

The adventure is designed to be accessible to wheelchair users with a minimum level of mobility. Participants should be able to propel their wheelchair using their upper limbs, as the goal is to stay active throughout the stages. A medical questionnaire will be sent to Handi participants to confirm their eligibility.

WEEKEND PROGRAM

Friday – Setup & Discovery

  • Arrival on site and bivouac setup
  • Welcome & technical checks
  • Introduction to the Crazy Loop
  • Equipment testing

Saturday – Race Day

  • Final preparations and possible arrivals in the morning
  • Official start between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM (exact time to be confirmed)
  • 24 hours of racing on the Crazy Loop 

Sunday – Race Finish & Celebration

  • Arrival of the last teams
  • End of the race
  • Awards ceremony
  • Free departure back to the resort or home 

Exact times will be shared closer to the event.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING?

Each participant carries the necessary gear for their race, depending on their pace and the weather.

In case of heatwave: cap, sunglasses, sunscreen, water bottle or flask.

In case of cold or night: a warm layer, headlamp with spare batteries, light gloves, and a windbreaker are strongly recommended. Temperatures can drop quickly after sunset, especially at altitude.

Basic kit:

  • Water bottle or flask – minimum 500 ml capacity.
  • Clothing suitable for the weather conditions
  • Charged mobile phone
  • Small first aid kit (bandages, elastic band, etc.)
  • Emergency blanket
  • Whistle
  • 2 lamps or spare batteries (200 lumens)
  • ID card
  • Sleeping bag if you’re staying at the bivouac
  • Sleeping mat – optional

MEALS

The Crazy Loops adventure fully embodies the spirit of the MDS: a self-supported challenge where personal commitment and management are integral to the experience. From arrival to departure, you are responsible for your own food.

You can either bring your own meals—freeze-dried food, cereal bars, snacks, etc.—or choose to eat at nearby restaurants in the resort close to the bivouac.

Hot water will be available for those who want to rehydrate their freeze-dried meals (open fires are prohibited).

PRICES

The rates for MDS Crazy Loops 2025 are as follows:

  • Autonomous option: €95/person.

Free and independent accommodation.

  • Bivouac option: €145/person.

2 nights in a tent at the bivouac (Friday and Saturday). Tent provided after the race.

INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRATION FEE

  • Race bib for the adventure
  • 24 hours of racing
  • Access to the bivouac
  • Timing chip
  • Organizational and medical support during the race
  • Storage for personal belongings
  • Awards ceremony

CANCELLATION POLICY 

Due to the proximity of the first edition of MDS Crazy Loops – La Rosière, it will not be possible to postpone or cancel your registration.

SAFETY

During the race, you will be supported by medical and organizational teams from start to finish.

A medical tent is available at the bivouac where you can go at any time.

PAYMENT TERMS

Payment by credit card only, in a single installment.

RULES & REGULATIONS

Please refer to the MDS Crazy Loops 2025 Rules and General Terms of Sale.

ABOUT US

Since 1986, the MARATHON DES SABLES has offered adventure enthusiasts a unique experience in the world’s most beautiful deserts. 
Today, with redesigned formats, everyone can experience the MDS adventure their way — running or walking, on sand or in the mountains. 
But the promise remains the same: 
Step out of your comfort zone. Push your limits. And live an unforgettable human adventure.

Equip yourself for the MDS

WAA Ultra has been developing specialized products for MDS participants since 2009.