Over 800 disappointed competitors have not begun their long-awaited desert challenge- instead, stage one of this years edition of the Marathon des Sables has been cancelled due to heavy rain in the desert.

Conditions were so bad that competitors were unable to sleep at the race bivouac site, in fact the coaches transporting them couldn't reach the race location, and instead everyone was lodged in hotels in Erfoud.

All being well, the race will start on March 30th.