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Your guide to racing triathlon in Larache (Arabic pronounced Al-ʿArāʾīsh) *This is a review from the Larache Premium African Cup in 2022
Pre Travel:
I'd like to preface this by saying that we had an incredible experience in Morocco and would love to return. My partner and I were both met with unparalleled hospitality and felt welcomed by many throughout our trip. That being said it is important to note that the risk level for Morocco from the Canadian Travel Advisory was: Exercise a High degree of Caution. We recommend you read the information provided in detail as the risk refers to certain areas of Morocco bordering the Sahara. While in Morocco we made a conscious effort to respect local laws and customs and as such we experienced great hospitality in the areas that we traveled.
When traveling for triathlon direct flights are recommended, but at times that is not always an option. Direct flights are often more expensive, but it is worth considering the pros and cons regarding the likelihood of losing your bike. On route to this race my bike never made it out of our layover at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. We did have a 6 hour layover at this Airport, arrived early for the race and did our best to work with Air France to get my bike for this race. But sadly my experience with Air France let a lot to be desired, my bike never arrived in Morocco and took weeks to arrive home after I returned from the trip. My participation in this event was salvaged by the incredible efforts of a member of the LOC (local organizing committee) who spent a couple hours the evening before the race locating and delivering me a bike that was generously leant out by an athlete he coached. I was incredibly grateful for the hospitality of coaches and athletes from Morocco who single handedly provided me with the equipment that allowed me to participate.
The Race
Venue: Larache (Arabic pronounced Al-ʿArāʾīsh)
Photos by Rachel Faulds and Nabeel Chirathodi From left to right: Views from the bike course in Larache x2; Running into T1 after the swim.
This race is one for the books. Though I didn’t get a chance to get on that run course (I was lapped out of the bike) this is a venue that I hope to return to.
The race has a unique format for a sprint race with a ‘point to point’ swim and two transitions. The swim has a beach start and you swim near the Larache port in ‘Oued Loukok’. This is off the Northern Atlantic so expect the water temperature to be borderline wetsuit legal. The start of the swim has a long straightaway to the first buoy, making it a really fair swim start. Coming out of the water there are some stairs which can be slippery and the surface is fairly rocky. Luckily for us the event organizers laid down a blue carpet but footing could still be a challenge.
The run into T1 is along the wall of the water and a couple hundred meters. The bike racks used in T1 are not ITU specific and you should be prepared to rack your bike by the seat. The race organizers allowed their media crew into transition during the 2022 African Premium Cup Larache, so you may be able to find some race day photos from throughout the event.
Now for the cool sh!t, that bike course! This bike course was very challenging and technical. There is only a few hundred meters of the course that is flat, and it’s multi-looped. Leaving T1 the course is flat, which allows you to get your feet in your shoes and get rolling. Then you start your first ascent of long steady climb, before making a right onto a false flat. You shouldn’t need to change out of your big chain ring in the front but should be prepared to push this part of the bike hard. Following the climb you get to roll through town, where the streets were packed with people cheering. This part of the bike is quite technical and followed by a descent along the old fortress where begin your subsequent loops.
I never got a chance to roll through that run course, but from an onlookers perspective it had equal crowd support as the bike course. It looked to be a tough course with three loops including a long hill and the opportunity to loop through Plaza de la Liberation on route to the finishing shoot.
All of this is referring to my experience in the 2022 African Premium Cup Larache. This is an elite continental cup. This race does have age group races as well. It’s a smaller age group women's field with around 28 participants and the men's age group field had 241 participants. A lot of the age group competition was domestic, but don’t let that deter you from giving this race a shot. The organization and hospitality of the race organizers and the crowds at the venue felt world class.
I was able to talk to a few members of the LOC (Local Organizing Committee) after the race who told me that they like to put on this race annually. If you are able to make the trip to Larache during this event I would definitely recommend it. The course is very challenging and a great sprint triathlon.
This race was really well organized and scored nearly perfect. The areas that could be improved upon were parking and pre-race washroom availability.
Overall rating of this race: A
Pre-Race Training & Accommodations
There are multiple triathlons in Morocco, but for the one I did in Larache I chose to stay at the organized Race Hotel (Hotel Lixus Beach Resort) for the ease of training. This hotel is isolated from Larache and you will need a rental car or rely on shuttles to get into town, but it is great for training.
There is a large pool on site (it is a unique distance so you will have to be flexible with your workouts) and a beach at the hotel. I never saw anyone swimming at the hotel beach, likely due to the high waves. Again, the race hotel is isolated. This is great for running and cycling as the roads surrounding this hotel are restricted to guests, staff and stray dogs. This hotel is great for training but very poor for experiencing Larache, which is why I felt that a rental car enhanced the trip. With the rental car you can head into town and explore the bustling local markets and walk the course for familiarity prior to the race.
The hotel does have a buffet on the premises. There were very few vegetarian options but ample seafood and meat. If you have a finicky stomach I would recommend bringing your own breakfast for race morning (instant oatmeal is great). Coffee and alcohol are served on site.
It is also worth noting that the pre race packet pick up for the elite race is done at this hotel. Staying here made it easier to access the packet pick up.
Photos by Nabeel Chirathodi and Rachel Faulds Photos all taken at Hotel Lixus Beach Resort
The accomodation options for this race were minimal. The one hotel that was reccomended provided required training facilities but it would not accomodate all budgets. The reccomeded hotel was very isolated from the city and race location making you rely on either a shuttle or a rental car for access. Additionally, I was unable to access a reliable bike store during my stay.
Overall Rating for Accommodations and Ease of Training: D
Post Race Sightseeing
Photography by Rachel Faulds and Nabeel Chirathodi From left to right: Door in Asilah; Infront of Hassan II Mosque Casablanca; Arab League Park Casablanca
Post race I was feeling a little bummed. Getting lapped out of the race is never the goal and after a stressful lead up I wanted to relax and enjoy Morocco. We had lunch near the race venue in Larache before heading back to our hotel.
Originally we planned on heading to Tangier for the evening. Tangier is about 90 kilometers North of Larache. The fastest route to Tangier is a 70 minute drive (taking a highway with tolls), but we opted for the toll-free scenic route which adds about 20 minutes to your drive. That being said, we never actually did make it to Tangier. Halfway through the drive we stopped in a smaller town called Asilah (pronounced Azayla) and couldn’t bring ourselves to leave.
There is an option to scroll through the photos above. Photography by Rachel Faulds and Nabeel Chirathodi From Left to Right: Infront of painted wall in Asiliah; Wall of Art in Old Town Asilah ; Rugs that may have been for sale from an independent seller in Asiliah, Infront of path in the Old Town Asilah.
We spent the afternoon exploring the old town, which dates back to Portuguese occupation in the 15th-16th century. It has the maze-like layout of an old Moroccan city and is filled with art work and restored buildings. We stopped in to see a local artist working on his paintings and negotiated a deal to purchase some work.
Although we didn’t get to see it, Asilah has an annual art festival which turns the walls of its streets into art. This festival was started in 1978 when friends Mohammed Melehi and Mohamed Benaïssa invited artists to paint the ruins of Asiliah village and has since grown to a global art and culture event. Spectators watch international artists repaint the walls each August.
Scroll above for more photos. Photos by Rachel Faulds and Nabeel Chirathodi Photos of our experience at Dar Al Maghrebia restaurant
We ended our day at the Dar Al Maghrebia restaurant. Located on a cobbled side street, this small restaurant has both indoor and patio dining. The décor is stunning both inside and out, but the real highlight was the food. This restaurant is a little pricier than other options in Asilah, but definitely worth the splurge. We ordered two (non-alcoholic) drinks, two appetizers, two entrees, and one dessert for around $35 CAD. Our entrée cooked in Tajine was one of the highlights of our trip. At the end of our meal we were given complimentary Moroccan Mint Tea (pronounced shay bialnaenae)and our server was kind enough to teach us the Arabic names for what we were eating.
We only had a chance to stay one extra day after the race, so we made our way back to Casablanca. Here we headed to the Hassan II Mosque. This is the second largest Mosque in Africa and it’s minaret stands at 210 meters tall. The Mosque looks out over the Atlantic Ocean and has room for 105,000 worshipers.
Photos by Rachel Faulds and Nabeel Chirathodi Photos of The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca
This Mosque was awe inspiring. We took a tour with a group which costs around $38 CAD per person and you are grouped based on which language you would like the tour in. Though this is costly for Morocco, it was easily the best tour experience of my life and something I would be eager to do again. We were able to enter the Mosque and learn about the worship practices, the architecture and take photos. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and took some time to help us with Arabic phrases. Note tipping for this guide was not mandatory but was common practice within the group we were in. Also before embarking on this tour it is important to dress respectfully as this is a place of worship. Be sure to cover your shoulders and knees as the dress code is enforced. It is also practice to remove your shoes when entering the Mosque, a bag will be provided for you for carrying your shoes.
Words To Know
Hi – salam
Goodbye – beslama
Yes – iyah ?
No – la
Please – afak
Thank you – shokran
No thank you – la shokran
OK – wakha
Triathlons In Morocco
Ironman 70.3 Tangier https://www.ironman.com/im703-tangier Closest Airport - Tangier
Accessible with rental car- Casablanca
Triathlon Larache - https://triathlonlarache.org/
Closest Airport - Tangier
Accessible with rental car- Casablanca
This is not an extensive list. If you know a race I should add to this list, please let me know.
Where To Stay
We chose to stay at the race hotel for this trip due to ease of training. Although it made pre race training more accessible due to its remote location we couldn’t fully experience what the city of Larache had to offer. When traveling for races I don’t always choose to stay at the race hotel. Some factors to consider are accessibility of training, accessibility of food, and price of accommodations.
If you choose to race in Larache and stay elsewhere, I’d love to hear about your training experience.
After the race we stayed in Casablanca. Here we stayed at Hotel and Spa La Doge. I really recommend this hotel and wish there was an option to give this hotel more than five stars (or smiles). The hotel is located on a very narrow road but there is complimentary valet parking. The check in process was seamless and we were brought to our boutique room. We chose a Junior Suite, although I'm sure every room in this hotel is incredible. We were provided with complimentary Moroccan Mint Tea (pronounced shay bialnaenae),biscuits, and apples. There was a Nespresso machine in the room, but there is a surcharge for using the pods. From this hotel there are many places to walk to including Arab League Park, Mohammed V Square and United Nations Square. Once we checked in we didn't need our car again until we left. I recommend checking out the rooftop patio at this hotel, it has an excellent ambience and gave us a chance to try Moroccan wine.
Photos by Rachel Faulds and Nabeel Chirathodi From left to right: Getting lunch in Casablanca; Our Room at Hotel and Spa Le Doge; The Tea, Biscuits and Apples at Hotel and Spa Le Doge
Tips and Tricks
In a market, the price is always negotiable.
Always carry cash - we made the mistake twice of not having cash on us and both times we really regretted it. A credit card isn’t always accepted, specifically for parking costs and/or tolls. The local currency is the Moroccan Dirham. You can find conversion rates here.
Getting a rental car is worth it. You can get an international license in advance through CAA.
Cost
The local currency is the Moroccan Dirham. It is easy to withdraw cash from the ATM and it is important to always carry cash on you. Tipping is common practice and unforeseen fees often arise.
Rental Car: Around $100/day for a medium sized vehicle, large enough to fit a bike box. We chose to have a car with an automatic transmission. You will save some money if you chose a car with a manual transmission.
Hotel: Hotels range in cost and you can expect to pay $15-200/night CAD depending on what you are looking for.
Food: Approximately $8-10 CAD per person per meal. We found gas prices were at par with Canadian gas prices at the time we traveled. This makes having a rental car one of the most expensive parts of the trip, but having it allowed us the freedom to travel on our own schedule.
Please note that this post was written from our perspective and experiences as a interracial heterosexual couple from Canada. Your experiences may vary. Please read the Canadian travel advisory (or your own countries travel advisory) prior to travel.
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