The tragedy of Ernesto Escolano, the real estate agent, in the Titan Desert

• Previous Spanish Fernando Civera dies in the Titan Desert due to cardiac arrest

Three years later the Titan Desert, the cycling race that runs through the Moroccan desert, revived the tragedy with identical conditions: again it was in a marathon stage -that is, without mechanical assistance-, again starting in the town of Merzouga, again on a day of intense heat and again the victim was an Aragonese fan in his 50s.

If in 2019 a cardiac arrest ended the life of

, born in Zaragoza, 46 years old, this time misfortune surprised

, a native of Sabiñánigo, 51 years old.

In both cases, the witnesses reported the same events, a cyclist's collapse in the last section of the route, and in both cases the victims had a similar profile, both were athletes with years of cycling experience.

"At kilometer 82 of stage 2, the runner required emergency medical assistance. He was immediately treated by the track health team and after applying first aid and stabilizing him, he was transferred by helicopter to the Mohammed VI University Hospital Center in Marrakech where, a little later, he died despite medical efforts," the test announced in a statement.

Escolano was known among popular cyclists in Huesca, where he lived, for various reasons.

First, because he was a regular at races such as the popular Quebrantahuesos -which he had contested on multiple occasions- or the Jacetania.

And second, because through his company, Vive Inmuebles, which he shared with two other partners, he had sponsored the Huesca Cycling Club school for years.

In fact, it was common to see him encouraging the children of the entity in their tests and he himself attended their cycling meetings.

A difficult first stage

A rookie in the Titan, with number 521, in the first stage of this edition he had already suffered the harshness of the route when he finished ranked 357th among the 476 who reached the finish line.

Escolano made a quick start and passed through the first checkpoint in position 194, but little by little he was losing positions.

In his registration, he had signed up as part of the Krypteia team, one of the most numerous.

"From the organization, as well as the participants, medical team, sponsors, journalists and the entire race capsule that accompanies the test, they convey their condolences and affection to their family and friends," also reported the Titan, which in the third stage , held this Tuesday, paid tribute to Escolano.

and

, the winners of the third stage -the second part of the marathon stage- dedicated their triumphs to him.

In the general classification, the leader is

, Bou's partner and Spanish MTB ultramarathon champion, and Ramírez herself, who became Spanish road champion in 2004 and competed in the Giro and Tour.

The race will finish after 645 kilometers traveled, this Friday, in Maadid.

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