Round 3 / SKI MOUNTAINEERING - PLUM KV COURCHEVEL - Friday 19 February 2016

3rd Plum KV Courchevel: victory for Swann Juillaguet and new record for Axelle Mollaret!

It is a scramble at the top of the women’s standings in this 3rd and penultimate round of the Plum KV Courchevel in ski mountaineering on Friday 19 February. It must be said that at the end of the 4 events of the Plum KV Courchevel offered this winter, the French ski mountaineering Vertical Kilometre (KV) records will be awarded to the woman and man who have set the best time of the season on this vertical kilometre course, approved by the French Mountain and Climbing Federation (FFME), in addition to the €500 prize money.

The conditions were once again right in this 3rd round for good times on this course of 1,000 m of elevation gain over 5 km. The 62 competitors set off from Le Praz in a time trial to the top of the Loze relay, located at 2,249 m altitude. After setting the new provisional record last Wednesday at the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel, Axelle Mollaret of the Arêches Beaufort Multisports Club continued on her way by taking that of the Plum KV Courchevel in 49min17s. Next came the 2015 French ski mountaineering KV record holder, Catherine Juillaguet of the Courchevel Sports Alpinisme club, in 52min50s. Usually at the top places so far, Corinne Favre, a victim of a bad stomach bug, this time finished third in 54min25s.

Among the men, a fine victory for Swann Juillaguet, a member of the French youth team, in 43min08s. The 2015 French trail running KV champion, Jean-François Philipot of CAF La Roche, finished second in 44min09s and William Perrier of the Courchevel Sports Alpinisme club completed the podium in 45min34s.

In the ESF challenge, among the women instructors, Séverine Vibert of ESF Courchevel 1650 won in 1h09min35s ahead of Pauline Caillet of ESF Courchevel 1850 (1h13min00s) and Pascale Gachet-Mauroz of ESF Courchevel 1550 (1h13min41s). Among the men instructors, Nicolas Mater of ESF Courchevel 1550 won in 52min30s ahead of Yannick Costaz of ESF La Plagne Aime 2000 (54min57s) and Jean-Louis Fillatre of ESF Méribel (55min08s).

At the end of this 3rd round, Axelle Mollaret took the lead in the women’s provisional overall standings in 43min08s ahead of Corinne Favre (51min04s) and Catherine Juillaguet (52min50s). Among the men, Mathéo Jacquemoud stays on top with a time of 40min05s ahead of Florent Perrier (42min55s) and Swann Juillaguet (43min08s). The final verdict will come on Wednesday 18 March at the final of the Plum KV Courchevel 2016 in ski mountaineering.

With the winter season over, the PKVC will give way to trail runners / skyrunners, with 4 rounds in trail version included in the "Skyrunner France Series 2016" circuit. A concept unique in the world where ski mountaineers and trail runners can express themselves and compare their respective performances on a Vertical Kilometre course that is strictly identical in winter and summer!

The best men’s and women’s times of the summer season will be rewarded with €500 in prize money. €1,000 will be awarded to the winners of the 2016 “Alpitrail” challenge, by adding the 2 best performances in ski mountaineering and in trail running.

Axelle Mollaret and Yoann Caillot win the 3rd Grand Slam.

In the weeks when the MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL (MSTC) and the PLUM KV COURCHEVEL (PKVC) are organised, a ranking is drawn up for those who complete the “Grand Slam” (taking part in the 2 events in the same week).

This week, the "Grand Slam" took into account the combined times of the MSTC on Wednesday 17 February and the PKVC on Friday 19 February. 28 competitors did both races. Yoann Caillot won in 1h10min59s and the tornado Axelle Mollaret set the new women’s record in 1h16min46s.

The official prize-givings for the 4 “Grand Slam” rounds of the season and for the Plum KV Courchevel 2016 in ski mountaineering will take place on Wednesday 23 March at the great ski mountaineering party in Courchevel, on the occasion of the final of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel.