Plum KV 2018/2019: the season opens with trail running and cycling

Plum KV Courchevel 2018 / 2019 opens with the trail running and cycling events!

The new season of the Plum KV Courchevel took off this Saturday 4 August with the trail running and cycling events. This original concept lets you test yourself over 1,000 m of elevation gain in 3 disciplines: trail running, cycling and ski mountaineering. For the latter, you will have to wait until 15 February 2019. New for this season: a single competition for each Vertical Kilometre (KV) event, with the possibility of being ranked in 2 challenges: Plum K2000 by taking part solo or as a duo in the trail running and cycling events, and Plum K3000 solo or as a trio by adding the ski mountaineering event.

Plum KV Trail Running

Yoann Sert, master of the trail running event

The trail running start was given at the usual starting point in Le Praz at 9.30 am. Every 20 seconds, the 67 competitors set off one after the other in a time trial over the 5 km course with 1,000 m of elevation gain.

Because of the prevailing heatwave, it was hard to aim to beat the records set respectively by Xavier Gachet in 37min25s in 2016 and by Christel Dewalle in 42min21s in 2015, but fine performances were recorded. Yoann Sert, a regular on podiums in Courchevel with, among others, 3 wins in the extraordinary Dynastar X3 triathlon, crossed the finish line at the top of the Loze relay with the best time (40min24s). Triathlete Tony Moulaï, selected for the Beijing Olympics in 2008 with a very full record (European runner-up in 2008, world relay runner-up, French champion in 2012 and, to top it all, a World Cup win in Tongyeong in late 2013), missed out in second place in 41m43s. Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz of the Courchevel Sports Outdoor club, French Long Trail champion 2018, a title won at the end of July, took a deserved third place in 42min07s, only 6 seconds ahead of Yoann Stuck. “I love this type of event for working on intensity, and varying the disciplines allows me to keep up my training volume while sparing the joints, which are hard-tested in trail running,” he said after crossing the finish line.

Stéphanie Duc dominates her category.

Among the women, Stéphanie Duc, French trail running champion in 2013, impressed and won in 51min14s. It was through mental strength that Catherine Juillaguet, recently operated on her ankle, snatched second place in 57min06s ahead of Stéphanie Pommat in 59min21s.

Plum KV Cycling

Vincent Arnaud in charge

After the trail running event, it was the cycling’s turn. The meeting point was 4 pm at Le Carrey for the start. A 15.5 km course to reach a point 1,000 metres higher in Courchevel 1850, rue du Jardin Alpin. Stifling conditions awaited the 62 cyclists but, fortunately, a small storm cooled the air at the end of the climb. In these conditions it was difficult to challenge the records of Mickael Gallego in 41min25s and of Fanny Leleu in 48min55s in 2016. At the end of this time trial, Vincent Arnaud of the club Bourg-en-Bresse Ain Cyclisme won in 45min43s ahead of Yoann Sert (45min59s) and Nicolas Ougier, member of ASC Macôt la Plagne (46min18s).

Edwige Pitel 1st woman and 11th overall.

Among the women, a big name was at the start. Edwige Pitel with an impressive record (duathlon world champion in 2002 and 2003, several French road cycling champion titles, selected for the Olympic road race and time trial) crushed the race by being the only one to beat the cut-off time. With a time of 51min 46s, she won without a fight ahead of Stéphanie Duc (1h00min34s), a little tired from the morning’s trail run. Camille Udny, member of VC St Julien en Genevois, completed the podium in 1h01min11s.

Plum K2000 Challenge

Yoann Sert and Stéphanie Duc the most complete

You had to have taken part in both events to be ranked in the Plum K2000 challenge, solo or duo. This combination was completed by 39 participants! A fine challenge won by Yoann Sert in 1h26min24s (sum of the trail running and cycling times). “I like to vary sports in training, and this type of challenge, the trail running-cycling combination, suits me perfectly. I’ll be here this winter for the ski mountaineering event,” said Yoann Sert. A view shared by Stéphanie Duc, victorious among the women in 1h51min49s.

Tony Moulaï (1h29min24s) and Catherine Juillaguet (2h02min47s) took the second places. Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz (1h30min09s) and Stéphanie Pommat (2h09min05s) completed the podium.

An ideal concept to prepare for the Courchevel triathlons:

- the Felt X3 Courchevel triathlon set for Sunday 19 August 2018.

- the extraordinary Dynastar X3 Courchevel triathlon on 14 April 2019