Plum KV 2018/2019: last round in ski mountaineering
Last round of the Plum KV Courchevel 2018 / 2019 with ski mountaineering!
Last round of the Plum KV Courchevel 2018 / 2019 with ski mountaineering!
Curtain falls on this season of the Plum KV Courchevel with the last Vertical Kilometre (KV) race in ski mountaineering. This epic began on 4 August with the KV events in Trail and Cycling and ended in style this Friday 15 February with 108 ski mountaineers on the start line. The innovation of this KV season was to offer 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 pair in the trail and cycling races, and Plum K3000, solo or as a trio, by adding the ski mountaineering event. This original concept allowed competitors entered in the Plum K3000 Challenge to test themselves over 1,000 m of elevation gain in the 3 disciplines: excellent preparation for the extraordinary Dynastar X3 triathlon on 14 April, which will combine these 3 sports in solo or trio team format.
Plum KV Ski Mountaineering
Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz makes the difference.
As usual, the starts of this ski mountaineering KV were given as a time trial from Le Praz. Competitors set off on this course of 1,000 m of elevation gain over 5 km distance to reach the finish at the top of the Loze relay at an altitude of 2,249 m. Unlike the scorching temperatures encountered last summer in the bike and trail events, relatively mild temperatures awaited the ski mountaineers, ideal conditions in short. In the absence of the French ski mountaineering team members, held elsewhere by the international calendar, it was hard to imagine that the climb records belonging to Xavier Gachet (39min57s) in 2017 and Axelle Mollaret (46min36s) in 2018 could be beaten, but fine performances were recorded. 2018 French long-distance Trail champion Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz posted the fastest time of the evening in 42min58s ahead of Yoann Caillot (43min09s) and Florent Perrier (43min48s), currently 3rd in the provisional overall standings of the Millet Ski Touring 2019.
Corinne Favre steals the show.
Among the women, Corinne Favre, 3rd in the Dynastar X3 in 2015 and 3rd in the provisional overall standings of the Millet Ski Touring 2019, won in 49min40s ahead of Mélanie Rousset (55min41s) and Catherine Juillaguet (55min54s).
Plum K3000 Challenge
Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz and Stéphanie Duc master the elements.
You had to have taken part in all 3 events to be ranked in the Plum K3000 challenge, solo or as a pair. This sequence was completed by 17 participants. In the absence of Yoann Sert, leader after the first two events, this fine challenge was won by Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz. Bronze medallist in 2016 and 2018 in the Dynastar X3, he won in 2h13min07s (sum of the trail, cycling and ski mountaineering times). The triathlete Tony Moulaï, repeatedly selected for the French team, whose career was crowned by a World Cup win in Tongyeong at the end of 2013, not forgetting his win last summer in the Felt X3 Triathlon, finished in second position in 2h19min11s after giving everything in the Ski Mountaineering event, which he has only recently discovered. Dorian Colliard completed the podium in 2h34min12s.
Among the women, Stéphanie Duc, 2013 French Trail champion, three-time winner of the Dynastar X3 (2013, 2016 and 2017) and leader after the Trail and Cycling events, managed her lead in the ski mountaineering event, which she finished in 4th position, and won the challenge in 2h49min22s. Thanks to her 3rd place this Friday, Catherine Juillaguet moved up to second position in the challenge in 2h58min42s ahead of Stéphanie Pommat, third in 3h06min47s.
In short, an ideal concept for preparing for the upcoming Courchevel triathlons:
- Dynastar X3 Courchevel on 14 April 2019
- Felt X3 Courchevel set for Sunday 19 August 2019
Grand Slam 2019
In the week when the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel (MSTC) and the Plum KV Courchevel (PKVC) are held, a specific ranking is compiled for competitors who take part in both competitions.
44 competitors completed both races of this 2019 edition. Guillaume Panisset in 1h14min43s was the big winner ahead of the Courchevel guide Ambrose Manus (1h15min44s) and the manager of the partner shop, Sébastien Figliolini in 1h17min04s.
Among the women, Corinne Favre won in 1h17min16s ahead of Mélanie Rousset (1h26min08s) and Stéphanie Pommat, once again on the podium in 1h29min32s.
A fine edition that ended over a good cauldron soup with the presentation of the prize money in the presence of Albert Félisaz, director of the binding company “Plum” and partner of the event, who presented the 2020 novelties and announced new surprises on the event front in Courchevel for the next season.
