Dynastar X3 Courchevel 2017 - Ski mountaineers on home ground

Beaufortain ski mountaineer from the French team William Bon Mardion beat his teammate Xavier Gachet this Sunday 16 April at the end of this 5th Dynastar X3 Courchevel triathlon combining cycling (13.9 km/930 m elevation gain), trail running (6.3 km/180 m elevation gain) and ski mountaineering (4.8 km/180 m elevation gain). Trail runner and former triathlete Cédric Fleureton finished third. Stéphanie Duc won for the third time.

A brotherly embrace at 2,710 m of altitude. On the magnificent roof of Courchevel, the Saulire, winner William Bon Mardion waited for the arrival of his runner-up, Xavier Gachet, to congratulate him as soon as he crossed the line.

An image of true mountain communion marked the epilogue of the Dynastar X3 Courchevel. Between the two Beaufortain ski mountaineers, there is respect and friendship in pushing one’s limits.

Bon Mardion in discovery mode

Because you had to dig deep, sometimes very deep, to make it to the end of this extraordinary triathlon. It took more than 500 competitors from Le Carrey, the lowest point of Courchevel (830 m), to its highest point, by bike, on foot and then on skis. William Bon Mardion (1h56’12, new record) pushed his limits to be the first to receive the flower garland given to the “finishers”. “It was a great challenge and a first for me,” explained the (Individual) world champion and 2013 ski mountaineering World Cup winner, who had just come off a 5th (Individual) and a 12th (Vertical Race) place in the World Cup in Spain. “I had never pinned on a bib for a bike race. I was a bit in the unknown. I did well and I linked the stages well. My legs hurt a little at the start of the ski touring climb but I had made the effort to catch up with Yoann Sert (three-time winner in 2014, 2015 and 2016).

William, who will not compete in the Mezzalama Trophy next weekend, ended his winter on a positive note with a triathlon and a place on the podium, shared with his friend and patrol partner Xavier Gachet, delighted with the experience. “I ‘lost it’ on the bike because I didn’t have extraordinary legs. I got back into position on foot and went up on skis more or less as I know how to, even though I was ‘cooked’. I wasn’t in shape to go and race the Mezzalama Trophy, so William and I fell back on the Dynastar X3 Courchevel.” They did well!

DUC ALL THE WAY

Her silhouette bent by the terrible effort but her gaze fixed on the Saulire, Stéphanie Duc, in the middle of the procession of skiers, went out to take a win rewarding her versatility in cycling, trail running and ski mountaineering. The Savoyarde won this Dynastar X3 Courchevel for the third year ahead of Laurianne Placais and Marianna Jagercikova.

BY TEAMS

Perillat-Pessey finishes strongly

Cyclist from Isère and specialist in straight climbs Mikael Gallego had settled the matter on the Le Carrey – Courchevel 1850 climb, of which he holds the record. His partners, Adrien Michaud in trail running and Valentin Favre in ski mountaineering, then gave everything.

But there was an even stronger team than this shock trio yesterday to sweep the stakes at the top of the Saulire. The trio Simon Bellabouvier, Sébastien Fayolle and Joris Perillat-Pessey finished like a cannonball. Simon came out fifth on the bike, 2 minutes behind; “Seb” doubled his efforts on foot to put Joris on the right track. Imperious in the terrible snowy wall leading to the roof of the Courchevel pistes, the ski mountaineer from La Clusaz (second overall in the 2017 Espoir World Cup) was joined by his two partners to cross the line in first position, amid the din of an invasive sound system… “It’s a nice surprise, because on paper we were rather second behind a big team,” says Sébastien Fayolle, from the Tarn. “I limited the damage well on the trail leg; Adrien should have put a minute on me and in the end we’re almost level. That allowed Joris to make up the gap.”

After 3 consecutive wins, the team of Léna, Candice and Lorna Bonnel took second place. Despite their experience, they could not match the team of Maud Gobert (2011 trail running world champion), Elise Rouchy, winner of the 26 km of the 2017 Trail du Mont Ventoux, and Axelle Mollaret, reigning team and relay ski mountaineering world champion, who won in 2h14’53. Unbeaten in the mixed category since the origin of this triathlon, the Juillaguet family made up of Swann, Robin and Catherine took a 5th title.

See you for the 6th edition on Sunday 15 April 2018. Registration opens on 1 July 2017.

Source: David Magnat – Dauphiné Libéré