Record turnout for the Dynastar X3 with more than 570 triathletes at the start of the 2018 edition

Record turnout for the Dynastar X3 with more than 570 triathletes at the start of the 2018 edition.

For this 6th edition, success will be at the rendezvous for this mountain version of the triathlon, the “Dynastar X3 Courchevel”, organised by the club “Courchevel Sports Outdoor”, with more than 570 participants at the start this Sunday 15 April. A record for this event, which has become unmissable for all mountain sports enthusiasts.

To complete this extraordinary competition, triathletes will have to link together, solo or in a relay team of three, a 13.9 km cycling climb (930 m of elevation gain) from the Carrey junction to Courchevel 1850, where the base camp (discipline changeover) will be located, followed by a 6.3 km trail running course (180 m of elevation gain/loss), finishing with a 4.8 km ski mountaineering stage (950 m of elevation gain) with a finish at the Saulire in a Hawaiian atmosphere, with flower garlands presented to each competitor.

This innovative concept will allow the best specialists to fight for victory and amateurs to come and discover an exceptional setting, starting from the lowest point of the Courchevel resort (830 m) and finishing at its highest point (2,710 m), an elevation gain of 1,880 m.

The winners of the 2017 edition of the “Dynastar X3 Courchevel” will be there, with William Bon Mardion, 2013 world Individual ski mountaineering champion, overall World Cup winner the same year, 2nd in the 2017 Pierra Menta and holder of the “Dynastar X3 Courchevel” record in 1h56min, a performance set in 2017. In the women’s race, Stéphanie Duc, 2013 French Trail Running champion, will attempt to make it four after her successes in 2013, 2016 and 2017.

A quality field in this new edition.

Triple winner in 2014, 2015 and 2016, Yoann Sert, hampered by too fast a start on the bike last year, could not keep up the pace in ski mountaineering. He will try to return to the podium, as will the 2017 winner of the 54 km New Balance X-Trail Courchevel, Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz, with the experience of his 3rd place in 2016 and 4th last year. Ludovic Pommeret, also winner of the New Balance X-Trail 54 km in 2016, but above all UTMB winner in 2016, will be a serious contender for the top of the standings. On his 1st participation, Christophe Bassons should have no problems in the trail running and especially the cycling. On the other hand, ski touring will be a discovery. A great hope of French cycling in the 1990s, Christophe was a professional rider for six years. He notably experienced the Festina era, when his refusal to dope led to him being ostracised within the peloton. At the high point of the 1999 Tour de France, he suffered the cold anger of the peloton and the more vehement anger of Lance Armstrong in person, who ordered him in the middle of the race to leave the world of cycling. Christophe would be regarded as the Mr Clean of cycling. Disgusted, he retired in 2001 to deal with doping matters at the FFC. After a refreshing experience in trail running and mountain biking, he became master mountain biking world vice-champion in 2017. A return to triathlon for Tony Moulaï of the Team Trail Isostar. After a fine career in this discipline, crowned by a selection for the Beijing Olympics in 2008, he finished European vice-champion in 2008, relay world vice-champion and French champion in 2012. At the end of 2013, he took his 1st World Cup win in Tongyeong, at which point he announced his international retirement. He made a brief comeback at the 1st Xterra in Tahiti in 2015 with a fine third place. Since then, he has turned to trail running with convincing results: 5th at the 2017 French Trail Running Championships, winner of the 2018 Winter Trail, 12th at the 2018 Trans Gran Canaria and 10th at the 2018 Trail du Ventoux. Jean-Christophe Bette, the most decorated rower in French rowing, with a gold medal at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 and 5 world champion titles to his name, will also be among those aiming for the podium. Among the outsiders, Vincent Delebarre, UTMB winner in 2004, 2nd in 2005 and 3rd in 2006, should also make his mark, as should Arnaud Mazet, Nicolas Raybaud and the local of the stage Sébastien Figliolini, winner of the Pierra Menta in 1998. The fight promises to be fierce, not counting the likely surprises on this selective course.

In the women’s race, Stéphanie Duc will have her work cut out to keep her title. Laurianne Plaçais, 2nd overall in 2017 and above all holder of the best women’s time in the cycling stage in 50min45s, will challenge for the top step of the podium, as will Marianna Jagercikova, 3rd last year, not forgetting Corinne Favre, 1998 Skyrunning world champion and a regular at this triathlon: 3rd solo in 2015 and 4th in 2017, 2nd in a team in 2016. The outsiders have not said their last word: Alexandra Borrelly, 2015 world 40/44 cross triathlon champion and 3rd in the race in 2016, Mélanie Jeannerod and Catherine Juillaguet, who will compete solo this year after winning all the previous editions in the mixed team.

In the team events, Simon Bellabouvier, men’s team winner in 2017, will be joined this year by Clément Mugnier in the trail running and Benoit Molliet in the ski mountaineering. Also to watch is the cyclist Julien Lodolo, winner of the 2017 Haute Route Mont Ventoux, with Léo Rochaix (trail running) and Pierre-François Gachet (ski mountaineering). The surprise could come from the local trio made up of the biathlete Morgan Lamure on the bike, Jean-Baptiste Curtet in the trail running and William Perrier in the ski mountaineering

In the women’s trios, 3rd last year, the team of Charlotte Le Roux on the bike, Pauline Le Roux in the trail running and Elsa Nodet in the ski mountaineering will be the benchmark team this year. They will have to reckon with the trio Pauline Ferrand (cycling), Patricia Serda (trail running) and Clarisse Monnet (ski mountaineering), not forgetting the threesome Anais Terrettaz (cycling), Alice Niemaz (trail running) and Laura Deplanche, a member of the French ski mountaineering team.

In the Mixed team event, the team “les Poulidor”, obviously 2nd for 2 years and made up of Laure-Anne Ferrent (Cycling), Nathan Jovet (Trail Running) and Eric David (Ski Mountaineering), will have to switch to “Anquetil” mode to win.

An excellent vintage for this 2018 edition and a spectacle in prospect: see you on Sunday 15 April to come and cheer on all these triathletes.