Dynastar X3 Courchevel 2023: records fell for the 10th anniversary.
Best team time improved by more than 4 minutes!
Dynastar X3 Courchevel 2023: records fell for the 10th anniversary.
A few days before the start, the return of winter had cast doubt over the weather conditions for this 10th edition of the extraordinary Dynastar X3 Courchevel triathlon. As every year, the start line brought together athletes with very different profiles, cycling, trail running or ski mountaineering specialists, who come to test themselves in this event, unique in the world. On Sunday 16 April, despite wintry temperatures, no fewer than 400 participants took up the challenge. On the menu: 13.9 km and 930 m of elevation on the bike, followed by 6.3 km and 180 m of elevation gain in snow trail running, finishing with 4.8 km and 950 m of elevation in ski mountaineering, a sequence to be completed solo or in a team of three.
From the start, Arthur Blanc, the young cyclist and ski mountaineer from Arêches, set the tone and quickly opened up a gap. With a time of 36'32'50 to reach la Croisette from le Carrey, he won unanimous praise for his climbing talents. The old record held by Mikael Gallego since 2017 was beaten by 3'11, a performance that not only impressed the connoisseurs but also gave a definite advantage to his team, made up of the talented young Baptiste Ellmenreich for the trail running leg and Julien Bernaz for the ski mountaineering leg. In the end, this men’s trio won with a full 13 minutes in hand, improving the best team time by more than 4 minutes!
5th title for Yoann Sert.
If there was still doubt the day before about conditions favourable to fast times, the stratospheric performance of regular Yoann Sert proves otherwise. Coming within 4 seconds of the solo event record (William Bon Mardion in 1h56'12), he proves he has found his form again after a difficult winter. He honoured his 5th title in the event with panache, ahead of the ultra trail and ski mountaineering specialist Aurélien Dunand Pallaz, who came to work on intensity in a “short” event compared with his objectives. After 2h01'17 of racing, Aurélien can look to the trail running season with confidence. He will soon be seen again in his preferred formats, namely the Maxi Race at the end of May and the Hardrock in July (US). Despite good resistance (he was still second after the trail), Jocelyn Verdenal secured 3rd place in 2h01'53, hard on the heels of one of the 2023 revelations of the MSTC, the Pole Sebastian Druszkiewicz, 4th in 2h02'53.
Fiona Porte confirms.
On the women’s side, the battle raged between 2 former winners: the cyclist and ski mountaineer Laura Deplanche, winner in 2019 and 2021, and the trail runner Fiona Porte, the title holder. Despite a 23-second lead after the cycling leg, Laura had some difficulty in the trail transition and left the lead to Fiona on leaving the transition area. Fiona kept that position thanks to her ski mountaineering qualities and won with a total time of 2h23'59. Laura Deplanche kept 2nd place on the podium in 2h32'18 ahead of Romane Lafarge, the skier from Grenoble, credited with 2h39'28.
Another fine edition of this mountain triathlon, where everyone was able to test their form, take on the best and challenge themselves across the different legs. Despite the cold and the fog, the performances were certainly there. The prize-giving took place in the warmth over a traditional Savoyard meal, in a sporting and lively atmosphere of the kind we enjoy. This triathlon marks the end of the winter season for the Courchevel Sports Outdoor club. Now it is time for everyone to recover, before thinking about the summer competitions ahead, which promise to be rich in sharing and emotion once again.
The 11th edition of the “Dynastar X3 Courchevel” will take place on Sunday 14 April 2024, but before that, the dates are Monday 17 July for the “Ascension du Tour” by bike, Sunday 23 July for the “Millet XTrail Courchevel” and Sunday 13 August for the extraordinary summer triathlon “Mizuno X3 Courchevel”, combining indoor rowing, cycling and trail running.
Report: Fiona Porte
