Act 6 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 21 January 2015

The 6th Millet Ski Touring Courchevel for Yoann Sert and Véronique Lathuraz.

The renown of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel (MSTC) extends beyond the borders of France, with more and more nationalities represented among the competitors. This ski mountaineering Vertical Race on a course of 3.2 km with 500 m of elevation gain, created in December 2010 by the association "Courchevel Sports Alpinisme", is enjoying greater and greater success over the years. Already 322 ski mountaineers are currently classified after 4 stages validated on the official MSTC course, with Kilian Jornet still at the top of the overall standings in 22min01s and Véronique Lathuraz in 33min50s. For this 6th stage of the season, Lebanon was in the spotlight with about ten Lebanese participants present. A total change of scene for Elia Samaha and Monique Chebil, on holiday in the resort, who made the most of this night climb on skins, bringing up the rear.

Among the 126 ski mountaineers entered this Wednesday 21 January, it was also hard not to notice that many Corsicans were there with their very distinctive accent. While waiting for their actual start in this time trial, they created a wild atmosphere. But it was neither the Lebanese nor the Corsicans who had the last word, but Yoann Sert, who won the stage in 24min23s. Next came Julien Poquet (24min56s) and Rémi Berchet (26min12s).

Véronique Lathuraz took the opportunity to lower by 2 seconds the women’s record she has held since last week, finishing in 33min50s. "I think this is the last time I’ll be at the top of the women’s ranking, because next week Corinne Favre told me she was coming," Véronique told us with a smile at the prize-giving. Christine Gachet came second (35min16s) and with a time of 35min29s Elise Perrin completed the podium.

In the ESF challenge ranking, it was Grégory Nantermoz of ESF Arêches who won for the second time in 27min30s and Pauline Caillet of ESF Courchevel 1850 in 39min17s. Tony Portanier of ESF Courchevel 1550 kept the lead of the ESF challenge overall standings in 25min23s, as did Corine Chauchaix of ESF Arêches in 34min58s.

Among the youngest, in the class of 2004 we find Benoit Robinson of the Club des Sports de Courchevel in 48min46s and Noé Sullice in 49min04s, accompanied by his father Jean-Marc.

The president of the Amicale Cycliste de Courchevel, Patrice Rey, made his big return, starting this season cautiously in 1h00min56s, a baseline time that will allow him to reach his personal record set in 2014 in 47min56s.

The Argentinian Florencia Malbran, owner of the artisan chocolate maker "Piste Noire" in Courchevel, finished in 1h02min23s. Delighted by this event, Florencia asked to become a partner of the race so that all participants could taste her light, authentic and highly traditional chocolates at the aid stations all season long.

For the first time, the winning duo of the 1998 Pierra Menta, Sébastien Figliolini and Pierre Roger Blanc, had each taken a bib. As had Jean-Pierre Millet, who this time did not do the climb as a spectator but as a runner, with a very fine time of 43min10s, congratulating all the participants and organisers at the prize-giving.

Two races on the programme next week, with the 7th stage of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel on Wednesday 28 January and the 1,000 m of elevation gain of the Vertical Kilometre (VK) in the 2nd stage of the "Plum KV Courchevel" on Friday 30 January, on the new course approved for French VK ski mountaineering records.

2nd Grand Slam next week.

In the weeks when the MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL (MSTC) and the PLUM KV COURCHEVEL (PKVC) are organised, a ranking is drawn up for those who complete the “Grand Slam” (taking part in the 2 events in the same week).

Next week, the "Grand Slam" will take into account the combined times of the MSTC on Wednesday 28 January and the times of the PKVC on Friday 30 January. In the 1st Grand Slam, held in the first week of January, 28 competitors had completed both races. After adding the times together, Benjamin Bade had set the best time in 1h22min31s and Véronique Lathuraz had won among the women in 1h39min58s.