ROUND 8 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 4 February 2015

8th Millet Ski Touring Courchevel: new record for Stéphanie Duc and win for Yoann Sert.

This Wednesday 4 February the snow and weather conditions were ideal, allowing the 115 competitors present at this 8th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel (MSTC) to set a good time.

Stéphanie and Jérémie Gicquel opened the race by starting first in this time trial, after covering 2,045 km on ski touring skis to cross Antarctica in 73 days, 15 hours and 35 minutes. Just back from their “Across Antarctiqua 2014” expedition on Tuesday 27 January, Stéphanie and Jérémie still had some reserves left to complete this 8th MSTC in around 46 minutes. At the finish of this Vertical Race event of 3.2 km and 500 m of elevation gain they were given an ovation by the spectators. Around a small buffet organised for the occasion after the prize-giving, the competitors were able to share their adventure with them, and the mayor of Saint-Bon Courchevel, Philippe Mugnier, who arrived in a similar time, did not fail to congratulate them.

Those who blew the clock apart in this 8th round were Yoann Sert, who won in 23min59s, and the trail running champion Stéphanie Duc (6th at the world championships and French trail running champion in 2013), who took a new provisional record in 32min08s. These two champions will be among the favourites of the “Dynastar X3 Courchevel” triathlon (a combination of cycling, trail running and ski mountaineering) on 19 April, having won the 2013 edition for Stéphanie and 2014 for Yoann.

Second place went to Tony Portanier of ESF Courchevel 1550 in 24min47s and Charlotte Le Roux of ESF Le Grand Bornand in 32min41s. Tony and Charlotte are currently leading the provisional overall standings of the ESF challenge. Adrien Perret in 25min01s and Christine Gachet of team Isère Montagne in 34min58s completed the podium.

Halfway through the season, the countdown has begun for the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel, as only 7 Wednesdays now remain to come and do this ski touring race before the final, to be held on 25 March. From today, no more excuses for competitors who want to win the season’s record, improve their time or, for those who have not yet done so, come and take part.

Kilian Jornet and Stéphanie Duc in the lead.

At the halfway point, a short review is in order, with Kilian Jornet (22min01s) at the top of the provisional overall standings, followed by Yoann Sert (23min50s) and Florent Perrier (24min44s). Among the women, the best performance is by Stéphanie Duc (32min08s), followed by Charlotte Le Roux (32min20s) and Géraldine Bau(33min34s).

By category, the current leaders among the Benjamins are: Benoit Robinson (48min46s) and Lys Girard (1h30min14s); among the Minimes: Chiara Marhic (52min57s); among the Cadets: Victor Romanet(30min55s) and Chloé Joly (39min53s); among the Juniors: Thomas Angeli (26min46s) and Clarisse Monnet(43min51s); among the Espoirs: Joris Perillat Pessez (25min30s) and Laurie Renoton (34min16s); among the Seniors: Kilian Jornet (22min01) and Charlotte Le Roux (32min20s); and among the Veterans: Florent Perrier(24min44s) and Stéphanie Duc (32min08s).