Round 13 - DYNAFIT SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - 27 February 2013

Mathéo Jacquemoud sets the bar high.

With the days getting longer as spring approaches, the 89 participants in this 13th round of the Dynafit Ski Touring Courchevel (DSTC) enjoyed a few minutes of daylight at the start of the race before falling into twilight to climb on touring skis the 3.2 km and 500 metres of elevation gain. For this new edition, mulled wine prepared the old-fashioned way in a cauldron over a wood fire awaited the competitors at the finish… a good remedy to motivate the troops. Even though the full moon was out, Hervé Bodeau , representative of the brand Petzl, partner of the race, still switched on his headtorch to enjoy this exceptional setting for 46min02s. Brittany was also in the spotlight with the brilliant participation of Malo Lions. At only 11 years old, he completed the course with a very good time of 43min28s, beating along the way Vincent Lalanne (52min06s), director of the Three Valleys association, who took the opportunity to make this climb with his wife Magali.

Kilian Jornet Burgada’s record has fallen!

Before the final on 27 March, Wednesdays are now numbered for the elites of the discipline who wish to take the season record. Mathéo Jacquemoud of team Ecrin Hautes Alpes, on his way to blowing everything up this year in ski mountaineering with, among other things, four world champion titles and two medals won at the worlds 2 weeks ago in the southern Alps, had only one idea in mind: to take back the record held until now by Kilian Jornet in 22min48s.

Setting off from Le Praz 2 minutes after his main rival Yann Gachet of the Chamonix club, French champion in the Sprint event on 3 February in Courchevel, Mathéo closed the gap 1.2 km from the finish, leaving his pursuers no chance. “It’s crazy, he runs all the way,” exclaimed the marshals placed on the course over the radio, who could not believe it. As he crossed the finish line the clock showed 22min40s, 8 seconds better than Kilian! Mathéo Jacquemoud becomes the new DSTC leader with 4 Wednesdays to go before the final. Yann Gachet came second in 26min23s and Thierry Jorioz of the Courchevel Sports Alpinisme club took third place in 26min47s.

Among the girls, Claude Chenal won in 35min07s ahead of Mireille Bartnicki of CAF Albertville in 38min21s and Pauline Caillet in 39min21s.

Next Wednesday, at the 14th DSTC, it will be the occasion for the organising association “Courchevel Sports Alpinisme” and the participants to celebrate the 50th climb of this competition launched on 8 December 2010.