ROUND 10 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 22 February 2017

Yoann Sert and Sophie Mollard win the 10th Millet Ski Touring Courchevel 2017.

A lovely starry evening awaited the 117 ski tourers present for this 10th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel on Wednesday 22 February. This 3.2 km Vertical Race track with 500 m of elevation gain between Le Praz and Courchevel 1850 had been masterfully prepared the day before by Régis Chevassu and Bernard Chardon, the official groomers of the permanent ski mountaineering routes in Courchevel. With the intense heat of recent days followed by overnight frosts, the lovely velvet carpet was dotted, in the steepest sections, with icy patches that handicapped the greenest. Indeed, for these less experienced competitors, the reflex is to turn the skis out in a “duck” position or onto their edges, which cancels the grip of the climbing skins. In this situation, a fall becomes inevitable. Fortunately Roland Georges, president of the Courchevel Guides' Office, who is on the course every Wednesday, was able to provide valuable advice and help everyone reach the finish with a smile. Proof of this is Ramzi Omais, originally from Côte d’Ivoire. He finished at the back of the pack in 1h39min38s, accompanied by his instructor Jérémy Guntz of ESF Courchevel 1550 and cheered on by his Ivorian and Cameroonian friends. “In Côte d’Ivoire, we’re not used to doing physical activity at such an altitude, still less with snow, it’s 30 degrees all year round! In any case, it’s a superb experience and the organisation is top-notch!” he told us under the finish arch.

At the front of the race, there was no messing about. Yoann Sert took the evening’s overall win in 23min55s and settled into 3rd place in the provisional overall standings behind Florent Perrier and Mathéo Jacquemoud. For this 10th round, the podium was completed by Sébastien Fayolle in 24min43s and Julien Lodolo in 25min33s.

Among the women, Sophie Mollard won in 30min46s ahead of Véronique Lathuraz (32min42s) and Claude Chenal (35min28s).

In the ESF challenge, wins went to Frédéric Glez of ESF Peisey Vallandry in 28min06s and Pauline Caillet of ESF Courchevel 1850 in 35min48s.

Note the fine performance of cadet Malo Lions (born in 2002), who comes every year from Brittany with his family to take part in this race. With a time of 29min40s, he set a new personal record, a nice time that he will surely improve next season.

At the prize-giving for this 10th stage, Guillaume Prin , president of the organising club “Courchevel Sports Outdoor Mountaineering and Climbing”, presented the René and Raymond Millet 2017 crystal trophies (the founders of the Millet company, official partner of the event). They will be presented to the men’s and women’s winners of 2017 with a cheque for €2,000 at the grand fancy-dress final on Thursday 23 March, with Patrick Sébastien as guest star, who will put on his show to close this ski mountaineering season in a flourish.

From next Wednesday, all runners registered for the final climb on 23 March will get a free registration to choose from among the races of 1, 8 or 15 March. And to start getting into the mood, on 1 March, the 11th stage of the epic, a “Fat Wednesday” special is scheduled with plenty of surprises.