ROUND 6 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 30 January 2019

Millet Ski Touring Courchevel: Yoann Sert and Corinne Favre still ahead after the 6th round.

Winter Wednesdays mean “the Millet”, as many call it. For 9 years, the “Millet Ski Touring Courchevel” has been the unmissable rendezvous for ski mountaineering enthusiasts: a name that resonates across mainland France and a reputation that reaches well beyond our borders. This Vertical Race event has become an undisputed reference in the world of this sport. On this 3.2 km course with 500 m of elevation gain between Le Praz and Courchevel 1850, the 2012 and 2013 French championships and a stage of the 2014 World Cup were organised to general satisfaction. The greatest athletes in the discipline have come to measure themselves on this course, such as the Spaniard Kilian Jornet​ and our compatriot Laetitia Roux​, who still hold the all-time records in respective times of 22min01s and 25min31. The Swiss Marti Werner, winner in 2017, and Rémi Bonnet in 2018 took the top 2 places in the Vertical Race event at the 2nd stage of the 2019 ski mountaineering World Cup at Fort Blanca in Andorra last weekend. Axelle Gachet Mollaret, double reigning record holder, took the 1st World Cup stage in the Individual event at Bischofshofen in Austria on 20 January. After the 3rd World Cup stage, which takes place this weekend in the Dévoluy, there is no doubt we will see the international elite return to the start of the next rounds of the 9th edition of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel.

Yoann Sert and Véronique Lathuraz, winners of the 6th round.

In the meantime, Yoann Sert grabbed a second win of the season in 23min29s, coming within 3 seconds of his record, and remains in pole position overall. Arthur Blanc of the ESF Arêches hung on in second position (stage in 24min19s and overall standings) but keeps the lead in the ESF challenge. Sébastien Fayolle completed the podium in 25min30s.

The fight was intense among the women, where the top 3 were within 24 seconds. Véronique Lathuraz took her 1st win of the season in 32min14s ahead of Elsa Nodet (32min18s) and Stéphanie Pommat (32min38s). No change in the overall standings: Corinne Favre keeps the lead in 28min16s ahead of Lorna Bonnel (28min24s), who won her first international medal last weekend, with 3rd place in the Individual at the Fort Blanca World Cup.

Special evening in support of Courchevel seasonal workers affected by the fire.

This 6th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel was dedicated to the Courchevel seasonal workers affected by the tragic fire of 20 January, a kind message of support and solidarity highlighted by the Mayor of Courchevel, Philippe Mugnier, who also came to take part in the event.

The entirety of the registration fees of the 110 participants and a few donations allowed Guillaume Prin, president of the organising club “Courchevel Sports Outdoor”, to present a cheque for €1,000 to the association “Lions Club Courchevel Tarentaise”, which will pass it on to the victims.

Next week will be an opportunity to take stock at mid-season after 7 rounds. The countdown will then begin to the grand fancy-dress final on Wednesday 20 March, followed by an exceptional concert by the band Magic System who, after setting the place alight at the 2018 football World Cup, will bring a wild atmosphere to close this season in style. An evening not to be missed under any circumstances! Tickets are on sale online on the race website for spectators and participants and, from 10 February, at the resort’s tourist offices and at the Forum ice rink office in Courchevel 1850.