ACT 11 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 6 March 2019

A shower of records and an exceptional field in the 11th round of the 2019 Millet Ski Touring Courchevel.

On Wednesday 6 March, part of the international elite had gathered at the start of the 11th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel (MSTC). One week before the ski mountaineering World Championships in Villars sur Ollon in Switzerland and the start of the Pierra Menta, several athletes had decided to come and test themselves one last time at high intensity on this 500 m elevation gain, 3.2 km Vertical Race course, which has been the benchmark for 9 years.

The records of Kilian Jornet and Laetitia Roux had a scare!

The Swiss Rémi Bonnet of team Salomon Red Bull, winner of the 2018 edition of the MSCT in 22min11s, clocked 22min05s, 4 seconds off the event’s absolute record held by Kilian Jornet in 22min01s since 2015. "I took my skis off halfway up, which cost me a bit of time. I’ll be back for the final on 20 March to beat Kilian’s record," he told us at the finish. The reigning French champion Xavier Gachet defended himself well by reaching the 2nd step of the podium with a superb 22min41s ahead of the 10th round winner William Bon Mardion in 23min09s. Gédéon Pochat, 3rd overall in 2018, finished in 4th position with a time of 23min27s. On his first participation, François D’Haene winner of the 2017 UTMB, took 5th place in 23min33s, good training before setting off next week on the Pierra Menta with his teammate Alexis Traub, who placed 8th in 24min52s. The reigning French long-distance Trail champion Aurélien Dunand Pallaz placed 6th in 24min26s, not forgetting the 2000 Olympic rowing champion, Jean-Christophe Bette, 13th in 26min26s. The podium of this 11th stage sets the new reference in the provisional overall standings, but the previous holders Joris Périllat-Pessey and Yoann Sert have not said their last word.

Among the women, having taken the 2017 (27min23s) and 2018 (25min51s) records, ski mountaineering world champion Axelle Mollaret came within 7s of her best time with 25min58s. The all-time record held by Laetitia Roux in 25min31s wobbled and may be threatened at the 20 March final, with a royal field announced. Corinne Favre took 2nd place in 29min06s ahead of Sophie Mollard in 30min38s. In the provisional overall standings, Axelle Mollaret naturally takes the lead ahead of the Russian Ekaterina Oschkina and Laura Deplanche.

A very special mention to 12 diligent competitors who have completed all 11 climbs since the start of the season: the mayor of Courchevel, Philippe Mugnier, Nicolas Mater and Pascale Gachet-Mauroz of the ESF in Courchevel Village, Arthur André, Mickael Chapuis, Roland Durand-Terrasson, director of Radio R’Courchevel, Jérémie François, Bernard Domergue of the ESF Aime 2000, Laetitia Renard and Philippe Mottier of the S3V, Laurent Vially and Stéphanie Pommat.

Among the ESF instructors, no notable change: Laura Deplanche (La Toussuire) in 27min32s and Joris Perillat-Pessey (La Clusaz) in 23min15 retain the lead.

Next week, the 12th and penultimate round of the MSTC will certainly be an opportunity for amateurs to come and grab the top podium places in the absence of the discipline’s heavyweights, who are committed to the World Championships and the Pierra Menta. For this 9th edition of the “Millet”, the suspense will remain intact until the epilogue of the grand final on 20 March, with €8,000 of prize money and €4,800 of vouchers at stake. At this great celebration of ski mountaineering, which will take place on the first day of spring, fancy dress will be compulsory for participants, with many surprises to enliven the evening. The mass start of the race is set for 6 pm and the festivities will begin at 8 pm with the official prize-giving. From 9 pm, the band Magic System will set the place ablaze amid glitter and confetti. The concert is open to all, participants and spectators.