ACT 13 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 11 March 2020

Victory for Yoann Sert and Candice Bonnel ahead of the grand final of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel 2020

The final stretch before the grand final! All the conditions were in place for the 13th and penultimate round of this 10th season to be perfect, but a refreeze in places on the course a few minutes before the first start had a negative impact on glide, forcing the 115 ski mountaineers present to work their arms so as not to slide back. That said, very good times were set by a good number of runners who gave it their all before coming to celebrate next Wednesday the “Décima” of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel with the traditional fancy-dress climb followed by the concert by the famous Shy’m.

With the legendary Pierra Menta cancelled, this penultimate round of the MSTC season benefited from an influx of competitors who came to maintain their fitness. Among them were Gédéon Pochat and Yoann Sert, respectively 3rd and 4th in the provisional overall standings in 22min02s and 22min07s. In this fratricidal duel, Yoann in 22min30s got the better of Gédéon, who crossed the line 31 seconds later without being able to dislodge him in the overall standings. Julien Bernaz completed the podium of this 13th round in 24min03s. There is no doubt that at the final scheduled for 18 March the fight will be intense: the top 4, led by Switzerland’s Rémi Bonnet, are within less than a minute of each other, not counting the other contenders.

In the women’s race, fine progress from Candice Bonnel, who recorded, with a time of 28min23s, her 2nd victory in 3 appearances this season and rose to 6th place in the provisional top 10. She beat Laura Deplanche in a sprint, who lost out by 3 small seconds. Alice Niemaz Portanier, a member of Courchevel Sport Outdoor, put up fine resistance with a 3rd place in 31min58s. In the overall standings, no change among the leading trio: Axelle Mollaret Gachet keeps the lead in 25min45s ahead of Jessica Pardin (27min17s) and Marianna Jagercikova (27min49s).

International recognition for the MSTC

This 3.2 km Vertical Race course with 500 m of elevation gain between Le Praz and La Croisette de Courchevel has won international renown since its creation in 2011. As proof, the route hosted the French Championships in 2012 and 2013 as well as a World Cup round in 2014. The roll of honour of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel is eloquent, with the world’s elite of the specialty: Spain’s Mireia Miro Varela (2011), Laetitia Roux (2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016), Sweden’s Emelie Forsberg (2013) and Axelle Gachet-Mollaret (2017, 2018 and 2019) in the women’s race, Yannick Buffet (2011 and 2012), Mathéo Jacquemoud (2013 and 2016), Catalonia’s Kilian Jornet (2014 and 2015) as well as Switzerland’s Marti Werner (2017) and Rémi Bonnet (2018 and 2019) in the men’s race. This 10th season is no exception, with the 2 title holders currently in the lead.

Wednesday 18 March 2020: Grand ski mountaineering celebration.

With many elites of the discipline attending in fancy dress, but without forgetting the sporting criterion, the final fight will be intense and … festive. In this context, nothing is settled for the final podiums and the €8,000 of prize money and €4,800 of shopping vouchers at stake, although most competitors will come simply to unwind and enjoy this exceptional evening.

Having been the youngest artist to play 3 times at Paris Bercy and to have headlined hundreds of Zeniths across Europe, Shy’m, the artist with 2 million albums sold, 400 million views on YouTube, 3 NRJ Music Awards and 5 million fans online, will be right alongside the participants for an exceptional concert in Courchevel on Wednesday 18 March 2020 for the final and the 10th anniversary of the “Millet Ski Touring Courchevel”!

For this great ski mountaineering celebration, which will bring together around 400 participants and as many spectators, Guillaume Prin, president of Courchevel Sports Outdoor Montagne et Escalade, and his whole team will do everything to make the evening a success. The start of the traditional fancy-dress climb is scheduled for 6 pm at Le Praz. Many surprises will liven up the start and finish areas. Spectators can come and cheer on the runners and admire their costumes, making use of the Le Praz gondola, free for the occasion and exceptionally open until 9 pm, to reach the finish at Courchevel 1850 and then come back down to Le Praz to enjoy the festivities at the l’Envolée sports hall. From 8 pm, the buffet will be open with the prize ceremony hosted by Ludovic Collet. At 9 pm, it is over to Shy’m, winner of season 2 of Dancing with the Stars and a jury member since, who will set the evening ablaze with her biggest hits to get you singing and dancing and to close this 2020 edition with a bang!

Next date: Millet Ski Touring Courchevel 2020 final / Shy’m concert: Wednesday 18 March