ROUND 13 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 2 March 2022

Return of Kilian Jornet Burgada to the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel

An exceptional 13th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel this Wednesday 2 March, with 128 participants and a dream field. A week before the legendary Pierra Menta, many favourites were at the start gate to get a good intensity session in, with the aim of the season record on this Vertical Race (VR) event. For the U20 category, this round also served as a selection event for the next World Cup Vertical Race, to be held in early April in Flaine. In that respect, Maurienne’s Anselme Damevin, 5th in 23min14s, and Louna Dupont, 3rd in 31min36s, stood out.

After winning the MSTC in 2014 and 2015, with a record of 22min01s that stood until 2020, Catalonia’s Kilian Jornet Burgada was making his comeback with the firm intention of improving his reference time before going to compete in the Pierra Menta with Austria’s Jakob Herrmann to take a 5th title in that competition. Facing him, the competition was there with Xavier Gachet, 2nd best performer in the MSTC in 21min37s, Yoann Sert 4th in the provisional overall standings in 22min21s, not forgetting Mathéo Jacquemoud, winner of the event in 2013 and 2016.

A royal podium and “cannon” performances

Everything was in place for an incredible evening, which lived up to expectations. These 4 musketeers finished within a handkerchief of each other, which upended the provisional overall standings. The palm went to Yoann Sert who won in 21min41s (3rd best performance of the race) and took the lead in the overall standings. Kilian Jornet Burgada broke the 22min barrier (21min53s), but missed the win by 12 seconds. Xavier Gachet took the last step of the podium in 22min05s, his reference time for the season. Without disgrace, Mathéo Jacquemoud continues his progression by once again improving his personal record (4th in 22min31). There is no doubt that this training canter will be beneficial ahead of the Pierra Menta.

Among the women, a double for Lorna Bonnel of the ESF of La Toussuire and member of the French ski mountaineering team. She won in 29min14s while consolidating her lead in the ESF standings. The two members of Team Isère Montagne, Perrine Gindre in 30min15s and Louna Dupont (31min36s) complete the podium.

In the end, a memorable round with optimal weather conditions. A little nod to our Belgian friends on holiday in the resort, who came in large numbers, notably Diego Saverys who was celebrating his 10th birthday (silver medal in 46min46s).

Fine surprises in prospect this weekend of 5 and 6 March

After the shake-up of the overall podium this Wednesday 2 March, the 14th MSTC round will be held on Saturday 5 March in parallel with the Ultra Ski Touring Courchevel.

A big weekend in prospect with the second edition of the Ultra Ski Touring Courchevel “Millet Everest”. This challenge will consist of linking climbs from Saturday 5 March at 1 pm until Sunday 6 March at 9 am to reach the summit of Everest starting from sea level, that is 9,000 m of elevation gain, equivalent to 18 MSTC in under 20 hours. This crazy challenge will allow each participant to find their limit. To win, you will need strategy in managing rest times, nutrition and changes of clothing between each ascent, because only the climbs will be timed. This challenge will be run in 2 phases:
- the 1st, known as the “M3000” qualification, will start at 1 pm on Saturday 5 March and end at 7 pm. In these first 6 hours of racing, 3,000 m of elevation gain must be climbed in order to continue the ascent by night. Once this qualification is validated, participants must observe a compulsory 2-hour acclimatisation period at the Everest Base Camp on the Courchevel snow front, where the film “Everest 2021” will be shown on a giant screen in the presence of Jonathan Lamy who made the ascent on 23 May 2021.
- the 2nd, known as the final ascent, will take place at night from 9 pm until sunrise at 9 am on Sunday 6 March. Athletes must complete the last 6,000 m in under 12 hours.

In parallel with this crazy challenge, the 14th round of the MSTC will take place from 6 pm on Saturday. The best of the 6 times set by the Millet Everest participants during the M3000 qualification phase will be counted for the standings of this round.

Louis Bertignac as the climax of the final on 23 March 2022

After the “Millet Everest”, there will be only 2 rounds left, on Wednesday 9 March and Friday 18 March, before the grand fancy-dress final and the concert by Louis Bertignac on Wednesday 23 March, to shake up the standings of this season 12. Given the calendar of international competitions, records could fall on the day of the final, according to the predictions of French team coach Thierry Galindo , present in Courchevel for this 13th round.

Next events: Millet Ski Touring Courchevel on Saturday 5 March 2022 and Ultra Ski Touring Courchevel on 5 and 6 March 2022