Act 8 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 1 February 2023

8th Millet Ski Touring Courchevel: the record hunt is well and truly under way!

Success was once again on the cards for this 8th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel, held this Wednesday 1 February with 110 ski mountaineers at the start of this vertical race open to all levels. Conditions were perfect for covering the 3.2 km and 500 m of elevation gain by the light of an almost full moon, with, at the finish, delicious pancakes offered to mark Candlemas and prepared by 2 loyal participants, Nathalie Langeard and Gilles Poirier. For this second "Full Moon" of the season, the pair of R150 bindings from partner Plum was won in a prize draw among all the participants by Jean-Michel Dumollard. After the excitement last week on the women’s side, with the new provisional record of the season set by Axelle Gachet Mollaret in 24min12s, the battle of the giants focused on the men: the top 3 were separated by only about twenty seconds, with blistering times.

Gédéon Pochat confirms and goes under the 22-minute barrier

This climb marks the mid-season before a short 2-week break due to the organisation of the Alpine Skiing World Championships. At this stage of the competition, peak form is starting to be at its best for the discipline’s elite.

Proof of this is the reigning French Vertical Race runner-up Gédéon Pochat, who, after finishing 5th in the World Cup Vertical Race held in Andorra on 22 January, produces a fine feat by being the first to go under the 22-minute barrier this season. With a time of 21min56s, he gets within 6 seconds of his personal best set in 2021. This magnificent performance was applauded by all the participants because only 6 athletes have managed to go under 22 minutes since the origin of the race (13 years) and only one has crossed the 21-minute mark, the Swiss Rémi Bonnet, 20min34s in 2022.

Samuel Equy, long-distance Ski Mountaineering World Champion, takes second place in 22min08s after a fierce battle with the American Cameron Smith, who arrives 9 seconds later in 22min17s. It should be noted that this podium forms the provisional overall standings, the American Jim Wamsley being relegated to the foot of the podium.

The trail runners were also there in force, with Anthony Felber of team Sidas Matrix (23min57s), Vincent Loustau of team Vibram, 3rd at the 2022 French Vertical Kilometre championship (24min21s), Rémi Berchet of team Scott (24min5s) and Julien Chorier of team Hoka, two-time winner of the Diagonale des Fous and 6th at the 2022 Marathon des Sables (26min50s).

Lucille Germain opens her tally

New manager of the Trail Running section of the Courchevel Sports Outdoor club, Lucille Germain, mountain running team World Champion and French Under-23 mountain running champion in 2019, takes the win in 29min25s. A member of team Sidas Matrix, Lucille is currently in the thick of preparing for the French trail running championships, to be held on 18 and 19 March, with the aim of selection for the trail running World Championships in Austria.

Marie Brottet finishes second with a time of 31min03s. Hundredths of a second were needed to separate Clémence Gindre (3rd) and Mathilde Gillet (4th), both timed at 33min11s.

A second half of the season that promises to be captivating and festive

The season will resume its normal course on Wednesday 22 February with a special "Mercredi Gras" in partnership with the company Dynastar. For the occasion, a ski test (piste/all-round/touring) will be held all day on the snow front at La Croisette, located at the finish of the race. A pair of Dynastar Vertical 82 skis with matching skins will be drawn by lot from among all the participants who are in costume. A good excuse to start sharpening the costumes ahead of the great final on Tuesday 21 March, which promises to be grandiose with the exceptional concert by the band Tryo to round off this 2023 edition.

Next date: 9th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel on Wednesday 22 February