Round 12 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 15 March 2023

The final of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel 2023 is going to be phenomenal

After the postponement last week of the 11th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel because of heavy rain disturbances, the spirits of the organisers from the Courchevel Sports Outdoor club were back to fair this Wednesday 15 March, with the return of snow for the 12th and penultimate stage of the MSTC.

A very difficult season for the club president Guillaume Prin and his whole team, who, all winter, have had to roll up their sleeves to ensure all 12 rounds on the calendar went ahead in the face of a critical shortage of white gold. These efforts have been rewarded by Mother Nature, who has covered the 3.2 km (500 m of elevation gain) of the official course between Courchevel Le Praz and Courchevel Station with a fine layer of snow. With this lovely cover, the grand fancy-dress final will be able to take place in optimum conditions on Tuesday 21 March, with 600 ski tourers expected. Over the years, this ultra-festive finale has grown ever bigger, with surprising and elaborate costumes to the great delight of the spectators. Plenty of surprises will brighten up this magical, colourful parade, with a start scheduled for 6 pm. For all those who wish to watch the spectacle, it will then be possible to go up to the finish at Courchevel 1850 by the Praz gondola (free for the occasion) and come back down the same way to reach the Envolée gymnasium at the foot of the Olympic ski jumps and so enjoy the prize-giving, hosted by the race’s patron, Nelson Monfort from 8 pm, and attend the exceptional concert by the band Tryo scheduled for 9 pm.

Yoann Sert and Fiona Porte winners of the 12th round

Since the launch of this season 13 on Wednesday 21 December and up to today, 10 rounds have been run on the official course. The race for the places of honour has been very intense and eventful. With a level of performance that is becoming very high, and in order to keep creating enthusiasm among the elite of the discipline, the organisers have raised the prize money from €8,000 to €9,800 so as to reward the top 5 in the overall standings. Yoann Sert, in 5th position before the start of this 12th stage, knew he had to give everything to gain a few places if he wanted to consolidate his ranking. At the finish, he won by posting his best time of the winter, 22min36s, while remaining 5th in the provisional overall standings. Swann Juillaguet took second place in 23min59s, a performance that takes him into the top 10. The Pole Sebastian Druszkiewicz, revelation of the year, notched up a 6th podium in 24min35s ahead of Vincent Loustau (25min13s).

Among the women, Fiona Porte, winner in 2022 of the extraordinary Dynastar X3 Courchevel triathlon (a sequence of cycling, trail running and ski mountaineering) and of the Ultra Ski Touring Courchevel “Millet Everest”, produced the performance of the evening in 29min06s and entered the Top 5. She finished ahead of Sonia Brussoz (30min14s), Bérénice Jacques (37min11s) and Lola Even (37min39s).

Worth noting was the fine turnout of a UNSS group from the Reinach lycée in La Motte Servolex, who came in numbers to discover the race and its atmosphere.

On to the Final on Tuesday 21 March 2023

While 99% of participants will be there with a mainly festive aim, the same will not be true for the competitors concerned by the overall standings in each category. A good part of the French ski mountaineering team, led by the 2023 Pierra Menta winners, Axelle Gachet-Mollaret and Emily Harrop, a member of the Courchevel Sports Outdoor club, and a few international athletes, including the event record holder, the Swiss Rémi Bonnet, will be present to put the finishing touch to this season. There is no doubt that the current hierarchy may well be upset.

Next and last date: Final of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel 2023 on Tuesday 21 March.