Act 6 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 17 January 2024

Lucille Germain wins the 6th round of the Millet Ski Touring 2024

A deluge of rain was forecast for this Wednesday 17 January and, as if by miracle, the 6th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel (MSTC) was able to go ahead as planned, spared by the raindrops. A boon for the 94 participants who were finally able to compete in very good conditions to climb the 3.2 km of the course with 500 m of elevation gain between Courchevel Le Praz and Courchevel on ski touring equipment. After 14 years of existence, this competition, which celebrated its 200th round last week, is arousing curiosity. It is clear that, since the start of the season, many new participants of all levels have come to discover the event. A fabulous concept that attracts everyone. The elites come to fight for the win among newcomers who quickly get caught up in the race against the clock in a very warm and friendly atmosphere, each episode of which is rounded off with a good soup from the cauldron. It should be noted that, for this 6th climb, all the competitors broke the one-hour barrier.

Crowned with a bronze medal at the 2023 French trail running championships and a team world title in short trail the same year, Lucille Germain, a member of the organising club Courchevel Sports Outdoor, won this 6th round of the MSTC in 29min39s and entered the top 10 of the provisional women’s overall standings (9th place), a ranking still led by Emily Harrop in 25min25s. Géraldine Bau could not complete the hat trick after her 2 initial victories, but she took a deserved second place in 32min40s. For the last step of the podium, Coralie Desages of the Maurienne Ski Alpinisme club had to dig deep in 34min06s to fend off the assaults of Erika Borg of the Valmorel sports club, a valiant 4th in 34min19s.

Paul Jay carries on from the French championship

After a brilliant French championship on this same course on 16 December 2023, capped by a 7th place in 23min20s, Paul Jay opened his account of victories in this 6th round and confirmed his lead in the provisional ranking of instructors. With a time of 24min03s, he finished ahead of Thibault Marquet, second in 24min45s, and the local of the stage Morgan Lamure, cross-country ski coach at the Courchevel sports club, 3rd in 25min27s.

Worth noting is the encouraging 4th place in 25min35s of Thibaut Garrivier, a member of the Hoka team, winner of the Transvulcania in 2019 and the CCC in 2021, not forgetting his 6th place in the 2023 UTMB. “It was the first time I had come to test myself on this event. I’m more comfortable over long distances, but it’s a great exercise for working on intensity. I’ll be back to try to do better,” he said after crossing the finish line.

2nd Plum special next week…

The full moon will be back for the 7th round, which will take place on Wednesday 24 January on the official MSTC course. For the occasion, a pair of Plum R150 bindings will be drawn by lot among all the competitors. There is no doubt that with such a lure, a great many contenders will be there to try their luck.

Next date: Millet Ski Touring Courchevel on Wednesday 24 January 2024