Round 5 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 8 January 2025

The 5th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel celebrates Twelfth Night

This Wednesday 8 January, Epiphany cakes were out in force at the finish of the 5th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel to celebrate Epiphany. After climbing the 3.2 km and 500 m of elevation gain of this Vertical Race course, the famous frangipane cakes delighted the 123 ski mountaineers present. The luckiest ones, who found the charms in their slices, were rewarded with a nice prize.

Since the start of the season, which began in full swing with a World Cup round, the Wednesdays have followed one another and the crowds show no sign of thinning. Quite the contrary: many new participants of all levels are coming to discover the event. Elite athletes compete 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 is rounded off with a good soup from the cauldron.

As at every round, the prize-giving ceremony ends with the traditional presentation of the ESF “La Trace” medals. To win the gold medal, you must finish under 33min30s; for vermeil, a time between 33min30 and 42min45s; for silver, between 42min45s and 52min; and for bronze, a time between 52min and 1h01min15s. The Finisher medal rewards performances slower than 1h01min15s.

Frédéric Perrin: King of the evening.

As is so often the case, the podium places are decided by the narrowest of margins. 20 seconds separate the first 3 of this round. The title of sovereign of this 5th round of the MSTC goes to Frédéric Perrin (BGSA), who takes the throne in 25min41s. He finished ahead of Gabriel Maurin (MSM), second in 25min59s, who edged Arnaud Chaboud (CMSAB) at the finish by 2 seconds. Jean-Christophe Bette, Olympic rowing champion in Sydney in 2000, is building up form, setting his best time of the season so far in 27min12s, good for 4th place. 

Spain’s Lula Martinez Perez crowned. 

An international podium in the women’s race. Spain’s Lula Martinez Perez took the queen’s crown in a time of 31min55s. Italy’s Martina Giachino , on her 3rd climb, gate-crashed the 2nd step in 25min47s. Nadège Allesinaz completed the podium in 36min36s, ahead of Clara Guenard (ESF Courchevel Village) in 36min44s. 

Brazilian atmosphere for the second full moon next Wednesday! 

After the Christmas and New Year festivities, the party continues. For the next 2 Wednesdays, Brazil will be in the spotlight. These rounds will be enlivened with batucadas and spiced up with nice surprises cooked up by the resort’s Tourist Office entertainment team. It is in this festive spirit, to the rhythm of samba, that the 6th round will be started under the season’s second full moon. Full moon means a Plum special: for the occasion, a pair of bindings from partner Plum will be given away in a prize draw at the end of the race. 

Next date: Millet Ski Touring Courchevel on Wednesday 15 January 2025