Round 6 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 15 January 2025

Full moon for the 6th Millet Ski Touring Courchevel of 2025

This Wednesday 15 January, a lovely starry evening, made even more beautiful by the full moon, awaited the 136 ski mountaineers at the start of the 6th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel. For this 15th season, 4 special “Full Moon” rounds are scheduled, with a pair of R120 ski mountaineering bindings from partner brand Plum to be won in a prize draw among all participants at the end of each one. Célestin Georg-Monnier was the lucky winner. The next 2 climbs under the full moon will take place on Wednesday 12 February and Monday 10 March, the day of the big fancy-dress final. That evening promises to be phenomenal, with the Fatal Bazooka concert set to ignite this 15th edition with Michael Youn and his Morning Live accomplices, Benjamin Morgaine and Vincent Desagnat, not forgetting Big Ali, PZK and plenty of other surprises.

In sporting terms, this 15th edition is set to be the most competitive but also the most festive in the event’s history, hosting the Vertical Race World Cup to open the season and the Christmas and New Year festivities. This 6th round was run to the rhythm of samba to celebrate the arrival of Brazilian holidaymakers in the resort. A memorable evening put together with the participation ofAlexia Lainé, director of the Tourist Office, and her entertainment team, who had thought of everything: gifts for participants, decorations, batucadas. For the occasion, the president of the organising club Guillaume Prin brought out his transverse flute, accompanied by 2 other ESF Courchevel instructors, Christophe Pierre on guitar and Antoine Vacque on percussion, to liven up the aid station area before the prize-giving ceremony.

Thibault Marquet wins at the finish

As has often been the case since the start of the season, the men are battling for a place on the podium. The top 9 of this 6th round finished within just over a minute.

With a time of 24min22s, TDS 2024 winner Thibault Marquet came out on top after holding off the pressure from the two Pyrenean runners. Thomas Darrodes, winner of the last 2 editions of the Pyrenean Cup, was beaten by 2 seconds. “I came to do the French Vertical Race Championship in 2023, which was held on the alternative course, and I really wanted to come back to set a time on the official one, which has become the benchmark in the sport. I missed out on the win by a few seconds, but I’m very happy with the race and the atmosphere. I’ll have to come back to improve my time,” he said after crossing the finish line. Vincent Loustau of team Vibram, second in the 2nd stage on 25 December, completed the podium, improving his time by 20 seconds. 

First win of the season for Géraldine Bau  

After 3 second places this season and constant improvement in her performances, Géraldine Bau, an employee of the Société des 3 Vallées, stepped onto the top step of the podium in 31min12s. She was followed by Italy’s Martina Giachino in 34min11s and Lola Even Hibon in 34min51s. For these 2 loyal participants, the gold medal is no longer far away (33min30s). The places of honour went to local runners Clara Guenard of ESF Courchevel Village in 34min59s and Caroline Rainieri of Courchevel Sport Outdoor in 35min58s. 

Brazil will be in the spotlight again for the 7th round 

The mid-season review will come next Wednesday at the end of the 7th round, which promises to be lively once again with the arrival of the second wave of Brazilian holidaymakers in Courchevel. What surprises will the organisers have in store for us? 

Next date: Millet Ski Touring Courchevel on Wednesday 22 January 2025