Round 2 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Thursday 1 January 2026

2026 gets off to a flying start with round 2 of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel

The year 2026 got off to a sporty start in the Courchevel resort with the second round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel, which brought together 193 ski mountaineers, including Estonia’s first participation with 2 competitors: Krolova Phil Olga and Phil Hannes. This record turnout for the start of a year bodes well for a very promising rest of the season for this 16th edition. On top of the 2026 New Year’s resolutions, the competition will step up a gear again as the ski mountaineering World Cup approaches, scheduled for Friday 16 January, the day after the sprint event, along with the eagerly awaited return of the official course.

Idyllic conditions greeted competitors this Thursday 1 January for the 2.6 km and 500 m of elevation gain of the MSTC alternative course. The climb to the top of the Loze relay, culminating at 2,249 metres above sea level, ended under a magnificent moonlight, with an exceptional view over the illuminated resort and the lights of the villages on the opposite slope.

Vincent Loustau and Mathilde Vidoni start the year at the top of the podium.

Vincent Loustau of Team Vibram, after finishing second last week, took the win in 21 min 44 s. “It had been at least two years since I last won a round. I’m very happy to start the year like this, on this alternative course that I find very pretty, with this finish above Courchevel, even more special tonight with the almost full moon,” he said at the finish. 

He was hotly pursued by Adrien Perret , second in 21 min 57 s. The last step of the podium was fiercely contested. At the finish, Edgar Cognaud of the Club des Sports de Valmorel proved the fastest in 23 min 43 s, ahead of Swiss Courchevel instructor Jean Hugard, fourth in 23min48s, and MSTC regular Sebastian Drusziewicz, fifth in 23min 54s. A nod to Henri Thurier, who was already present at the first MSTC climb on 8 December 2010.

Among the women, the battle was intense, with the first 4 within 40 seconds of each other. Mathilde Vidoni of the Club des Sports de Méribel begins 2026 on the highest step of the podium with a time of 29 min 24 s, ahead of Agathe Fiorucci, a ski instructor at ESF Les Menuires, second in 29 min 42 s, and Lou Portes of Praz de Lys Sommand, third in 29 min 46 s. Elise Perrin, a member of BGSA, took a fine fourth place in 30min 06s.

Next week, the queens and kings will be in the spotlight.

After these first two rounds held on Thursdays, the MSTC will return to its cruising rhythm every Wednesday until the great fancy-dress final scheduled for Wednesday 25 February, with the concert byOfenbach as the highlight. Before this eagerly awaited evening, there will be some lovely surprises. From next Wednesday, the traditional galette des rois will reward all competitors at the finish to celebrate Epiphany.

Participants lucky enough to find a bean will win a prize. In addition, as in every full-moon week, the first Plum special of the season will offer the chance to win, by prize draw, three pairs of Plum bindings.

Next event: Millet Ski Touring Courchevel, Wednesday 7 January 2026.