Round 3 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 7 January 2026

Wintry conditions to celebrate Candlemas  

On Wednesday 7 January, wintry conditions were back for round 3 of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel (MSTC), held once again on the alternative course. This full-moon evening also marked the launch of the first of the season’s 2 Plum special rounds, with three pairs of Plum bindings drawn by lot from among all the participants. The lucky winners were Lionnel Silvestre, Thomas Reversat and Jonathan Nivière. 

This round, organised as part of Candlemas, was all about conviviality: participants were able to enjoy traditional Epiphany galettes. The lucky finders of the beans were given lovely prizes. 

Since the start of the season, participation has been breaking records, despite the use of the alternative course. 121 ski mountaineers were on the start line, with a high-calibre field of athletes who came to test themselves before the Courchevel Ski Mountaineering World Cup. 

Paul Jay sets a new record on the MSTC alternative course

The performance of the evening was by Paul Jay, who set a new course record in 19 min 50 s. He finished ahead of 2026 U23 French Vertical Race champion Eliott Robin-Saje , credited with 20 min 01 s and separated by hundredths of a second (13) from Samuel Equy, the reigning French Vertical Race champion. 

4th place went to Simon Bellabouvier, an ESF Val d’Isère instructor, in 20 min 40 s. American John Rauen completed this top 5 in 21 min 17 s. These five athletes will compete in the Vertical Race World Cup on Friday 16 January in Courchevel. 

Among the women, the podium was international, with Clarisse Monnet (France) winning in 27 min 20 s, ahead of Martina Giachino (Italy) in 28 min 23 s and Ruut Joensuu (Finland) in 29 min 10 s. The top 5 was completed by 2 ESF Courchevel Village instructors, Clara Guenard (33 min 17 s) and Pauline Le Roux (33 min 42 s). 

Return of the official course for round 4 of the MSTC on 14 January 2026 

Next week looks set to be packed with ski mountaineering in Courchevel, with 3 days of competition. Good news: with the return of the snowflakes, the official course will make its grand comeback. 

The festivities will begin on Wednesday 14 January with round 4 of the MSTC, held on the legendary route, an absolute benchmark for 15 years, with 225 rounds held and 26,885 starts given. Many international athletes will be present to reconnoitre the course before the World Cup events. 

Ski Mountaineering World Cup on 15 and 16 January 2026 

Stage 2 of the 2025/2026 Ski Mountaineering World Cup will take place in Courchevel on 15 and 16 January 2026, with the Sprint and Vertical Race on the programme. 

Sprint – Thursday 15 January 2026 

The event will start in mid-morning on the permanent Sprint course at Courchevel Le Praz, at the foot of the Éclipse. It will be the last chance of Olympic selection for 2 members of the French team (one woman and one man), to join Courchevel’s Emily Harrop and Thibaud Anselmet, who have already qualified. The Sprint will make its historic debut on the programme of the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games. 

Vertical Race – Friday 16 January 2026 

The Vertical Race will take place at night on the official MSTC course. It will also count towards the standings for MSTC round 5. Open to all as an Open race, it will be run under the same conditions as the World Cup race. The Open race will start one hour before the world’s best athletes. (Online registration compulsory before midnight on Thursday 15 January). A unique opportunity to test yourself against the best specialists in the discipline. The course record holders are Axelle Gachet-Mollaret (23 min 38 s) and Switzerland’s Rémi Bonnet (19 min 47 s). 

Detailed programme:

Sprint – Thursday 15 January
10:30: Qualifying
13:00 – 13:40: Semi-finals
13:40 – 13:50: Women’s finals
13:50 – 14:00: Men’s finals 

Vertical Race – Friday 16 January
17:00: MSTC round 5 (Open race open to all)
18:00: World Cup Women’s start (time trial)
19:00: World Cup Men’s start (time trial)
From 19:30: Closing meal – Gymnase de l’Envolée
21:00: Sprint & Vertical Race closing ceremony 

Next event: Millet Ski Touring Courchevel on Wednesday 14 January 2026