Round 7 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 28 January 2026

The 7th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel under the snowflakes

Snow was back this Wednesday 28 January for the 7th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel. The 3.2 km (500 m of elevation gain) of this Vertical Race course became magical, enhanced by the snowflakes glittering in the glow of headlamps among the fir trees. With sparkles in their eyes, 113 competitors crossed the finish line on the snow front at Courchevel 1850.

The countdown has now begun: only three rounds remain before the MSTC grand fancy-dress final on Wednesday 25 February. This traditional costumed ski mountaineering climb will bring together more than 1,000 participants. The evening will continue with the prize-giving ceremony, followed by the phenomenal concert by Ofenbach, which will set this 16th edition alight. The event will also be an opportunity to celebrate the very first Olympic medals in ski mountaineering, won at the Milano Cortina Olympic Games.

This final is already shaping up to be the most explosive, immersive and resolutely futuristic in the entire history of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel.

Germain Grangier back at the top

After undergoing an operation on both legs in the autumn, following a neurodynamic compression that prevented the muscles from properly receiving the brain’s commands, the time to resume had come for the ultra-trail runner Germain Grangier. With an impressive record — 3rd at the UTMB 2023 and 2nd at the Diagonale des Fous the same year, winner of the Chianti (73 km) and 3rd at the Hardrock 100 in the United States (157.7 km) in 2025 — Germain made a notable comeback.

In 24 min 20 s, he wins this 7th round, setting a new personal best. In the provisional overall standings, he climbs to 63rd place, 14 seconds ahead of another ultra-trail legend, François d’Haene.

“I managed to beat my record of 24 min 31 s set in 2024, in difficult conditions with fresh snow nonetheless. After the problems I had at the UTMB 2025, I am really happy with the result and to feel that my legs are responding again,” he told us at the finish.

Second place goes to the Vertical Race Master world champion (O40 category) Jonas Buchot in 25 min 18 s. The Briton Zach Violett completes the podium in 26 min 26 s ahead of Louis Belveze (26 min 56 s) and Jean Christophe Bette (27 min 19 s).

Candice Fertin unstoppable, at the gates of the top 10

The revelation of the evening was on the women’s side. Second at the Mallorca by UTMB and winner of the Verbier by UTMB in 2025, Candice Fertin dominated the race in 26 min 26 s. This performance propels her to 12th place in the provisional overall standings (5th best French performance), 4 seconds from the top 10 and 46 seconds from 4th place.

Current leader of the provisional overall standings of the Société des 3 Vallées challenge, Géraldine Bau takes second place in 33 min 36 s. The 2026 Bulgarian Vertical Race champion Ivona Mihaylova completes the podium in 34 min 48 s ahead of Elodie Lambert (36 min 16 s).

Pancakes on the menu next week for the second Plum special

The full moon and Candlemas will be celebrated next week. The smell of pancakes made by 2 loyal participants, Nathalie Langeard and Gilles Poirrier, will fill the Croisette, to the great delight of the finishers of the 8th round this Wednesday 4 February. They can be enjoyed at the aid station.

In this second Plum special of the season, 3 pairs of bindings will be drawn by lot from among all the participants. To top it all off, the 2026 Crystal trophies, in the names of the founders of the partner company Millet, Raymond and René Millet, to be presented to the men’s and women’s winners of this 16th edition on 25 February, will be officially unveiled.

In short, yet another round not to be missed under any circumstances.

Next date: 8th MSTC round on Wednesday 4 February 2026.