2023 French Championships: the season opens in Courchevel
Opening of the 2023 French Ski Mountaineering Championships in Courchevel
Opening of the 2023 French Ski Mountaineering Championships in Courchevel
After having hosted the Vertical Race event of the French ski mountaineering championship on 3 previous occasions (2012, 2013 and 2022) on the official course of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel (MSTC), the organisers from the club Courchevel Sports Outdoor and the Fédération Française de Montagne et Escalade (FFME) were forced to use the alternative course for the 2023 "France" event because of the lack of snow on the official route. A course that is nonetheless well worn in, as the start of the 2016-2017 MSTC season began on this 2.6 km route with 500 m of elevation gain from the snow front in Courchevel up to the top of the Loze relay. After having used it the Wednesday before the event for the 3rd round of the MSTC, nearly 200 ski mountaineers came to do battle at the French Vertical Race championship this Saturday 7 January, with a finish at an altitude of 2,249 m under a magnificent full moon.
Gachet-Mollaret and Anselmet crowned in the Vertical Race
No surprise on Saturday in the Vertical Race event, which was also the 4th round of the MSTC. Six-time winner of the "Millet" and record holder for the climb, Axelle Gachet-Mollaret won with a blistering time of 22min34s. Célia Perillat-Pessey took second place (24min31s), just ahead of Laura Deplanche (24min41s). Perrine Gindre, 7th in the women’s overall standings, retains her U23 title, as does Corinne Favre in the Master category.
In the men’s race, the victory was decided by a whisker. Thibault Anselmet completes the hat-trick in 19min51s at the finish ahead of Gédéon Pochat-Cottilloux (current leader of the 2023 MSTC on the official course) in 19min57s. William Bon Mardion, 3rd in 20min06s, takes the title in the Master category. Anselme Damevin wins the U23 in an excellent time of 20min49s.
In the U20s, victory for the Spaniard Oriol Olm Rouppert, the title for Jérémy Anselmet
3rd in 2022, the Spaniard Oriol Olm Rouppert (Club des sports de Méribel) wins the race in 21min37s, but the French Vertical Race championship title goes to the runner behind him, Jérémy Anselmet (Club des Sports de Bonneval sur Arc), with a time of 23min11s. Jules Raybaud takes the silver medal in 23min31s ahead of Pierre Ferreol (Team Isère Montagne) in 23min47s.
Louise Trincaz wins the U20 category in 26min08s followed by Loanne Rossillon (27min40s) and Louna Broche (29min20s).
In the U18s, the winners are Edgar Cognaud in 24min40s and Camille Maupoix in 30min08s.
In the U16s, Mathilde Gillet becomes French Vertical Race champion and Kérian Grimaud retains the title in 25min15s.
A first mixed relay title for the Gachet couple
Courchevel had the privilege of awarding this Sunday 8 January the very first French mixed relay champion title, an event on the programme of the 2026 Olympics. Held at the foot of the Loze piste in falling snowflakes, the event made for a fine spectacle.
The qualifying round took place as an individual time trial. The sum of the times of the 2 athletes of each relay was used to draw up a ranking, and the first twelve youth and senior teams qualified for the finals. The latter took the form of a mass start with 2 laps per skier. "The women start first, with the men finishing the race," explains Thierry Galindo, the director of the French teams. "Each lap includes a climb and a descent, followed by another climb with a carry, before the final descent. The skins then have to be put back on to cross the finish line. The handover is made by bodily contact. The various transitions are very important in a relay. They account for almost one minute out of the eight of racing for the men and nine for the women. You really have to manage your effort well and not run out of breath on the first climb."
Jean-Yves Pachod, the mayor of Courchevel, and Alain Carrière, the president of the FFME, awarded this French mixed relay champion title to Axelle Gachet Mollaret and Xavier Gachet who, as a result, opened the roll of honour of this discipline.
The couple from the Beaufortain won with a considerable lead. From the start of the race, the skier from Arêches Beaufort opened a gap on the opposition: "I quickly managed to build up a lead," explains Axelle. "So it was more comfortable to hand over to Xavier. Then, on my second climb, the gap was made. It was a good race, all the more so with the cheers of Similien (their little boy)."
More than a minute and a half behind the Gachet couple, the duo made up of Célia Perillat-Pessey and Thibault Anselmet took second place: "Axelle Gachet-Mollaret was really very strong and immediately opened up a big gap," explains Thibault. "On the first lap, I tried to close the deficit a little, but by the last leg it was too big and I mainly managed things so that we kept our 2nd place. There is nothing to say, they were head and shoulders above the rest today."
Laura Deplanche and Robin Galindo completed the podium in 3rd place.
Among the youth, victory went to the pair Louise Trincaz / Jérémy Anselmet ahead of Loanne Roussillon and Jules Raybaud. Camile Maupoix and Edgar Cognaud finish 3rd.