Round 4 / TRAIL RUNNING - PLUM KV COURCHEVEL - Friday 28 August 2015

Plum KV Courchevel 2015: the verdict is in!

After the four winter dates of the “Plum KV Courchevel” in ski mountaineering, where the records went to Yoann Sert (42min01s) and Catherine Juillaguet (54min26s), the race was run this summer in trail running version on the same approved course of 1,000 m of elevation gain and 5 km over four rounds. A very positive outcome for this first edition, with 234 ranked and 327 starts last winter against 212 ranked and 295 starts this summer.

The 4th and last round of the Plum KV Courchevel ended with a flourish this Friday 28 August with 63 competitors, among them renowned runners. For this final climb of the season, dream weather allowed all the participants to admire at the summit the magnificent sunset over the glaciers and Mont Blanc, with the full moon as a backdrop.

To win the €500 at stake for the men’s and women’s records of this 2015 trail running season, they had to fight right to the end! Despite the pressure from the presence of the French Vertical Kilometre (KV) champion Jean-François Philipot and the winner of the Val Thorens KV 2015, Tao Quemere, Yoann Sert, leader of the provisional standings, held on by setting the official 2015 record of 37min26s. Tao Quemere finished second, 33 seconds behind, and Jean-François Philipot took third place in the overall standings in 38min36s.

Among the women, provisional standings leader Stéphanie Duc could not cope with the pace set by the 2014 French Trail Running champion Christel Dewalle, who won comfortably, setting the official 2015 women’s record in 42min21s. The 2013 French champion Céline Lafaye took second place in the overall standings in 47min14s and Stéphanie Duc finished third in these 2015 standings in 47min52s.

Many competitors had respected tradition by coming in fancy dress for the final, such as Corail Bugnard, who finished 5th in the overall standings (51min33s) dressed as a leopard.

Also worth highlighting is the fine showing of Catherine Juillaguet, ski mountaineering record holder, who took 6th place overall in 51min43s.

In the official 2015 ESF standings, Florian Sautel of the ESF of Valmorel won in 44min10s ahead of Gaëtan Breyton of the ESF of Les Menuires (44min46s) and Cédric Gelin of the ESF of Valmorel (48min17s). Among the women instructors, Séverine Vibert of the ESF of Courchevel 1650 won in 59min38s ahead of Pascale Gachet-Mauroz of the ESF of Courchevel 1550 (1h01min30s) and Armelle Favre of the ESF of Pralognan (1h03min25s).

In the Skyrunning Circuit "Region Series Alpes 2015", the most accomplished and assiduous runners across these 4 trail running rounds of the “Plum KV Courchevel” were rewarded. For the standings, points were awarded to each runner after each event and added together to award the title of champion in the “Région Series Alpes 2015”. Bonuses were given at the “Skyrunner France Series KV” event held on 10 August, and all athletes who finished at least 1 of the 4 events were ranked.

In the end, it is Jean-Baptiste Curtet of Courchevel who takes the title with 183 points ahead of François Pollet-Villard, representing the partner brand “Plum” (177 points), and Jean-François Philipot (148 points). Among the women, it is Stéphanie Duc who becomes Region Series Alpes 2015 champion with 155 points ahead of Corail Bugnard (148 points) and Géraldine Bau (69 points).