Round 2 / TRAIL - PLUM KV COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 26 July 2017

Who can dethrone Xavier Gachet and Axelle Mollaret at the Plum KV Courchevel?

After taking the Plum KV Courchevel 2016 records in trail running and ski mountaineering, Xavier Gachet and Axelle Mollaret , members of the French ski mountaineering team, were back to repeat their feat in 2017. They had won the X2 KV Courchevel Challenge 2016 on this 1,000 m elevation gain, 5 km Vertical Kilometre (VK) course in 1h17min23s for Xavier (37min25s in trail running and 39min57s in ski mountaineering) and in 1h34min29s for Axelle (44min36s in trail running and 49min52s in ski mountaineering). In the 2nd round of the Plum KV Courchevel, counting towards the “Skyrunner National Series 2017”, held this Wednesday 26 July in trail running with 64 participants at the start, they took back the reins by improving the 2017 provisional records. Xavier Gachet set the bar at 37min56s, 31 seconds more than his personal best, ahead of 2015 X2 KV Courchevel Challenge winner Yoann Sert in 39min. Yoann Stuck completed the podium in 40min38s.

On the women’s side, Axelle Mollaret won hands down in 43min07s, improving her personal best by 1min29s. Laure Chardin took second place in 55min ahead of Géraldine Bau (55min39s).

This year the Courchevel KVs in trail running, cycling and ski mountaineering will be played out over 3 rounds in each discipline. The Plum KV Courchevel trail running finale will take place on Wednesday 9 August.

Next date: Wednesday 2 August for the 2nd cycling round of the Dynastar KV Courchevel, with the presence ofAxelle Mollaret. The Dynastar KV Courchevel finale is scheduled for 15 August at 10 am.

X2 KV Courchevel Challenge 2018

People who have taken part in a trail running event in summer 2017 and who take part in a ski mountaineering event in winter 2018 will be ranked in the X2 KV Courchevel Challenge 2018. The ranking for this challenge is the sum of the best trail running and ski mountaineering times for each participant, and the best men’s and women’s times of the year will be rewarded with prize money of €600, with €300 for the runners-up and €100 for the third-placed.

X3 KV Courchevel Challenge 2018

These 3 trail running Vertical Kilometre races count towards the “X3 KV Courchevel Challenge 2018”. To be ranked in this challenge, you must take part at least once in each of the 3 Vertical Kilometre events on offer in Courchevel. To do so, all you need to do is put on your trainers for the 2017 “Plum KV Courchevel”, get on your bike for the 2017 “Dynastar KV Courchevel” and strap on your touring skis for the 2018 “Plum KV Courchevel”. The ranking for this challenge is the sum of the best trail running, cycling and ski mountaineering times for each participant, and the best men’s and women’s times of the year will receive prize money of €800, with €500 for the runners-up and €200 for the third-placed.

A good way to prepare for the extraordinary triathlon, which has become the unmissable event for outdoor sports enthusiasts, combining these 3 disciplines in one day, the “Dynastar X3 Courchevel”, which will take place on 15 April 2018 (you can register online for this final event at www.courchevelsportsoutdoor.com).