Round 3 / SKI MOUNTAINEERING - PLUM KV COURCHEVEL - Friday 9 March 2018

Xavier Gachet and Axelle Mollaret set the 2018 French Vertical Kilometre Ski Mountaineering records.

After the 3 rounds held in ski mountaineering this winter on the 1,000 m elevation gain, 5 km Vertical Kilometre (KV) course, the 2018 Plum KV Courchevel season delivered its verdict this Friday 9 March. On a fine evening ideal for this discipline, 73 ski mountaineers were at the rendezvous to put a full stop to this 2018 edition. Arthur Blanc, a member of the French ski mountaineering team and an instructor at the ESF Arêches, wins in 44min02s ahead of the 2000 Sydney Olympic rowing champion Jean-Christophe Bette (45min58s) and the 1998 Pierra Menta winner Sébastien Figliolini (48min13s).

In the women’s race, Corinne Favre confirms her current form. After her 2nd place in the “Millet” 2 days earlier, she wins in 51min 49s, a performance that gets her onto the 2nd step of the final podium. She is followed by Mélanie Rousset (56min 50s) and Emily Harrop (57min 50s).

The 2 reigning French Vertical Race champions set the 2018 French KV records.

This winter, the best specialists took each other on over this Vertical Kilometre (KV) course approved by the Fédération Française de Montagne et Escalade (FFME). After official validation by the Federation, the 2018 French Vertical Kilometre records are awarded to Xavier Gachet in 40min31s, an excellent time that nevertheless remains short of his record of 39min57s set in 2017, and to Axelle Mollaret in 46min36s. The final podiums are completed, in the men’s race, by Yoann Sert (43min18s) and Arthur Blanc (44min02s) and in the women’s race by Corinne Favre (51min48s) and Elisa Gayet (54min52s).

In the ESF challenge, this 3rd and final round of the “Plum” benefited Arthur Blanc of the ESF Arêches in 44min02s and Emily Harrop of the ESF La Plagne in 57min50s, performances that gave them the overall victory.

The €500 prize money will be presented to the 2018 winners on Wednesday 21 March at the end of the grand final of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel.

Note a change in race format for the Plum KV Courchevel, 2018/2019 version, with the arrival of cycling and a single date for each of the disciplines.

The PKVC in trail running and cycling will take place on Saturday 4 August 2018 and will be part of the Plum K2000 Challenge for those who link the 2 disciplines in “Solo” or “Duo”.

The ski mountaineering event will be held on Friday 15 February 2019 and will be included in the Plum K3000 Challenge for those who have linked the 3 events in “Solo” or “Trio”

X2 KV Courchevel Challenge 2018 for Xavier Gachet and Axelle Mollaret

To be ranked in the “X2 KV Courchevel Challenge 2018”, you must have taken part at least once in each discipline contested in the “Plum KV Courchevel” (trail running in summer 2017 and ski mountaineering in winter 2018), with fine rewards to be won (€600, €300 and €100 for the top 3 in each men’s and women’s category).

37 athletes appear in the 2017 – 2018 standings, with the following podiums:

- 1st: Xavier Gachet in 1h18min28s (Trail running: 37min56s and ski mountaineering: 40min31s) and Axelle Mollaret in 1h29min43s (Trail running: 43min07s and ski mountaineering: 46min36s)

- 2nd: Yoann Sert in 1h22min19s (Trail running: 39min00s and ski mountaineering: 43min18s) and Corinne Favre in 1h44min26s (Trail running: 52min37s and ski mountaineering: 51min48s)

- 3rd: Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz in 1h26min02s (Trail running: 41min54s and ski mountaineering: 44min08s) and Stéphanie Duc in 1h48min37s (Trail running: 49min52s and ski mountaineering: 58min44s)

X3 KV Courchevel Challenge 2018 for Xavier Gachet and Axelle Mollaret

This competition follows the same pattern as the X2 KV Courchevel challenge 2018 but with an additional compulsory cycling participation in one of the 3 rounds of the 2017 “Dynastar KV Courchevel”. The prizes for the men’s and women’s podiums are €800, €500 and €200 respectively.

17 triathletes ranked in 2018 with the following winners:

- 1st: Xavier Gachet in 2h03min28s (Trail running: 37min56s, cycling: 45min00s and ski mountaineering 40min31s) and Axelle Mollaret in 2h23min06s (Trail running: 43min07s, cycling: 53min22s and ski mountaineering 46min36s)

- 2nd: Yoann Sert in 2h05min44s (Trail running: 39min00s, cycling: 43min25s and ski mountaineering 43min18s) and Stéphanie Duc in 2h47min26s (Trail running: 49min52s, cycling: 58min49s and ski mountaineering: 58mn44s)

- 3rd: Arthur Blanc in 2h14min33s (Trail running: 42min30s, cycling: 48min00s and ski mountaineering 44min02s) and Catherine Juillaguet in 2h52min51s (Trail running: 57min40s, cycling: 58min39s and ski mountaineering 56min31s)

Arthur Blanc and Corinne Favre win the 3rd Grand Slam.

In the weeks when the MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL (MSTC) and the PLUM KV COURCHEVEL (PKVC) are organised, a ranking is drawn up for those who complete the “Grand Slam” (taking part in the 2 events in the same week).

This week, the “Grand Slam” took into account the cumulative times of the MSTC on Wednesday 7 March and those of the PKVC on Friday 9 March. 40 competitors linked the 2 races. Arthur Blanc in 1h08min24s is the big winner of this final round, but Yoann Sert keeps the season record in 1h07min06s and Corinne Favre in 1h20min29s sets the best women’s time of 2018.

The official presentation for all the events (PKVC and the 3 “Grand Slams”) will take place on Wednesday 21 March at the great ski mountaineering celebration in Courchevel on the occasion of the “Millet Ski Touring Courchevel” final. Nelson Monfort with his infectious verve will be at the helm of this evening and the band Emile et Images will close the event in a wild atmosphere. The X2 and X3 KV Courchevel Challenges will be awarded at the extraordinary “Dynastar X3 Courchevel” triathlon 2018 on 15 April. Fine prospects for ending this winter season in Courchevel in good spirits.

Upcoming dates:

-12th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel: Wednesday 14 March
- Millet Ski Touring Courchevel final with Emile et Images: Wednesday 21 March
- Dynastar X3 Courchevel: Sunday 15 April 2018
- Plum KV Courchevel in Trail Running and Cycling: Saturday 4 August 2018