X-Trail Courchevel 2016: an avalanche of records

An avalanche of records in trail running!

In Courchevel, the weekend of 6 and 7 August 2016 was devoted to mountain running. It all began on Saturday with the Trail D’Jeuns, a 2.3 km loop reserved for children aged 11 to 16. Then the adults took on the Vertical X-Race, the climb of the steps alongside the 120-metre Olympic ski jump. But it was on Sunday that the champions were expected, and the good conditions allowed them to break most of the records.

Corentin Salle had to battle to keep his title in the Trail Express (9 km, 250 m of elevation gain); the fight between the first four lasted right to the finish line. Laurie Phai Pang won the women’s race.

Good racing conditions…

Great satisfaction for Arnaud Pérignon, who won the Trail de la Dent (20 km, 1,050 m of elevation gain), going under the 2-hour mark for the first time (1h57min59s). Ludovic Pommeret won the X-Trail’s flagship 54 km race (4,400 m of elevation gain) in 6h25min58s, beating the record set in 2015 by Fabien Antolinos. The latter won this year over the 33 km (2,200 m of elevation gain), improving the best time by more than 12 minutes (2h55min21s). In the women’s races, victories for Fanny Frechinet over the 54 km in 8h06min02s and Sandrine Etienne over the 33 km in 3h46min20s.

Delighted with their races, the champions shared their satisfaction: "Good conditions", "a high level that lets you push each other and improve your times" and "youngsters who give you a hard time". The runners also had the pleasure of meeting again the Nepalese cross-country skier and trail runner Dawa Sherpa at the stand of his association "Godparents for Nepal", and also on the 33 km course, which he completed in 3h55min31s.

The exceptional setting, the finish at the Olympic ski jump site and the logistical support of the volunteers once again contributed to the success of the event this year.

All the participants will keep fine memories of this weekend’s races, "the most beautiful trail, the most mountain-like, with great climbs and great descents" according to Adeline Roche, first woman in the Trail de la Dent in 2h13min52s.