An exceptional field for the 5th edition of the Dynastar X3 Courchevel 2017.
Yoann Sert and Stéphanie Duc, the 2016 edition winners, will defend their title.
An exceptional field for the 5th edition of the Dynastar X3 Courchevel 2017: Yoann Sert and Stéphanie Duc, the 2016 edition winners, will defend their title.
For 5 years it has been the unmissable event for all mountain sports enthusiasts. Once again this year, success will be there for this mountain version of the triathlon, the “Dynastar X3 Courchevel”, organised by the “Courchevel Sports Outdoor” club, with more than 500 participants at the start this Sunday 16 April.
To complete this extraordinary triathlon, triathletes must link together, solo or in relay teams of three, a 13.9 km cycling climb (930 m elevation gain) from the Le Carrey roundabout to Courchevel 1850, where the base camp used for changing disciplines will be located, a 6.3 km trail running course (180 m elevation gain/loss), and finish with a 4.8 km ski mountaineering leg (950 m elevation gain) up to the finish, where a Hawaiian atmosphere awaits the competitors with the presentation of flower garlands.
This unprecedented concept will let the best specialists fight for victory and amateurs come and discover an exceptional setting, starting from the Le Carrey junction, the lowest point of the Courchevel resort (830 m), to reach its highest point, the Saulire (2,710 m).
Winners of the 2016 edition of the “Dynastar X3 Courchevel”, 2013 French Trail Running champion Stéphanie Duc will defend her title while Yoann Sert will try for a fourth win after his successes in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
In their quest for the Grail, they will face competition from a quality field.
2005 Xterra world champion and 2013 French champion Nicolas Lebrun, winner in 2013 and 2nd in 2016, will try to climb to the top step of the podium, as will Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz, 3rd last year. With 8 world champion titles, 6 European champion titles and 10 French champion titles in ski mountaineering, Florent Perrier, a regular at this triathlon since the beginning, has always placed: 2nd in 2013 and 2015, 3rd in 2014 and 4th in 2016. Cédric Fleureton, 3rd in 2015 and 5th last year, European triathlon vice-champion in 2005 and 2006 and three-time French trail running champion (2014, 2015 and 2016), will be a serious competitor for a top finish. The French ski mountaineering elite will be there with William Bon Mardion, 2013 World Champion in the Individual race and overall World Cup winner the same year. In 2017, he set the best time on the fallback course of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel. He will be sharp thanks to his participation last weekend in the last stage of the 2017 World Cup in the Val d’Aran in Spain, where he finished 5th in the individual race and 12th in the Vertical Race. Note that William holds the record for the ski mountaineering leg of the Dynastar X3 Courchevel in 40min46s. After taking the trail running and ski mountaineering records of the 2016 and 2017 “Plum KV Courchevel”, Xavier Gachet, reigning Vertical Race French champion and 3rd in the Individual World Cup stage this year in Andorra, completes the picture of contenders. Jean-Christophe Bette, the most titled rower in French rowing with an Olympic gold medal from the Sydney Games and five world champion titles, as well as Jérémy Pouge 2004 and 2005 rowing world champion, will also be among the podium hopefuls. Winner of the “X-Trail Courchevel” (54 km) in 2014, Mikaël Pasero of team New Balance should also do well, as should Arnaud Mazet, Jérémie Gachet, Valery Chaix and local runner Patrice Gibaud.
Among the women, 3rd solo in 2015 and 2nd in a team in 2016, Corinne Favre 1998 Skyrunning world champion returns this year solo. Corail Bugnard, 4th less than a minute off the podium in 2016, will rightly aim for the podium this year, as will triathlete Verena Eisenbarth with an already full record: 2nd at the Alpsman Ironman 2016, 3rd at the Inferno Swiss extreme triathlon 2016, 2015 European cross triathlon champion, Xterra Europe top 10 in 2015 and 2014 cross triathlon world champion.
In the team categories, Mickael Gallego, holder of the cycling leg record in 40min27s, will be joined byAdrien Michaud in trail running and Valentin Favre in ski mountaineering. Also worth watching is Sébastien Fayolle who set the best performance in the trail running leg in 2015, with teammates Simon Bellabouvier (cycling) and Joris Perillat Pessey (ski mountaineering). Winner of the X-Trail Courchevel in 2013, Lionnel Bonnel will team up with Equy Samuel (cycling) and Florian Sautel (ski mountaineering). The surprise could come from the trio Julien Lodolo (5th fastest on the bike in 2016 and 6th in the Dynastar KV Courchevel 2016), Jean-Marc Joguet (trail running) and Emilien Bochet (ski mountaineering). Note the participation of the team made up of Pascal De Thiersant, chairman of the S3V Management Board, James Gachet, director of ESF 1850 and Philippe Mugnier, mayor of Courchevel.
Among the women’s trios, Léna, Candice and Lorna Bonnel will try for a third win after their victories in 2015 and 2016. But they will have their work cut out with 2011 trail running world champion Maud Gobert, Elise Rouchy, winner of the 26 km of the 2017 Trail du Mont Ventoux, and Axelle Mollaret, reigning team and relay ski mountaineering world champion, winner in trail running and ski mountaineering of the Plum KV Courchevel 2016 and 2017. Watch out for Pauline Leroux (trail running) and Elsa Nodet (ski mountaineering), 4th last year in the mixed team category, who will be joined this year by Charlotte Le Roux on the bike.
In the Mixed team category, unbeaten since the start of this extraordinary triathlon, the Juillaguet family team made up of Swann (cycling), Robin (trail running) and Catherine (ski mountaineering) will compete for a 5th crown. 2nd last year, Laure-Anne ferrent, holder of the 2016 cycling leg record in 50min56s, will team up with Eric Caruso (trail running) and Eric David (ski mountaineering). The third mixed team of 2016 will also be there, with Etienne Allanos (cycling), Clément Beuret (trail running) and Anne-Lise Millisher (ski mountaineering), with rising ambitions.
A very good vintage for this 2017 edition and a fine spectacle in prospect: see you on Sunday 16 April to come and cheer on all these triathletes.
