ROUND 9 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 20 February 2019

Joris Perillat Pessey takes the lead in the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel standings.

In one month, this 9th season of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel (MSTC) 2019 will come to an end with the grand fancy-dress final on Wednesday 20 March. After making the bees sing with La Compagnie Créole in 2016, twirling towels with Patrick Sébastien in 2017 and being swept along to the end of the night by the Démons de minuit with Emile et Images in 2018, it will be the turn of the band Magic System to get arms waving “In the air” to close this 2019 edition in style, not forgetting the evening’s other surprises.

But before the party, there are still 4 events for competitors to improve their respective performances or get into the 2019 standings. As for the final podium, nothing is settled to date, and the suspense remains intact. The reigning Vertical Race ski mountaineering French champions, Axelle Gachet-Mollaret and Xavier Gachet, have announced their participation in the 11th round on 6 March before leaving for the World Championships. The Swiss Marti Werner and Rémi Bonnet, MSTC winners in 2017 and 2018 respectively and current leaders of the Vertical Race World Cup standings, should also take part to try to beat Kilian Jornet's record of 22min01s.

132 ski mountaineers met up this Wednesday 20 February to take on the 3.2 km course with 500 m of elevation gain, with many spectators at the finish. In 23min14s, Joris Perillat Pessey, a member of the French ski mountaineering team, struck a major blow by setting the new 2019 reference time. Without disgracing themselves, Yoann Caillot in 24min27s and Jean-Christophe Bette in 25min44s completed the podium of this 9th round. In the provisional overall standings, Yoann Sert is thus relegated to second place in 23min26s and Arthur Blanc is 3rd in 23min50s, minimal gaps that herald a fierce fight over the 4 remaining rounds.

Note the remarkable performances of 2 racing drivers on the start line: Emmanuel Collard, 24 starts at Le Mans 24 Hours with 2 podiums and a world endurance champion title in the GT category, who finished with the “Gold-Plated Trace” (La Trace de Vermeil) in 42min41s, and François Perrodo, 2016 world endurance champion in the GT category, who took the “Silver Trace” in 43min04s.

Among the women, Corinne Favre took her 4th win of the season in 28min10s, but stays in 3rd place in the provisional overall standings behind Ekaterina Osichkina (26min58s) and Laura Deplanche (27min31s). She won ahead of Véronique Lathuraz (30min36s) and Marie Pollet-Villard (30min59s).

In the ESF Challenge, thanks to his win in the stage, Joris Perillat Pessey, instructor at the ESF in La Clusaz, naturally takes the lead in the dedicated challenge in 23min14s. Armelle Favre of the ESF in Pralognan won this 9th instalment in 36min32s, and Laura Deplanche of the ESF in La Toussuire retains the provisional overall lead.

In one month, the verdict of this season will be delivered…

On Wednesday 20 March 2019, the evening will begin at 6 pm with some 500 ski mountaineers in fancy dress on the start line of this final round, the high point of this competition that has been held every Wednesday since 26 December. A fine spectacle is in store, which can be followed up to the finish at Courchevel 1850 by taking advantage of the Le Praz lift, free for the occasion, and a shuttle service that will bring everyone back to the venue in the l’Envolée gymnasium at the foot of the Olympic Ski Jumps. From 8 pm the buffet and the prize-giving ceremony will be offered. The concert will begin at 9 pm for a magical evening.

Registration for the final, the buffet and the concert is open (note: places limited).

Participant rates: €15 for participants in fancy dress and €25 for those not in costume (race and buffet included)
Spectator rates: €25 without buffet and €35 with buffet.