ROUND 3 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 8 January 2020

Arthur Blanc and Sophie Mollard, winners of the 3rd round of the “Millet Ski Touring Courchevel 2020”.

With participation confirmed year after year, 113 ski tourers took part in the 3rd round of the “Millet Ski Touring Courchevel” this Wednesday 8 January, and this 2019/2020 season has already recorded 336 starts from 287 different ranked participants. This 10th edition looks promising, with quality times and records that could fall as early as next week, with 2 rounds on the programme: Wednesday 15 January (4th MSTC round) and Friday 17 January (5th round, “le Chrono des Champions”), where all the members of the French team will be present, competing for selection for the next World Cups. This climb will be the prelude to the individual event of the 2020 French Ski Mountaineering Championship, which will take place in Courchevel on Saturday 18 January.

3.2 km, 500 m of elevation gain: this is the distance and climb between Courchevel Le Praz and Courchevel that, for 10 years, competitors on ski touring skis have had to cover in a time trial to win one of the ESF medals specific to the discipline, called “La trace”. A reminder to give a sense of the performance levels: gold medal in under 33min30s, vermeil medal in under 42min45s, silver medal in under 52 min, bronze medal in under 1h01min15s, not forgetting the Finisher medal, which rewards every competitor who crosses the finish line with no time limit.

Since the start of the season, 93 participants have reached Gold, 84 Vermeil, 48 Silver, 35 Bronze and 27 the Trace Finisher. A fine reward that spurs many ski mountaineers to give their best at every event.

Joris Perillaz Pessey and Sierra Anderson keep their places as leaders.

This 3rd evening saw no record but fine podiums, with Athur Blanc of ESF Arêches in 23min53s and Sophie Mollard of the Arêches Beaufort Multi Sports Club in 28min59s in 1st places. Adrien Perret of the Bauges Montagne Sports club in 24min04s and Emily Harrop of ESF Plagne Aime 2000 in 29min14s took the second step of the podium ahead of Johann Baujard (ESF La Clusaz) in 24min04s and Laurie Renoton (Bauges Montagne Sports) in 29min52s. The intensity of the fight is worth noting: the first 6 men and the first 3 women were within one minute.

These fine performances did not threaten the provisional records, which remain the property of Joris Perillat Pessey (22min34s) and of the American Sierra Anderson (28min23s).

Still a loyal follower of the event, the most decorated rower in French rowing, Jean-Christophe Bette (gold medal at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 and 5 world champion titles), made his comeback with a promising time of 27 minutes and 12th place.

Note: next week, the 5th round on Friday 17 January (Chrono des Champions) is open to all and will be free for all participants in the 4th round on 15 January.