ACT 10 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 19 February 2020

Yoann Sert sets the 4th best time of the “Millet Ski Touring Courchevel 2020”.

In a month, this 10th season of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel (MSTC) 2020 will end with the grand fancy-dress final on Wednesday 18 March. After having made the bees sing with La Compagnie Créole in 2016, had everyone twirling their towels with Patrick Sébastien in 2017, been carried away until the end of the night by the Démons de minuit with Emile et Images in 2018 and raised their arms “In the air” at the urging of the band Magic System in 2019, it will be the turn of Shy’m, winner of season 2 of Dancing with the Stars and a jury member since, to get you singing and dancing to close this 2020 edition with a bang, not forgetting the other surprises of the evening.

But before the party, there are still 4 dates left for the competitors to improve their respective performances or secure a place in the 2020 standings. As far as the final podiums are concerned, nothing is settled to date and the suspense remains total. World champion Axelle Gachet-Mollaret, winner of the race for 3 years and for the moment leader of this season 10 in 25min45s, will surely try to take the absolute record for the event, which has been the preserve of Laetitia Roux since 2015 in 25min31s. The latter has announced her participation, a fine battle in prospect that could be spiced up by the arrival of the Swiss and Italian delegations, always well placed on World Cup Vertical Race podiums. Switzerland’s Rémi Bonnet, winner in 2018 and 2019, currently top of the provisional overall standings with the event record of 21min20s, could be challenged by the legend Kilian Jornet if he decides to come and try to reclaim the record, or by his compatriot and Pierra Menta teammate Marti Werner, winner in 2017. A final sprint that promises to be as exciting as it is uncertain.

Next week, it is a certainty that the provisional overall standings will change for the cadets and juniors. The 11th round of the Millet Ski Touring, scheduled for Wednesday 26 February, will be, among other things, the selection event for these 2 categories for the 2020 Ski Mountaineering European Championship, to be held in Italy at Madonna di Campiglio from 2 to 5 April.

After setting the provisional record of the Plum MOONtain Races Courchevel last Friday, Yoann Sert confirmed his current good form in this 10th round of the MSTC this Wednesday 19 February by posting a superb time of 22min07s, which places him at the foot of the provisional overall podium. A little disappointed to miss out by just 5 seconds on Gédéon Pochat, he said in substance at the finish. Swann Juillaguet (Courchevel Sports Outdoor) took second place in 23min53s ahead of Jonas Buchot (Jarrienne des Cimes Maurienne) in 24min36s.
On the women’s side, a first victory for Julia Garriga Ferrer of Team Isère Montagne, who won in 31min47s despite fine resistance from Véronique Lathuraz (32min04s). Marilyne Texier in 34min36s completed the leading trio.

In the ESF Challenge, the ESF Courchevel Village snapped up the victories with Nicolas Mater (29min02s), in the thick of preparing for the Pierra Menta, and Pauline Le Roux (38min28s).

The mayor of Park City, Andy Beerman, put up a good showing.

Among the 94 ski mountaineers present this Wednesday 19 February to take on the 3.2 km of the course with 500 m of elevation gain, this “Millet Ski Touring Courchevel” had the honour of welcoming Andy Beerman, the mayor of Park City, a town in the US state of Utah. He did not hesitate to put on touring skis and completed the climb with a fine vermeil medal in 37min48s, accompanied by his partner Théa Léonard and Philippe Mugnier, the mayor of Courchevel. These two internationally renowned ski resorts have been linked by twinning since 1984 but also by their history tied to the Winter Olympic Games: in 1992 in Albertville and ten years later, in 2002, in Salt Lake City. A fine experience much appreciated by the American elected official, who will certainly replicate the concept more than 8,600 kilometres from the resort of Courchevel, with, why not, the emergence of a Franco-American Ski Touring challenge?

A pleasant surprise awaited the competitors at the finish. They were able to taste the summer Beaufort cheese from the Aime canton dairy cooperative, awarded the 2020 Gold medal at the Beaufort competition held during the day by the Beaufort Defence Union, represented by Maxime Mathelin, who did not fail to congratulate all the athletes on their performances.

In a month, the verdict of this season 10 will come…

On Wednesday 18 March 2020, the evening will begin at 6 pm with some 500 ski mountaineers in fancy dress at the start of this final round, the high point of the “MSTC”, which has taken place every Wednesday since 25 December. A fine spectacle in prospect that you will be able to follow right to the finish at Courchevel 1850 by taking the Le Praz lift, free for the occasion, which will bring everyone back down to the performance hall 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 on the programme as a prelude to the concert starting at 9 pm with a euphoric, decorated and choreographed show! Accompanied by her dancers and carried by her trademark eccentricity, Shy’m will perform her biggest hits, but not only…

Registrations for the final, the buffet and the concert are open (note: limited number of places).
Registration for the race, the buffet and the show is €15 for competitors in fancy dress and €25 for those not in fancy dress.

For those who wish to attend the show only, €25 without buffet or €35 with buffet.