ROUND 14 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 18 March 2020

The 10th edition of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel deprived of its final!

Everything was planned for this Wednesday 18 March to make the 10th anniversary party of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel a grand one, with the traditional fancy-dress ski mountaineering climb, which this year had reached the limit of 500 participants, followed by the exceptional concert by the famous Shy’m accompanied by her dancers, but… Everything was planned, the weather was on our side on 18 March with a magnificent spring day, but… Everything was planned with a great many surprises to enliven the evening, but… Everything was planned to limit the number of people to 1,000 because of the Coronavirus pandemic at the government’s request, but… Everything was planned until D-5, Friday 13 March, following the Prime Minister’s announcement banning gatherings of more than 100 people! The sentence had come down, irrevocable for the president of the organising club Guillaume Prin and his whole team of volunteers, who were forced to cancel this 2020 final. “It’s only postponed, the virus was the strongest, but health comes first. We must now protect ourselves and stay at home to beat it as quickly as possible, and we will come back even stronger in 2021,” said Guillaume.

A 2020 review that is nonetheless very positive and promising for 2021.

Despite the cancellation of the 2020 final, the sold-out “Decima”, the review remains very positive, with 13 rounds held on the official course (3.2 km / 500 m of elevation gain) between Courchevel Le Praz and Courchevel 1850, 1,399 starts and 724 competitors ranked.

The official prize-giving for this 10th edition will take place on Wednesday 23 December 2020 at the opening of the 2021 season, which will end on 17 March with a final that promises to be grand.

Following the hosting of the Individual event of the 2020 French Championship last 18 January, the 2021 season should once again be in the spotlight. The probable return of a Ski Mountaineering World Cup in early February is being considered, with the Sprint and Individual events on the programme, not forgetting the Vertical Race event, which should be held on the legendary “Millet Ski Touring Courchevel” course.

2020 records for Axelle Mollaret and Rémi Bonnet!

For the 4th consecutive time, Axelle Gachet Mollaret, 5th overall in the 2020 World Cup, which was also cut short because of the pandemic, took the Raymond and René Millet Crystal Trophy, named after the founders of the partner company Millet, in 25min45s, together with prize money of €2,000. “I didn’t beat the absolute record for the event of 25min31s set by Laetitia Roux, but I’ll keep it as a goal for next year,” she said. Jessica Pardin finished second in 21min37s ahead of Slovakia’s Marianna Jagercikova in 27min49s.

In the men’s race, Switzerland’s Rémi Bonnet, 9th overall in the 2020 World Cup despite having skipped the 1st stage, won for the 3rd time in 21min20s, taking the absolute record held by the legendary Kilian Jornet in 22min01s since 2015. “Now that I’ve managed to take the event record, I think the next goal will be to break the 21-minute barrier; I’ll try that next season,” he announced. A royal final podium closed this season, with Xavier Gachet second in 21min37s and Gédéon Pochat third in 22min02s.

Among the ESF instructors, the final standings are as follows:

- men’s podium: Joris Perillat Pessey (ESF La Clusaz) in 22min34s ahead of Alexis Sévennec (ESF Morzine) in 22min38s and Thibault Anselmet (ESF Bonneval sur Arc) in 22min38s.

- women’s podium: Emily Harrop (ESF Plagne Aime 2000) in 28min14s ahead of Candice Bonnel (ESF Valmorel) in 28min23s and Laura Deplanche (ESF La Toussuire) in 28min26s.

In total, 77 instructors were classified, from more than 20 schools.

This year, 7 competitors took part in all 13 rounds: Laurent Vially, Pascale Gachet-Mauroz, Mickael Chapuis, Laetitia Renard, Philippe Mottier, Yann Popovitsch and Jean-Louis Fillatre. The 2020 best fancy dress trophy, together with a €100 voucher from our partner Déguisetoi.fr, normally awarded at the final, will be given to Olivier Cellier, who came as usual dressed as a crocodile or a panther on his appearances throughout the season.

A season end disrupted by the coronavirus

Following government decisions concerning the guidelines for fighting the pandemic, the extraordinary Dynastar X3 Courchevel triathlon, combining cycling, trail running and ski mountaineering, scheduled for Sunday 19 April, is cancelled. The next edition will take place on Sunday 18 April 2021.

The first round of the Eiffage Col de la Loze Time Trial in cycling, scheduled for Sunday 10 May amid the walls of snow, is postponed to Sunday 26 July. Consequently, the 3 rounds will be held on Sundays 12 July, 26 July and 23 August.

The official prize-giving for the first edition of the Plum MOONtain Races Courchevel in ski mountaineering will take place on Wednesday 8 July at the 1st round of the Silva MOONtain Races Courchevel in trail running format.

Everyone registered for the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel final with the concert by Shy’m and for the Dynastar X3 Courchevel will be refunded in full.

Category winners of the 2020 season:
Cadet: Pierre Ferreol (26min43s) and Louna Broche (31min48s)
Junior: Pablo Giner (25min08s) and Grace Staberg (28min56s)
Espoir (U23): Thibault Anselmet (22min38s) and Emily Harrop (28min14s)
Senior: Rémi Bonnet (21min20s) and Axelle Gachet-Mollaret (25min45s)
Veteran: Yoann Caillot (23min42s) and Corinne Favre (29min02s)
Senior/Veteran 60 and over: Peter Kuonen (29min38s) and Armelle Favre (36min59s)