ROUND 6 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 3 and Saturday 6 February 2021

Millet Ski Touring Courchevel: an Everest for everyone!

Season 11 of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel is at the halfway point, with 6 rounds already held out of a total of 12, and an unwavering enthusiasm for this ski touring race despite the current context. It must be said that the organisers are not letting the situation get them down. Quite the contrary: you would have to not know Guillaume Prin, president of the organising club Courchevel Sports Outdoor Montagne, and his whole team, who are redoubling their imagination to offer new formats adapted to the circumstances, in strict compliance with health regulations.

After the introduction last week of the Millet 3000 Challenge (M3000) , which consists of completing 6 climbs in under 5 hours, i.e. 3,000 m of elevation gain, a new idea has taken root: the creation of a brand-new challenge called “ Millet Everest 2021 ”. This competition, combined with the “MSTC” fancy-dress final on 21 March 2021, will replace the Keen’V concert, cancelled because of the uncertainties hanging over this type of event.

This challenge will consist of completing 9,000 m of elevation gain on the Millet Ski Touring course (3.2 km / 500 m elevation gain), i.e. 18 climbs (57.6 km / 9,000 m of elevation gain), to reach the altitude of the summit of Everest (8,849 m) starting from sea level, as quickly as possible (only the climbs will be timed within the allotted time). It will take place over 2 days. Day 1, on 20 March 2021, will begin at 7 am and end at 5 pm. In these first 10 hours of racing, 5,000 m of elevation gain must be completed in order to continue the ascent the next day. At the end of this first stage, competitors will notionally arrive at Everest Base Camp 1 (south side at an altitude of 5,364 metres at the foot of the Khumbu glacier for those who have chosen the Nepalese side, or north side at an altitude of 5,154 metres at the base of the Rongbuk glacier on the Tibetan side). The ski mountaineers will have to spend the night in their respective tents on the snow front of Courchevel 1850 before setting off for the final ascent the next day from 8 am to 4 pm to complete the last 4,000 m in under 8 hours. In the event of withdrawal, a diploma corresponding to the altitude reached with the name of the corresponding summit will be awarded. The first 3 in the “Millet Everest 2021” challenge (best cumulative times over the 18 climbs) will win prize money (1st: €700, 2nd: €500 and 3rd: €300).

The final ascent will be festive, with the MSTC 2021 final organised in parallel from 10 am to 3 pm on the Sunday. Registration will be free for everyone in fancy dress and an “Atout Prix” card will be given at the finish to all final participants to come and ski in Courchevel in 2022 at exceptional rates.
Before they can start the “Millet Everest 2021”, participants will have to qualify on the basis of the “M3000” challenge during the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel on Wednesdays and Saturdays by completing 6 climbs in under 5 hours between 10 am and 3 pm (only the best time of the day counts towards the MSTC standings).

The number of places is limited to 70 (60 best men’s times and 10 best women’s times in the M3000 Challenge) so that this challenge can be organised in strict compliance with health regulations.

First Danish victory!

Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Peru and the United Kingdom were represented in this 6th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel, held on Wednesday 3 and Saturday 6 February. After setting the best performance of the first day in 26min30s, the Little Mermaid’s compatriot Henrik Hansen kept his lead despite a fierce fight. With an advantage of just 10 seconds, the Dane won ahead of Etienne Loisel (26min40s), himself hard on the heels of Maxime David (26min42s), 2 seconds behind.
Among the women, the same duel played out between Sophie Mollard , victorious in 30min54s, and Laurie Renoton , 7 seconds behind. Véronique Lathuraz completed the podium in 32min26s.

In the M3000 Challenge, 17 participants completed the 6 climbs within the time limit in this 6th round, bringing the number of athletes pre-selected for the Everest challenge to a total of 24.

The halfway review of this disrupted season is more than positive. 754 starts were recorded for 399 ranked competitors. Figures that are constantly rising at this stage of the competition, suggesting a very promising and exciting second half. Although the times recorded to date are very fast, nothing is settled. In the provisional overall standings, Thibault Anselmet leads the way in 21min48s ahead of Gédeon Pochat (21min50s) and Italy’s Michele Boscacci (22min11s). Among the women, the unbeatable Axelle Gachet-Mollaret leads the dance in 25min58s, followed by Italy’s Alba De Silvestro (27min11s) andEmily Harrop (27min43s).

In the ESF Challenge, Bonneval sur Arc asserts its provisional supremacy with Thibault Anselmet ahead of ESF Aime 2000, represented by Jonathan Lamy (27min30s), and ESF Sainte-Foy with Clément Mugnier (27min57s). Among the female instructors, Emily Harrop of ESF Montalbert keeps the lead in 27min43s, 11 seconds ahead of Laura Deplanche of ESF La Toussuire and Nolwenn Monin of ESF Aime 2000 (35min32s).

10 competitors have done all 6 rounds!

Pascale Gachet Mauroz, Mireille Franchino, Alice Garcin, Michael Benoit, Olivier Cellier, Lucas Durczak, Jonathan Lamy, Philippe Mottier, Joseph Samson and Jean Marc Sullice have done every round since the start of the season, with a very special mention to Pascale, an instructor at ESF Courchevel Village who has not missed a single climb since 2016.

Season 11 apotheosis on 21 March 2021

The 2021 season prize-giving will take place behind closed doors with all the winners in the Facim hall, hosted by Ludovic Collet with many surprises on the programme, with the ceremony broadcast on Facebook Live on the Courchevel Sports Outdoor page at 4.30 pm.

7th round : Because of the disturbed weather forecast for this Wednesday 10 February, the first day of racing of the 7th round will be moved to Thursday 11 February. 

Next dates: Round 7: Thursday 11 and Saturday 13 February from 10 am to 3 pm