ROUND 3 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Thursday 30 December 2021

To Jean-Christophe Bette and Grace Staberg the last of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel 2021

Following very heavy rain, the third round of season 12 of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel, initially scheduled for Wednesday 29 December, had to be postponed to Thursday 30 December. In the end, the decision was the right one, with 104 participants at the start under a magnificent starry sky, a year-end finishing in style. The only slight drawback was the quality of the 3.2 km, 500 m of elevation gain course between Courchevel Le Praz and Courchevel, as grooming could not be carried out in good conditions because of very wet snow. In the coming days, the track will regain its velvet skin so that athletes wishing to prepare for the French Vertical Race championship on Saturday 22 January, the backdrop to the 7th MSTC round, can train in the best possible conditions, particularly on the 3 climbs that precede this event.

Rowing in the spotlight with Jean Christophe Bette

Ski touring has gained many followers following last season, which was marked by the closure of the ski lifts. The discipline is enjoying a definite craze, reinforced by its inclusion in the 2026 Olympic calendar. This is obvious at the MSTC, which sees new faces file past every week. This Thursday 30 December, many holidaymakers were there, with a strong presence of Belgian tourists, who were able to discover the race at their own pace by setting off first in this time trial. In these conditions, they were able to admire the ease and technique of one of the most decorated rowers in French rowing (gold medallist at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000) Jean-Christophe Bette, who wins in 26min49s, not without fighting hard with Pierre Reygade, a member of the Sport Nature de Saint-Four, second 9 seconds back, and the biathlete Morgan Lamure, now a cross-country ski coach at the Club des Sports de Courchevel and an instructor at the ESF Courchevel Village, third 28 seconds back, who scores a double by taking the lead in the provisional ESF challenge standings.

After Poland last week, the USA open their account thanks to Grace Staberg

Winner of the Vertical Race and runner-up in the individual in the U20 category at the first World Cup round held in Italy in mid-December, the American Grace Staberg, coached by Laetitia Roux, the legend of the discipline and still the record holder of the race in 25min31s since 2014, and supported by her sister Delilah, came out victorious this Thursday 30 December in 27min42s. As a result, she consolidates her place as U20 leader in the 2022 provisional overall standings. She finishes ahead of Clarisse Monnet of the Méribel sports club (32min). Dixandra Magisson completes the podium in 33min30s.

La Trace ESF: the ski touring medal 

Introduced by the ESF of Courchevel in 2019, the “La Trace” medal, specific to the discipline of ski mountaineering, motivates all the competitors who have been coming to test themselves for 12 years on this Vertical Race course, which has become the reference. A reminder to set the performance levels:
- Gold medal in under 33min30s,
- Vermeil medal in under 42min45s,
- Silver medal in under 52s,
- Bronze medal in under 1h01mins15s
- Finisher medal for any competitor who crosses the finish line with no time limit. 

Next event: Millet Ski Touring Courchevel on Wednesday 5 January 2022