ROUND 8 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 26 January 2022

Calm returns to the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel

After the feat by Axelle Gachet Mollaret at the French Vertical Race championship on Saturday 22 January, the backdrop to the 7th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel, in which she literally smashed Laetitia Roux's record of 25 min 51s dating from 2014 in 23min54s, and the performance of Thibault Anselmet, who retains the title he won in 2021 in a time of 22min02s, the provisional record for this season 12 of the MSTC, calm was back this Wednesday 26 January for this 8th round. At the end of the 3.2 km and 500 m of elevation gain of this ski touring time trial, Vincent Loustau of the Méribel Sports Club wins in 25min46s. He finishes ahead of Anthony Amoudruz (Ain Roc), second in 28min08s, followed by just one second by Jérôme Evèque (CMSAB). Worth noting is the fine performance of Joseph Chedal Anglay of Courchevel Sport Oudoor, who takes the lead in the provisional overall standings in the O60 category (31min33s).

In the women’s race, victory goes to Clémentine Moreau of the Club Multi Sports D’Arêches Beaufort in 34min36s after a superb fight with Manon Morin, 2nd in 34min56s. Caroline Rainieri, a member of the club Courchevel Sports Outdoor, completes the podium in 36min27s.

This slight lull will not last. As early as next Wednesday, it will be time for the mid-season review. The countdown will be on to the grand fancy-dress final on 23 March, sponsored by Nelson Monfort, who will host the prize-giving ceremony. The co-founder of the group Téléphone, Louis Bertignac, master of ceremonies of the evening, will close this 12th season with an exceptional concert.

The second part of the MSTC looks set to be very eventful in terms of records. The Swede Tove Alexandersson, winner of the last Ski Mountaineering World Cup Vertical Race ahead of Axelle Gachet Mollaret and the Swiss Rémi Bonnet, holder of the all-time race record in 21min20s, have announced they are coming. Some fine suspense in prospect, not forgetting the Courchevel Ultra Ski Touring, which will allow fans of long efforts to take each other on over this course, which must be climbed 18 times to reach the 9,000 m of elevation gain of the Millet Everest challenge on 5 and 6 March.

Tribute to Patrice Gibaud on Wednesday 2 February

Dawa Dachhiri Sherpa, patron of the Courchevel Ultra Ski Touring “Millet Everest”, will be present this Wednesday 2 February at the start of the 9th MSTC round dedicated to Patrice Gibaud.

A loyal volunteer at the side of Guillaume Prin, president of the organising club Courchevel Sports Outdoor (CSO) since the launch of the MSTC adventure in December 2010 and a lover of outdoor sports, Patrice Gibaud, president of the CSO Trail Running section, left us on 19 November. During his 58 years, he knew how to share his passion and bring many fans together at his side to achieve many challenges and dreams. At the start of a multitude of endurance and ultra-endurance races, with many podiums to show for it, he was able to rub shoulders with, and form bonds of friendship with, many amateur or renowned athletes. Among all his encounters, it is unquestionably the Nepalese Dawa Dachhiri Sherpa who will remain his role model, given his kindness and his vision of sport and of the world.

For this final tribute, many people are expected among the trail running and ski mountaineering elite, with some fine surprises in prospect.

Everyone who has a photo of him or with him can bring it along to make one last climb at his side, before displaying it at the summit on a board that will then be given to his children Matthias and Baptiste.

All registration fees will be donated to the association of Dawa Dachhiri Sherpa “Parrains et Marraines pour le Népal” for humanitarian projects in the villages of Taksindu and Chhulemu, located in the Everest valley, 280 km from Kathmandu.

Upcoming dates: 9th Millet Ski Touring Courchevel: Wednesday 2 February