ROUND 16 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Friday 18 March 2022

Manon Anselmet and Vincent Lousteau win the 16th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel

This Friday 18 March, a full-moon day, saw the 16th and penultimate round of season 12 of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel. Spring-like conditions were on offer, which motivated some participants such as Joseph Samson, winner of the prize for the best costume at the 2021 final, or Jonathan Nivière to do this ski touring climb in shorts and a T-shirt. A good way to save a few grams and a few seconds on the clock, but not enough to reach the podium.

Among the women, Manon Anselmet, younger sister of Thibault, winner of the 2021 edition and currently in third position in the provisional overall standings, won by a whisker in 33min22s, 10 seconds ahead of Manon Morin (33min32s). After taking a fine second place at the Millet Everest Challenge 2022 on 5 March, Coline Pasteur of the ESF in Villard de Lans completed the podium in 35min12s.

Among the men, a hat trick for Vincent Loustau. This 3rd win this season in 26min02s shows a form that is still optimal. Some way back, Pierre Zanolin in 28min40s held off Camille Verrier of the ESF in Chamonix (29min10s) for second place.

For this 4th “Full Moon” special of the season, a pair of Plum R150 bindings was up for grabs in the prize draw, whose lucky winner was William Bertrand.

A successful first for Dawa Dachhiri Sherpa

Among the 65 competitors, the iconic Nepalese ultra-trail runner Dawa Dachhiri Sherpa, winner of the first edition of the UTMB in 2003 and selected in cross-country skiing at 3 Olympics, at which he was his country’s flag bearer, posted his first time in this legendary Vertical Race discipline of 500 m of elevation gain over 3.2 km. With a final time of 36min27s (silver medal) and despite losing a climbing skin shortly after the start, which undoubtedly cost him the gold medal, he greatly enjoyed the experience. An opportunity for Guillaume Prin, president of the organising club Courchevel Sports Outdoor, to hand him a cheque for €1,000 in support of his association “Parrain et Marraines du Népal”, corresponding to the sum of the registration fees plus some donations collected at the 9th round in tribute to Patrice Gibaud.

“I thought of my friend Patrice Gibaud during the climb. I thank him, his children Baptiste and Matthias, as well as the organisers and participants for this cheque, which will be used for the extension of a care centre for elderly people in my village of Taksindu in Nepal. I really enjoyed this climb, but I still lack a bit of technique. I will come back next year strengthened by this first experience,” he said after crossing the finish line.

Nearly 500 participants expected for the grand final of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel 2022

After a 2-year wait, the Millet Ski Touring is pulling out all the stops for the final.

This fancy-dress climax is going to be spectacular. For the occasion, the organisers have spared no effort to offer a quality show, including a roving band in the start and finish areas, smoke flares and powder cannons, a marshmallow party, the traditional costume contest and plenty of surprises to discover throughout this evening, which promises to be memorable.

Once the 3.2 km with 500 m of elevation gain have been tackled, spectators can follow along with the Praz gondola, free for the occasion, and then it is time to celebrate: a buffet will be offered to all participants at the Envolée gym, at the foot of the Olympic ski jumps at Le Praz, before the prize-giving of this season 12, hosted by Ludovic Collet with the support of the race’s patron Nelson Monfort. The rest of the evening promises to be rock’n’roll with a concert by the co-founder of the emblematic band Téléphone, Louis Bertignac who will set the hall on fire and make everyone forget the fatigue of the race. The show is also open to the public not taking part in the race, but beware, places are limited… The final promises to be as sporty as it is festive, closing the Millet Ski Touring season with a flourish and music, until the 13th edition next winter.

Programme for the evening of 23 March 2022:

From 4 pm: bib collection
6 pm: Start of the fancy-dress race
7.30 pm: Envolée doors open
8 pm: Prize-giving ceremony
9 pm: Louis Bertignac concert

Access to race, buffet and concert: €15/participant in fancy dress, €25/participant not in fancy dress
Concert access only: €25/person

€8,000 of prize money and €4,800 of shopping vouchers to be won.

Who will be the winners of this season 12 on Wednesday 23 March 2022?

Where the overall standings stand before the final:

► Provisional scratch standings:
1st: Yoann Sert 21min41s / Axelle Gachet-Mollaret 23min54s
2nd: Kilian Jornet 21min53s / Emily Harrop 28min15s
3rd: Thibault Anselmet 22min02s / Jessica Pardin 26min23s

► O60 category: Joseph Chedal Anglay 30min32s / Pascale Gachet Mauroz 38min07s

► O40 category: Yoann Caillot 24min22s / Corinne Favre 28min51s

► O24 category: Yoann Sert 21min41s / Axelle Gachet-Mollaret 23min54s

► U23 category: Julien Bernaz 22min39s / Perrine Gindre 29min46s

► U20 category: Anselme Damevin 23min14s / Grace Staberg 27min42s

► U18 category: Jules Raybaud 26min36s / Louise Trincaz 29min44s

► U16 category: Kerian Grimaud 28min21s / Orianna Pautrel 39min25s

Next event: Millet Ski Touring Courchevel final and Louis Bertignac concert: Wednesday 23 March