ACT 7 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 25 January 2023

The 7th Millet Ski Touring Courchevel for Axelle Gachet-Mollaret and Jim Walmsley

A year ago, almost to the day, the legendary women’s record of 25min31s set in 2014 by Laetitia Roux fell. The latter, an icon of ski mountaineering, was raised by decree at the start of the season to the rank of Knight in the Ordre National du Mérite in recognition of her career and her many titles. The new queen of the discipline, Axelle Gachet-Mollaret, set on that date the new absolute reference time of 23min54s.

This Wednesday 25 January, all the conditions were in place for the 7th round of this 2023 season to produce very good times and even threaten the women’s record with the reigning title holder on the start line.

Axelle Gachet-Mollaret imperial

Winner of both events of the 3rd World Cup stage (Individual and Vertical Race) held in Andorra last weekend, and having dazzled her opponents by winning the Vertical Race and Mixed Relay at the 2023 French championships on 7 and 8 January in Courchevel, Axelle Gachet-Mollaret, six-time winner of the MSTC and holder of the World Cup Crystal Globe in the discipline, once again distinguished herself on the 3.2 km and 500 m of elevation gain of this course, which has become the reference in the Vertical Race world. In 24min12s, she comes within 18 seconds of the record and naturally takes the lead in the provisional women’s overall standings.

Reigning holder of the overall World Cup Crystal Globe in ski mountaineering and runner-up in the 2022 edition of the MSTC, Emily Harrop, an instructor in Courchevel and a member of the CSO club, was returning to competition after a bad fall in the 2nd World Cup stage in Italy, in the sprint event in mid-December, which cost her a broken rib. This first intense session was a success for her, with 2nd place in 27min41s. Lena Bonnel (28min28s) completes the podium ahead of Marie-Charlotte Iratzoquy who, in 29min32s, takes over the leadership of the U23 category.

A special mention to the very young Elfy Bry, aged 9, who, accompanied by her brother Noé (aged 11), posted a time of 53min36s, earning the bronze "La Trace ESF" medal.

Jim Walmsley higher and higher

Three-time winner of the JFK 50 Mile and the Western States 100, the list of honours of Jim Walmsley is as long as your arm, with, in 2022, wins at the Madeira Island Ultra Trail and the Grand Raid des Templiers, not to mention a commendable 4th place at the UTMB.

The American athlete, an international heavyweight of ultra trail, was at the MSTC start again this Wednesday 25 January after posting a time of 24min11s in the 5th round. In the end, with an improvement of 1 minute and 19 seconds, he wins in 22min52s and becomes a formidable contender for the final overall standings (currently 2nd behind Gédéon Pochat, leader in 22min21s). With this performance, he could earn a first American selection for the next World Cup Vertical Race alongside his compatriot Cameron Smith (currently 4th in the provisional MSTC overall standings in 23min17s).

"I think I can do even better, you quickly get hooked, I’m going to keep improving and come back stronger," he told us with a smile once he had crossed the line. Simon Gosselin of the Club des Sports de Chamonix crashes the party in second place in 23min56s ahead of the Pole Sebastian Druszkiewicz, third in 24min55s, who continues his inexorable rise in the discipline.

Winner of the 3rd round on the alternative course and of the 6th on the official course, Sebastian, born in 1986, is a top-level athlete. He represented Poland in speed skating at the Vancouver Olympic Games in 2010 and at Sochi 2014 (14th in the 10,000 m).

Jonathan Lamy preparing for more 8,000-metre peaks

Jonathan Lamy, a member of the club Courchevel Sports Outdoor, wins the ESF challenge in 27min52s. This mountaineering enthusiast (6th Frenchman to have climbed Everest twice, the fastest to climb that mountain twice and to complete the Everest & Makalu double, 27th Frenchman on the summit of Makalu) takes part regularly in the MSTC, good endurance training for him. Other expeditions, still kept secret to date, are planned for 2023.

It was at his initiative that a "Millet Everest" challenge, consisting of 9,000 m of elevation gain on the MSTC course, i.e. 18 climbs in under 24 hours, was created in 2021. This first Ultra Ski Touring Courchevel will be back in spring 2024.

The 2nd Full Moon on the calendar for 1 February

A mouth-watering programme in store for the 8th round, set for Wednesday 1 February. This climb will mark the mid-season before a short 2-week break due to the organisation of the Alpine Skiing World Championships. For this second "Full Moon" of the season, a pair of R150 bindings from partner Plum will be drawn by lot from among all the participants. To mark the occasion, as Candlemas demands, pancakes will be offered to all at the finish, not forgetting the Savoie Committee of the FFME, which will offer holidaymakers in the resort a free safety workshop at the MSTC finish during the afternoon.

The season will resume its normal course on Wednesday 22 February with a special "Mercredi Gras", in partnership with the company Dynastar, to start sharpening the costumes ahead of the great fancy-dress final on Tuesday 21 March, which promises to be huge with the exceptional concert by the band Tryo to round off this 2023 edition.

Next date: 8th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel on Wednesday 1 February