Act 7 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 24 January 2024

First bib of the season for Axelle Gachet Mollaret

Under a magnificent full moon, the 7th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel (MSTC) took off this Wednesday 24 January with 134 participants at the start of this legendary Vertical Race event in the discipline of ski mountaineering. “With a few exceptions, it is always a few minutes before the start of the race, scheduled from 6.20 pm, at bib collection, that we discover the headline names,” announced Guillaume Prin, president of the organising club Courchevel Sports Outdoor. So every Wednesday, the suspense is maintained until the last moment.

For the last 3 years, this is the time of year that seven-time MSTC winner Axelle Gachet-Gachet, holder of the absolute women’s record for the event in 23min54s, has chosen to come and set her best times. After the arrival of her little Lisa at the end of November, Axelle had pencilled in this Wednesday 24 January to kick off her season before returning to the Ski Mountaineering World Cup circuit in 2 weeks.

American Katie Schide enters the top 5 of the overall standings on her birthday

Aiming for an 8th consecutive title and watched by all the spectators gathered at the finish of this 3.2 km climb with 500 m of elevation gain between Courchevel Le Praz and Courchevel 1850, Axelle Gachet-Mollaret missed out by just 6 seconds on overtaking Emily Harrop, holder of the season’s provisional record (CGP) in 25min25s. With a time of 25min31s, Axelle won this 7th round and moved into second place in the provisional women’s overall standings for 2024. On her birthday, American Katie Schide, winner of the 2022 UTMB and the 2023 Grand Raid de la Réunion, finished on the 2nd step of the podium in 27min03s, which brought her 4th place in the 2024 CGP.

Elise Rouchy took 3rd place of the evening in 31min36s, not forgetting Morgan Watteau who, also on his birthday, won a bronze medal in 56min08s.

Germain Grangier tops the podium

In the men’s race, the podium was decided by the narrowest of margins in under 25 minutes. After a perfect 2023 trail running year (victory in the 90 km of the Mont-Blanc marathon, second in the Grand Raid de la Réunion and 3rd in the UTMB), Germain Grangier won this 7th round in 24min31s despite serious resistance from his teammate Valentin Clarys, 2nd in 24min37s. Poland’s Sebastian Druszkiewicz, on his 3rd podium of the season, did not disgrace himself in 24min56s, his best time of 2024.

A nod to the two physiotherapists from Le Praz, Jordan Hibon and Mickael Chapuis, MSTC regulars, who battled it out with excellent times, respectively 33min29s (gold medal) and 33min47s (vermeil medal).

Maxime Findinier wins the jackpot

Every full moon week, a “Plum” special is on the MSTC programme with, at the end of the round, a pair of “Plum” bindings drawn by lot among all the participants. On the occasion of this second “full moon” of the season, Maxime Findinier was the luckiest, winning this quality prize. The next and last Plum special is scheduled for Wednesday 21 February but, between now and then, other surprises are in store.

Next Wednesday: Candlemas week. As every year, two loyal participants, Nathalie Langeard and Gilles Poirier, will be in charge of the pancake pans to offer pancakes at the finish.

Next date: Millet Ski Touring Courchevel on Wednesday 31 January 2024