Act 8 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 31 January 2024

An incredible mid-season review for the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel 2024

The white carpet was rolled out for the 8th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel this Wednesday 31 January. The snowpack, extremely icy and glazed at the moment, is not very suited to ski mountaineering, as the skins struggle to grip. In these conditions, ski crampons are needed to cross these icy patches safely. In a vertical race such as the MSTC, this system of crampons attached to the front of the binding is not recommended for good times. In this particular context, the organisers had no choice but to send the snow groomer up the course just before the race so that the 140 ski mountaineers entered could compete in complete safety.

This initiative delighted all the participants, who were very surprised by the quality of the track and, as a bonus at the finish, the pancakes cooked by Nathalie Langeard and Gilles Poirier, two loyal participants, to celebrate Candlemas in style. An ideal combination to motivate the troops to put in fine performances.

Lucille Germain enters the top 5

In the women’s race, trail running team world champion Lucille Germain smashed her personal best and won in 27min28s, a blistering time that took her to 5th place in the provisional overall standings (CGP). Anne-Lise Desjacques took second place in 28min54s, followed by Poland’s Claudia Chmielowska in 30min42s.

Under 23 minutes for Yoann Sert

Holder of the 3rd best performance in MSTC history in 21min41s, Yoann Sert made a magnificent comeback in 22min39s, a time that propelled him to 6th place in the CGP, just 3 hundredths behind Anselme Damevin, who is ahead of him in the standings. “This is the test. It’s ideal for knowing where you stand in your preparation. When you go under 23 minutes, you know you’re in good shape,” he said with a smile. Second on the stage with a personal best of 23 minutes, Paul Jay climbed to 7th place in the CGP. Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz, 2023 winner of the Hardrock and the Grand Raid de la Réunion, stepped onto the 3rd step of the podium in 23min56s. Worthy of note is the fine result of Spyridon Trigazis, the first Greek to take part in the MSTC, bronze medal in 52min29s.

Supported by the municipality and the Courchevel Tourist Office, a challenge between the 2 entities was organised during this evening. In the end, Agathe Panneau of the Tourist Office won the women’s race in 37min54s, followed by Vincent Lousteau of the Town Hall in the men’s race in 25min15s.

More than 600 participants ranked at mid-season

After 8 rounds, it is time for the mid-season review. 1,031 starts and 605 participants: a record since the origin of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel. Will the provisional leaders Thibault Anselmet in 21min21s and Emily Harrop in 25min25s hold on until the end? That is the stake of the second part of the season. Following the 4th round of the Ski Mountaineering World Cup, to be held in Switzerland this weekend, a good number of the international elite should come to compete on the 3.2 km Vertical Race course with 500 m of elevation gain, which has become the absolute benchmark in its field, with prize money of €9,800 shared among the top 5 of the overall standings and €4,800 in shopping vouchers for the winners of each category.

The countdown is now under way to the grand fancy-dress final on Wednesday 20 March, with an exceptional concert by the legendary band Deluxe, which will create a wild atmosphere in the salle de l’Envolée and close season 14 with a bang. The second part of this 14th edition promises to be thrilling and will be enlivened by a few highlights, with a Dynastar special planned for 14 February for Saint Valentine’s Day, a Plum special on 21 February for the last climb under the full moon, and the Millet Everest challenge, the Ultra Ski Touring Courchevel, taking place on 2 and 3 March.

Next date: Millet Ski Touring Courchevel on Wednesday 7 February 2024