Round 16 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 20 March 2024

A masterful final for season 14 of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel!

The 2024 edition of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel will remain etched in memory. Record participation was logged, with 1,418 different ski mountaineers making 2,669 starts. This very mild winter, marked by low snowfall, demanded an enormous amount of work from the president of the organising club, Guillaume Prin, and his whole team, with help from the Sports Department, the Société des 3 Vallées piste-grooming crew and the municipality, to maintain a quality track. In that context, from 16 December until Wednesday 20 March, the first day of spring 2024, the entire original programme was able to take place on the official 3.2 km course with 500 m of elevation gain between Courchevel Le Praz and Courchevel Station. It was a magnificent season, which got off to a flying start with the French Vertical Race championship, followed by 3 Plum specials during the full-moon weeks, a Dynastar special on St Valentine’s Day, the Millet Everest challenge and the 200th round anniversary celebrated on Wednesday 10 January in the presence of Jean-Pierre Millet, owner of the partner brand.

Incredible costumes for the final…

For 14 seasons, 24,140 participants have come to tackle this legendary MSTC course every Wednesday of the winter. It has become the benchmark Vertical Race (VR) event for all ski tourers. Specialists, amateurs and newcomers rub shoulders in a friendly spirit to beat records, fine-tune their fitness or, for the great majority, simply to enjoy themselves. For the final, festivities take centre stage with, as tradition demands, fancy-dress outfits to the delight of the spectators. The fine weather and warmth were there for this Wednesday 20 March, with record participation. More than 600 participants were gathered on either side of the famous cascade start.

There was no shortage of imagination to surprise and try to win the trophy for best costume, awarded by the company Deguisetoi.fr 2024. It is a very symbolic prize, but a highly coveted one. The choice proved difficult for the jury, chaired this year by Emma Lefebvre, communications manager of the partner brand Deguisetoi.fr. After lengthy deliberation, on this first day of spring the choice fell on Mireille Franchino dressed as a bouquet of flowers. But many costumed competitors could have laid claim to the prize, such as the “Up” house or the articulated puppets.

Last round for Axelle Gachet Mollaret, overall win for Emily Harrop

While conviviality and good humour take precedence over the clock for the great majority of competitors in the final, a few athletes had come to secure their place on the podium, or even to threaten the record.

After 7 consecutive years of reign, Axelle Gachet Mollaret, holder of the event record in 23min54s, had staked everything on this last round. She won in 25min50s ahead of Laura Deplanche (28min24s) and Corinne Favre (30min56s), but the snow, damaged by the rain showers of previous days, was not at its best for very fast performances. Axelle finishes this 14th edition in second position, 6 seconds behind her Pierra Menta teammate Emily Harrop. Dressed as a bottle of Orangina, the latter, a member of the Courchevel Sports Outdoor club, holder of 2 big crystal globes and currently leading the Ski Mountaineering World Cup, enters MSTC legend by setting the fastest time of the season in 25min25s. Currently second in the World Cup, Célia Perillat Pessey, reigning vice-champion of the French VR championships, took the 3rd step of the podium in 26min22s. The American Katie Schide, winner of the 2022 UTMB and the 2023 Grand Raid de la Réunion, and Lucille Germain of the Courchevel Sports Outdoor club, 2023 team trail running world champion, complete the top 5 with respective times of 27min23s and 27min28s.

Second title for Thibault Anselmet and 4th win for Mathéo Jacquemoud

After a fine comeback up the overall standings at each of his appearances, Mathéo Jacquemoud, 3rd in the 38th Pierra Menta in 2014 alongside the Austrian Jacob Herrmann, took his 4th win of the season at the finish in 22min50s ahead of the Russian Filippov Nikita (23min07s) and Samuel Equy (24min16s). In the end, he takes 5th place overall in 22min04s.

The big winner of this 14th edition is called Thibault Anselmet in 21min21s. Crowned 2024 French Vertical Race champion in December 2023 on the slopes of the official MSTC course and currently in pole position in the overall Ski Mountaineering World Cup standings, he confirms his 2021 season success.

Recent winner of the 38th Pierra Menta, Xavier Gachet, 2024 VR French vice-champion, falls short by 3 seconds but keeps second place overall in a time of 21min24s. The places of honour go to Gédéon Pochat Cottilloux, 3rd in 21min52s, followed 40 hundredths behind by Samuel Equy, winner of the 2022 Ski Mountaineering World Championship long-distance event.

The band Deluxe lit up the closing evening of this 2024 season, a World Cup to open the 2025 one

The 2024 Raymond and René Millet Crystal Trophy (named after the founders of the partner company Millet) and the €2,000 prize money were presented by the mayor of Courchevel, Jean-Yves Pachod, to the 2 winners Thibault Anselmet and Emily Harrop, the Courchevel skier.

This 14th edition will go down in the annals and above all in memories. The vocal, musical and artistic performance of the band Deluxe had a lot to do with it, setting the Envolée gymnasium ablaze before more than 1,500 jubilant spectators. It was an exceptional success coupled with an enormous popular triumph, which received the congratulations of Alexia Lainé, director of the Courchevel Tourist Office.

It was in front of this effervescence and enthusiasm that Jean-Yves Pachod officially announced that Courchevel will host the 1st stage of the 2025 Ski Mountaineering World Cup in mid-December. The Vertical Race will be held on the official MSTC course, and will also be open to the public. This competition will mark the opening of season 15 of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel.

Official overall standings 2024:

Men:

1: Thibault Anselmet > 21min21s
2: Xavier Gachet > 21min45s
3: Gédéon Pochat > 21min52s
4: Samuel Equy > 21min52s
5: Mathéo Jacquemoud > 22min04s

Women:

1: Emily Harrop > 25min25s
2: Axelle Gachet Mollaret > 25min31s
3: Célia Perillaz Pessey > 26min22s
4: Katie Schide > 27min23s
5: Lucille Germain > 27min28s

Category U16: Mathilde Gillet > 32min42s / Raphaël Pinéde > 28min29s
Category U18: Manon Pinède > 34min41s / Célestin Gullon > 26min05s
Category U20: Louise Trincaz > 28min46s / Jules Raybaud > 24min03s
Category U23: Margot Ravinel > 28min02s / Nikita Filippov > 22min28s
Category O24: Elily Harrop > 25min25s / Thibault Anselmet > 21min21s
Category O40 : Corinne Favre > 30min07s / Jonas Buchot > 24min59s
Category O60: Claude Chevassu > 38min48s / Jean-Claude Mathieu > 28min40s