Round 1 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Thursday 25 December 2025

The Millet Ski Touring Courchevel gains altitude

Round 1 of this 16th edition of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel finished at an altitude of 2,249 m. The lack of snow on the official course between Le Praz and Courchevel 1850, following the foehn episode of the last few days, forced the organisers from the Courchevel Sports Outdoor club to put the alternative course in place for the start of the season.

Used at the start of the 2017 and 2023 seasons, this 2.6 km alternative course (500 m of elevation gain) starts at the finish of the official MSTC course, on the Courchevel 1850 snow front, and ends at the top of the Loze relay (the finish of the Plum KV Courchevel course).

This magnificent Vertical Race route, which overlooks the Courchevel resort - where the 2023 VR French Championship was held - has the advantage of offering very good benchmark times for athletes preparing for the World Cup season.

With 8 MSTC wins to her name, Axelle Gachet-Mollaret holds the best women’s time on this course in 22 min 34 s, while Thibault Anselmet, winner of the 2024 MSTC, holds the men’s benchmark time in 19 min 51 s.

Lucille Germain and Paul Jay take the win

On Thursday 25 December, conditions were perfect for fine performances. To stay in the Christmas spirit, a Santa hat was given to all participants, some of whom did not hesitate to turn up in the full Father - or Mother - Christmas outfit.

It was in this festive atmosphere that Lucille Germain, in full preparation for the Vertical Race of the Ski Mountaineering World Cup, which will take place in Courchevel on Friday 16 January, came to win.

Fourth in the 2025 MSTC and holder of the 6th best women’s performance on the official course (26 min 15 s), she set a time of 24 min 10 s, the 2nd best time in history on this alternative course. She finished ahead of Eva Delafosse (27 min 12 s) and Clarisse Monnet (27 min 13 s).

Among the men, Paul Jay treated himself to a dream Christmas evening. Fourth in the 2025 MSTC, he won the final round of the previous season before winning this round 1 of the 2026 MSTC in 20 min 37 s, ahead of vertical kilometre trail specialist Vincent Loustau (21 min 34 s) and Thibault Vocanson (22 min 43 s).

The second round will once again take place on the same course. So that as many people as possible can witness this magnificent spectacle at the finish, spectators and companions will be able to cheer on the participants thanks to the Chenus gondola, free from 6 pm.

The final promises to be grandiose with Ofenbach!

This 16th season will comprise a total of 12 rounds. As usual, participants can take part in as many rounds as they wish in order to improve their performances. In the end, only the best time of the season counts towards the overall standings.

From 5 rounds completed on the alternative course, the rewards planned for the official course will be split in two, in order to reward the official-course and alternative-course records fairly.

The Trophy Raymond & René Millet will be awarded only for the scratch record (men and women) of the 2025–2026 season on the official course.

The great fancy-dress final will take place this year on Wednesday 25 February, with the magnificent concert by Ofenbach, which will close this 16th season just after the Cortina Olympics.

Get ready for the most explosive, immersive and resolutely futuristic evening in the whole history of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel finals.

Next event: Thursday 1 January 2026 – Millet Ski Touring Courchevel