Round 6 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 21 January 2026

6th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel: the next generation in the spotlight

After the World Cup came and went, the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel (MSTC) found their cruising rhythm again. This Wednesday 21 January, 185 ski mountaineers gathered at the start of the 6th round of the event.

On the programme: the classic time trial starting from Courchevel Le Praz over a 3.2 km course with 500 m of elevation gain, to reach the snow front at Courchevel 1850 as fast as possible.

According to the time achieved, all participants are rewarded at the prize-giving ceremony with the traditional ESF “La Trace” medals, according to the following scale:

Gold medal: under 33 min 30 s
Vermeil: from 33 min 30 s to 42 min 45 s
Silver: from 42 min 45 s to 52 min
Bronze: from 52 min to 1 h 01 min 15 s
Finisher: over 1 h 01 min 15 s

The French U18 Vertical Race champion in the spotlight

2025 MSTC winner in the U18 category, Mathilde Gillet, reigning French Vertical Race champion, wins this 6th round. With a time of 31 min 03 s, she finishes ahead of Nina Thauvin, (Vallée de l’Ubaye), credited with a time of 31 min 11 s and Noélie Gautier (Maurienne Ski Alpinisme) in 31 min 12 s.

Mathilde Gillet takes the lead in the U18 provisional overall standings ahead of Lou Portes (33 min 54 s) and Laurette Gullon (37 min 23 s).

The evening was also marked by a highlight for the most loyal of participants. Pascale Gachet Mauroz, an ESF instructor at Courchevel Village, was taking part in her 149th consecutive climb. Currently 3rd in the provisional overall standings in the O60 category, she celebrated her 68th birthday after crossing the finish line in 41 min 59 s.

Morgan Lamure impresses

In the men’s race, Morgan Lamure (ESF Courchevel Village) puts on a real show and wins in 23 min 49 s, a performance that propels him to 51st in the world rankings.

He finishes ahead of Jules Odile (24 min 16 s), who takes the lead in the provisional overall standings in the U20 category, and Paul Sulpice (25 min 10 s), 2026 French U18 Vertical Race champion. This performance takes him to 2nd place in the U18 provisional overall standings, currently led by Victor Josselin (24 min 51 s).

A very positive mid-season review

The season got off to a flying start with the alternative course, used to make up for the lack of snow on the official route, which opened last week. Three rounds have been run on the official course, including the Vertical Race World Cup.

The events follow one another without ever emptying out. Quite the contrary, many new participants of all levels come to discover the event. Elites fight for victory among newcomers who quickly get caught up in the race against the clock in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Each round traditionally ends around a soup served from a cauldron.

This 6th stage marks the mid-point of this 16th edition, which will have 11 in total. With 1,035 starts, 331 competitors ranked on the alternative course and 476 on the official course, an average of 170 participants per round, this first part of the season is quite simply the best ever recorded in the history of the MSTC.

Provisional overall standings

In the men’s race, the Swiss Rémi Bonnet, winner of the 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2025 editions, leads comfortably with a time of 20 min 02 s. He is ahead of Aurélien Gay (21 min 08 s), the Spaniard Oriol Cardona Coll (21 min 12 s), the Austrian Paul Verbnjak (21 min 13 s) and the French Vertical Race champion Samuel Equy (21 min 25 s).

In the women’s race, the eight-time MSTC winner (2017 to 2023 and 2025) Axelle Gachet-Mollaret holds first place with a time of 23 min 40 s, ahead of Emily Harrop (24 min 21 s), the Austrian Sarah Dreier (25 min 08 s), Margot Ravinel (25 min 40 s) and the Italian Giulia Murada (25 min 43 s).

Garance Rimboub (49min46s) and Sam Premat (26min17s) lead the U16 category. Mathilde Gillet (31min03s) and Victor Josselin (24min51s) are leaders in the U18 category. The Japanese Yuzhen Cidan (27min35s) and Jules Odiles (24min16s) tame the U20 category. The Swiss Thibe Deseyn (26min31s) and the Austrian Nils Oberauer (22min08s) hold the reins in the U23s. At the top of the O40 category sit the Dutch Nienke Oostra (30min45s) and William Bon Mardion (23min11s). In the O60, domination by Sylvie Turbil (34min49s) and the loyal local Joseph Chedal Anglay (32min03s).

Heading for the grand final

The countdown has now begun to the grand fancy-dress final on Wednesday 25 February. The season will end in style with the concert by the band Ofenbach, which will set this 16th edition alight.

While Rémi Bonnet and Axelle Gachet-Mollaret seem untouchable, nothing is settled yet for the top 5 places in either the men’s or women’s standings. The second part of the season promises to be thrilling and will be punctuated by highlights, notably the traditional “pancake” evening on Wednesday 4 February for Candlemas, combined with the Plum special under the full moon. As a prelude to the final, at the Dynastar special on 18 February, the first costumes will be given their debut for the “Mercredi Gras”.

Next date: 7th MSTC round on Wednesday 28 January 2026.