ROUND 1 - PLUM MOONtain RACES COURCHEVEL - Monday 6 January 2020

A fine opening for the Plum MOONtain Races Courchevel!

After the cyclists came through a few months ago in the “Eiffage Contre-La-Montre du Col de la Loze”, it is the turn of the ski mountaineers to inaugurate the col de la Loze (alt. 2,304 m) before the arrival of the 17th stage of the Tour de France next summer.

After 5 years' absence, the MOONtain Races are back in ski mountaineering and trail running versions. This winter in ski mountaineering mode, every full-moon Monday (6 January, 10 February and 9 March), from Courchevel Village to the high-altitude restaurant “Le 1928” at the Col de la Loze, under the name “Plum MOONtain Races Courchevel”, over a 4.8 km course (820 m of elevation gain); and next summer in trail running with the “Silva MOONtain Races Courchevel”, every full-moon Wednesday too (8 July, 5 August and 2 September), from Courchevel Moriond to the “Grand Plan” refuge in the Avals valley at 2,280 m altitude, over a 9.3 km route (800 m of elevation gain / 100 m of elevation loss).

For the opening of this 2020 edition, the 60 ski mountaineers present were spoilt with dream weather and the presence of the moon (not yet quite full), which lit up the course. Along the way, the competitors could see the magnificent fireworks set off from the centre of the resort in honour of Orthodox Christmas, before being welcomed like kings at the top of the col to enjoy the traditional Epiphany galette, as well as the good cauldron soup and the platters of charcuterie prepared by Serge Burnichon, manager of the high-altitude restaurant “Le 1928”, and his whole team. This superb evening ended in a blaze of glory with a torchlit descent supervised by the ski instructors of the resort’s ESFs.

First reference times for Joris Perillat Pessey and Corinne Favre.

37min03s: the base time set by Joris Perillat Pessey of ESF La Clusaz, and current leader of the provisional overall standings of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel, becomes the target to beat for the next 2 races. Gédéon Pochat of team Atma / Salomon arrived in the same minute (37min27s) and took second place. Arnaud Mazet, winner of the extraordinary triathlon “Dynastar X3 Courchevel” in 2019, completed the podium in 40min11s.

Among the women, the tireless Corinne Favre, winner of the “Plum KV Courchevel 2019”, won in 48min34s ahead of the locals Laura Dessaix (1h01min29s) and Laetitia Renard (1h04min38s).

A first that was top in every respect, as delighted Albert Félisaz, director of the binding brand “Plum” and partner of the competition, who went home with a fine silver “La Trace” medal in 1h19min07s. Jean-Marc Sullice, a loyal ski mountaineering follower, finished in 1h16min11s, also a silver medal. Jean-Paul Montmayeur, head of piste safety in Courchevel, finished with gold, with a time of 53min.

In short, a successful kick-off for the members of the organising club “Courchevel Sports Outdoor Montagne et Escalade”, always on the lookout for novelties to surprise participants every year with new concepts and original race formats.

While waiting for the 2nd stage of the "Plum MOONtain Races Courchevel" on Monday 10 February, ski tourers can continue their preparation every Wednesday on the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel, not forgetting Friday 17 January for the chrono des champions on the MSTC course as a prelude to the individual event of the French championship on Saturday 18 January in Courchevel.