Act 1 - DYNAFIT MOONtain RACES COURCHEVEL - 25 June 2013

Erik Clavery and Stéphanie Duc win the first stage of the Dynafit MOONtain Races Courchevel 2013.

The kick-off of the first stage of the 2013 season of the Dynafit MOONtain Races Courchevel (DMRC) was given on Tuesday 25 June 2013. This night trail of 9.3 km (100 m of descent and 800 m of elevation gain), linking Courchevel Moriond (1650) to the Grand Plan refuge at an altitude of 2,280 m, held every full-moon Tuesday evening as a time trial, is attracting more and more runners. It must be said that this finish high in the mountains, at night, at the refuge is rather original. The welcome at the top by Lionel Blanc, the keeper, is very friendly. The soup from the cauldron prepared by his whole team delights all the participants.

Some big names were there for this first climb, including the reigning trail running world champion Erik Clavery and the reigning French trail running champion Stéphanie Duc, who will take part with the French team in the Trail World Championship in Wales on 6 July.

It was the last competition before the world championships for Stéphanie and Erik, who will go off to defend France’s colours in good spirits after winning this first climb of the DMRC. Erik of the Adidas team, on a training camp in the resort of Courchevel for a week and Courchevel’s trail running ambassador, gave his pursuers no chance, setting the best time of the evening in 49min57s.

“I’m very happy with my climb. I let Frédéric Thérisod and Cédric Fleureton go ahead of me. I caught Frédéric in the first steps just after crossing the Poux waterfall, and Cédric a bit further on after the aid station 5 km from the finish. I felt good physically. It gives me confidence for the worlds… especially knowing that I’m only 2 minutes off the record of Julien Rancon (French mountain running champion) set last year in 47min59s. I’ll be back on 20 August for the 3rd climb to try to improve Julien’s record (smile),” Erik told us at the finish.

2nd place in 50min32s for the triathlon vice-champion of Europe, Cédric Fleureton (Champion Système), who flew from Lyon to Courchevel to take part in the race. Frédéric Thérisod of the event’s organising club “Courchevel Sports Alpinisme” completed the podium in 51min22s.

In the women’s race, Stéphanie Duc of the VEO 2000 club did not manage to improve on her record from last year (58min28s) but won in 59min49s ahead of Anne-Lise Chamiot-Poncet (Courchevel Sports Alpinisme) in 1h02min43s and Céline Santy (Au Vieux Campeur) in 1h12min22s.

The 4 DMRC events (25 June, 23 July, 20 August and 17 September) have been selected by the association France Skyrunning, which will award on 17 September 2013 the title of 2013 Alps champion to the best men’s and women’s times over the whole season.

The best men’s and women’s times of summer 2013 will also be rewarded with prize money of €500 and a full DYNAFIT outfit (a pair of DYNAFIT “FELINE SUPERLIGHT” trail running shoes, a “TRAIL” T-shirt and TRAVERSE capri tights) with a total value of €400.