Ski Mountaineering World Cup Courchevel 2014 - Individual Race

The resort of Courchevel is hosting the second stage of the ski mountaineering World Cup this weekend. Nearly 150 international skiers took the start of the individual race this Saturday morning. Win for Laetitia Roux, silver for Alexis Sévennec and bronze for Axelle Mollaret.

Win for Laetitia Roux, bronze for Axelle Mollaret

Another win for the tireless Laetitia Roux: “I set off fairly calmly in this race,” admits the young woman, the undisputed leader of women’s ski mountaineering internationally. “Besides the very good feelings of last week in Verbier, I felt really good. So no reason to worry, especially as the race began with a steep, fairly short climb before a first transition and a long descent, just what I needed to really open a gap on my rivals. I was then able to manage the rest of the race at my own pace. However, I always make sure to keep a steady rhythm, because it is not good to run at a poor rhythm.”

Axelle Mollaret, after a less effective start, worked her way back up past her rivals as the race went on. “I don’t really like these starts, it took me a little while to get into my race, but once in it, I hung on all the way to the finish!” She thus takes her second senior bronze medal of the season, and her third under-23 gold medal!

Silver for Alexis Sévennec

Among the men, although Mathéo Jacquemoud (winner of last week’s Vertical Race in Verbier) or William Bon Mardion (3rd in Verbier) were expected, it was Alexis Sevennec who made the difference this morning. On the heels of the Italian Robert Antonioli, who led the race on the 4th climb, the young man never let go. He earned his first international podium on this stage, with a very fine silver medal. “Finally… after waiting so long for this podium. On the penultimate climb I was already second and I really felt that this time I could go for a medal! Last year, the military World Champion title was a very nice reward, but not all the athletes were there. In the World Cup all the best are here; this podium is wonderful.”
Disappointment, however, for William Bon Mardion and Mathéo Jacquemoud, who both ran into equipment problems during the race. They finished 5th and 9th respectively. Valentin Favre, the 3rd Frenchman in the race, placed 8th.
Also worthy of note is the very fine performance of the young Sophie Mollard, who won the race among the juniors, as well as the silver medal of Emilien Bochet in the under-23 category.
A race that ends perfectly for the French team, which thus takes six medals, three of them gold.
Coming up tomorrow, the rest of the World Cup, with the Vertical Race.

FFME text