Mag Aviron X3 Courchevel 2022: Lemaitre and Deplanche win

Lemaitre flat out, Deplanche imperious at the Mag Aviron X3 Courchevel 2022

Big names, great stories. The extraordinary Mag Aviron X3 triathlon in Courchevel was very busy on this rainy Sunday, but above all very technical.

In 2020, indoor rowing replaced open-water swimming on the menu of Courchevel’s summer triathlon. A replacement that has become permanent, since the competition still begins on the ergometer. In 2021, the French Rowing Federation joined the organising club Courchevel Sports Outdoor Triathlon in the adventure, signing a partnership with the club to provide 100 ergometers for the event: a European first!

More than a hundred participants, whether entered individually or in teams, thus set off on this extraordinary race in the famous Savoie resort. For the first time, the indoor rowing event was held outdoors, on the roof of the Envolée gymnasium.

The start was given under a heavy shower, forcing the athletes to withstand the elements while they tackled the 6,000 m of the rowing leg. The rain then eased off for the other 2 legs, cycling and trail running, up to the finish judged on the altiport landing strip, where they rang the bell, a sign of deliverance.

Thomas Lemaitre… the triathlon man

Thomas Lemaitre added another win after taking the Ironman format of the Alpsman, in Haute-Savoie, on 4 June. He completed the 6 km of rowing, 12.2 of cycling (750 m of elevation gain) and 9.6 of trail running (550 m elevation gain/loss) in 1h50'20''. “I hadn’t rowed for 20 years! But I’m not very good at swimming, the ergometer is less technical. That let me come out just a few minutes after the first cyclists,” he explained.

The rower from the club “ Aviron Cadurcien”, Fabien Delphy took second place in 1h57'42'' ahead of Mathieu Merland in 1h58'18''.

Houin and Piqueras in the top 10

Pierre Houin, Olympic champion in rowing at the 2016 Rio Games, was there. He won the wooden spoon. As this was his very first triathlon, he mainly came for the rowing leg on the ergometer.

However, it was a hard one: “It was dreadful. It was awful, I got injured 10 weeks ago and I had prepared for the triathlon with indoor cycling and running on the flat…” He nevertheless admitted that it was “fantastic to experience, but you need to prepare for it!”

The Annecy native Damien Piqueras, 2017 world rowing champion, finished in 8th place despite a mistake on the course.

Laura Deplanche dedicates her race to Adèle Milloz

Laura Deplanche completed the hat trick with her third win in this very special Courchevel triathlon. However, she nearly did not come this Sunday morning because of a tragedy in Chamonix (the accidental death in the mountains of Adèle Milloz on Friday 12 August): “I had known Adèle for 7 years, I dedicate this victory to her,” she said, with tears in her eyes.

The two young women had competed together at the French ski mountaineering championships. The tragedy could have made her miss the race: “I still hesitated about coming this morning, but I told myself: I have to do it for her”.

In the end, this victory is a real symbol for Laura, who pays the finest possible tribute to her friend who has passed away.

5th at the Rio Olympics and 8th at Tokyo in the women’s double sculls, Elodie Ravera took second place in 2h23'12'' ahead of another rower from Entente Nautique d’Aix-Les-Bains Aviron, Sixtine Paravy in 2h24'28''.

More and more teams on the start line…

Many relay teams were on the start line. The trio “GAEC Chevrerie des Combettes” from Pussy, made up of Hugo Billat, Thibault Vocanson and Maxime David, won in 1h51'44'' in the men’s category. Among the mixed teams, “Les Gicleurs Fous” with Antoine Lagouge, Nina Guillaud and Antoine Aflalo took the victory in 2h00'42''. Marie Geoffroy, Manon Brunelle and Cynthia Louradour won the women’s category in 2h53'46''.

The great story: Maxime Gayet, a visually impaired athlete preparing for Paris 2024

When Maxime Gayet, 21, arrived alongside his guide Dany Pinard, emotion was at its height. Visually impaired because of a degenerative eye disease, the athlete licensed at Issy-les-Moulineaux managed to complete this race in 2h30'32''.

The young man is preparing for Paris 2024 in paratriathlon. He is stringing together challenges to prepare. “One more!” he exclaimed on arrival. He was guided all along the course by Dany, who told him where to put his feet as well as running in front of him. “A big thank you to Dany because, without him, I wouldn’t do this kind of race”.

“We have an uncle-nephew relationship now, it’s powerful. I hope that disability sport will no longer be as taboo after Paris 2024 as it is now. We should be normal, disabled athletes are no different from us!” continued Dany Pinard, deeply moved.