Round 3 - DYNASTAR KV COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 15 August 2017

The 2017 Dynastar KV Courchevel records go to Jérémy Defaye and Fanny Leleu.

Suspense right to the end! We had to wait for the Dynastar KV Courchevel finale, held this Tuesday 15 August at 10 am, to see the records fall. In total 3 rounds were held this season, with 128 starts and 117 cyclists ranked. Fine weather at the start of this 3rd and final round of the cycling season, with the presence of Christophe Bassons and Fanny Leleu.

A great hope of French cycling in the 1990s, Christophe was a professional rider for six years. He experienced in particular the Festina era, when his refusal to dope led to him being ostracised within the peloton, culminating in the 1999 Tour de France, where he suffered the cold anger of the peloton and the more virile anger of Lance Armstrong in person, who told him mid-race to leave the world of cycling. Christophe would come to be regarded as cycling’s “Mr Clean”. Disgusted, he retired in 2001 to devote himself to doping issues. After a refreshing experience in trail running and mountain biking, he became master mountain biking vice-world champion. A regular at the Dynastar KV Courchevel, he finished tenth on the stage in 47min 37s, improving his 2016 performance (48min38s) by more than a minute ON A MOUNTAIN BIKE!

Among the women, a notable presence was Fanny Leleu, a member of the French Elite cycling team. After an experience in athletics, the VL Rouen member chose this sport with convincing results: 7th at the 2017 Elite French Championships in Saint Omer, 8th in 2016 in Vesoul.

Defaye and Leleu take down the record.

This Vertical Kilometre (VK) race, with 1,000 metres of elevation gain over 15.5 km by bike, is unique in France. Among the 54 cyclists in this time-trial VK between Le Carrey and Courchevel 1850, Jérémy Defaye proved unstoppable in 41min31s, immediately pocketing the 2017 record. Rémi Gueydan finished second on the stage and overall in 42min14s followed by Mikael Gallego (43min25s), who nonetheless remains the holder of the absolute VK record with a time of 41min25s set in 2016. In the final overall standings, besides Jérémy Defaye (1st) and Rémi Gueydan (2nd), Yoann Sert kept his place on the podium in 43min25s. The fine performance ofAurélien Dunand Pallaz, winner of the New Balance X-Trail Courchevel 2017 over 54 km, who took 8th place in 47min07s, is worth noting.

Among the women, a clean sweep for Fanny Leleu, 1st on the stage and overall in 50min 42s. She was followed by Laure Anne Ferrent in 54min 07s and Catherine Juillaguet in 58min39s. Overall, besides Fanny Leleu, 1st in 50min 42s, Axelle Mollaret keeps second place in 53min22s ahead of Laure Anne Ferrent (54min 07s).

X3 KV Courchevel Challenge 2018

These 3 cycling Vertical Kilometre races count towards the “X3 KV Courchevel Challenge 2018”. To be ranked in this competition, you must take part at least once in each of the 3 Vertical Kilometre events on offer in Courchevel. Only competitors who got on their bikes for the 2017 “Dynastar KV Courchevel”, put on their trainers for the 2017 “Plum KV Courchevel” and will strap on their touring skis for the 2018 “Plum KV Courchevel” will be ranked. The final ranking of this challenge will be the sum of the best trail running, cycling and ski mountaineering times for each participant. The best men’s and women’s times of the year will receive prize money of €800, €500 for the runners-up and €200 for the third-placed. In 2017, the winners were Axelle Mollaret and Valentin Favre.

These VK competitions (trail running, cycling and touring skis) are good training to prepare for the extraordinary triathlon, the “Dynastar X3 Courchevel”, which has become the unmissable event for outdoor sports enthusiasts, combining these 3 disciplines in one day. This event will take place on 15 April 2018 (you can register online for this final event at courchevelsportsoutdoor.com).