Race report: Ice-Trail Tarentaise (ITT), counter in the Ultra SkyMarathon Series - Val d’Isère, July 14, 2013
Photos (l-r): Third placed Philipp Reiter. Second placed Francois D’Haene and winner Kilian Jornet © JordiSaragossa
The Ice-Trail Tarentaise (www.icetrailtarentaise.fr), third race in the SWS Ultra Series, lived up to its name and delivered enough snow and ice to challenge even the most accomplished skyrunners in Val d’Isère, France, Sunday. World champions and ranking leaders Kilian Jornet and Emelie Forsberg take the crown - and the course records.
Kilian Jornet and Francoise D’Haene, 2012 winner, raced in tandem for most of the course until the last ascent to the 3,000m Tunnel Lessières. At 50 km, the duo were in a class of their own with a 27’ lead over the rest of the field, although American Rickey Gates and Italian Fulvio Dapit closely followed by German Philipp Reiter were together in the first 15 km.
Photos (l-r): Second placed Francois D’Haene and winner Kilian Jornet© JordiSaragossa
By km 40, Dapit was in third position, but on the second big ascent to the Point Pers (3,386m), Reiter moved in and retained the third position all the way to the podium. Jornet set a new course record in 7h35’32” with D’Haene second in 7h40’13”. Reiter’s time was 8h12’38”. Rickey Gates, feeling the altitude, went on to finish 9th.
The “women’s field” could soon become superfluous considering the winner, Emelie Forsberg, placed 10th overall in a jaw-dropping 9h11’11”. Second, but with nearly an hour separating them, an excellent Christel Dewalle closed in 10h08’58” and third, Ronda dels Cims winner, Francesca Canepa, in 10h31’59”. Dewalle, who recently won the Mont-Blanc Vertical KM, is clearly talented in the ultra distance too. Canepa maintained a strong pace throughout but struggled on the technical downhills. The first four women beat the 2012 course record and the second and third women placed 20th and 25th overall.
Top, mid-pack and finishers were unanimous that the ITT’s 65 km and 5,000m vertical ascent and descent represented an extremely challenging race, with a high point of 3,653m and five peaks near the 3,000m mark, the high altitude and the snow were factors that contributed to making Europe’s highest race a skyrunning experience to be remembered.
World Champion and Ultra Series leader, Emelie Forsberg rated the course as “the hardest race I’ve ever done!”
Photos (l-r): Rickey Gates and women's winner Emelie Forsberg. Fourth placed Fulvio Dapit © JordiSaragossa
Men's results
|
1 |
Kilian Jornet (ESP) |
Salomon Santiveri |
7h35’32” |
|
2 |
Francois D’Haene (FRA) |
Salomon |
7h40’13” |
|
3 |
Philipp Reiter (GER) |
Salomon |
8h12’38” |
|
4 |
Fulvio Dapit (ITA) |
Crazy Idea |
8’23’43” |
|
5 |
Nicolas Pianet |
New Balance |
8h36’03” |
Women's results
|
1 |
Emelie Forsberg (SWE) |
Salomon |
9h11’11” |
|
2 |
Christel Dewalle (FRA) |
Terre de Running |
10h08’58” |
|
3 |
Francesca Canepa (ITA) |
Montura / Vibram |
10h31’59” |
|
4 |
Anna Frost (NZL) |
Salomon |
11h0352” |
|
5 |
Helene Michaux (FRA) |
Club de Trail di Bromont |
12h22’05” |
Click here for full results in due course
Men's Ultra Series provisional ranking
|
1 |
Kilian Jornet |
200 points |
|
2 |
Francois D’Haene |
154 points |
|
3 |
Julien Chorier |
100 points |
Women's Ultra Series provisional ranking
|
1 |
Emelie Forsberg |
200 points |
|
2 |
Francesca Canepa |
154 points |
|
3 |
Emelie Lecomte |
146 points |
Click here for full results
ULTRA SERIES
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SPAIN: Transvulcania Ultramarathon - 83k, La Palma - May 11
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ANDORRA: Ronda dels Cims - 170k, Vallnord - June 21
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FRANCE: Ice Trail Tarentaise - 65k, Val d’Isère - July 14
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USA: Speedgoat - 50k, Park City, Utah - July 27
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USA: Ultra Race of Champions “UROC” -100k, Vail, September 28
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