Cédric Fleureton wins the Marathon du Mont-Blanc !
There were 2217 runners - 398 of whom were women - in the 42 Km Mont Blanc Marathon, the queen of the Marathon du Mont-Blanc races. After hot weather for the 80 Km and the stormy, inclement weather which meant that the organisers had to move the finish of the 23km to Chamonix, the weather was pretty good, despite the banks of thick cloud on the massifs.
From the start, the race was led by Cédric Fleureton, ex-triathlete of high calibre who has switched to trail-running with an impressive list of wins: double champion of France for short trail-runs in 2014 and 2015, and champion of France for mountain races in 2016. Leaving the others behind, he took control of the race, winning it in 4hr04'23. Sweet revenge for his 6th place in 2015. "I thought about it all year ! I truly hurt at the end because I started a little fast, but I really wanted to lead this race, it's the way that I run. It's hard, but it is pure pleasure! The site is magnificent and I am going to have only good memories".
Photo by Pierre Raphoz
For 2nd and 3rd places on the podium, the battle raged right up to the finishing line! Until La Flégère (37 Km) Tony Moulai, also an ex-triathlete of high calibre, was in 2nd place, ahead of Gregory Vollet. But that was without accounting for the superb comeback from Xavier Thevenard (double winner of the UTMB® in 2013 and 2015) and Matthieu Brignon (double winner of the Trail des Aiguilles Rouges in 2014 and 2015). Both were lagging behind (26th and 19th at the first time check at Vallorcine - 17 Km), these trail-runners, incredible on the ascent, let go of the main platoon over the first 15 kilometres considered to be relatively flat and rolling. They gained ground on the first climb to the col des Posettes (22 Km) and literally began to fly during the last 5 kilometres, in the descent after La Flégère, seizing second place for Xavier and the 3rd for Matthieu, stealing the last place on the podium from Tony Moulai in the final sprint !
"After the operation on my knee, it was a true pleasure to find my legs. I knew that it would leave very fast, and I know how to run for a long time but not fast... So I let it go at the beginning. I am very happy with the way in which I managed my race, it bodes well for the Hard Rock which I will run in a month's time!" declared Xavier Thévenard, in good form as he finished. There was a 100% French podium which hasn't happened since 2011!
In the women's race the Swede, Ida Nelsson, favourite for the event, ran an impressive race in 4hr46'28 ahead of the Frenchwoman Amandine Ferrato and the Russian Ekaterina Mityaeva. "It is a very beautiful course with difficult ascents which were not easy for me. I did my best throughout the route, I love this race, I am happy".
4th 80Km du Mont Blanc - Friday June 24th : Pazos masterful, Chaverot Regal
At 4am, 1,076 runners, of whom 107 were women, started the race. The challenge was 82km and 6,000 m ascent in less than 24hrs, on a course which was modified due to snow cover at altitude. Diego Pazos from Switzerland masterfully won this 80 Km, leading for over ¾ of the course. Second place went to the Frenchman Guillaume Beauxis. In the women's race, it was a superb French victory for Caroline Chaverot who flew through the event and who was classed 6th overall, only 48 minutes behind Diego, in 11h40. Maïlys Drevon arrived second, 2h53 later. A very mountainous route greatly appreciated by everybody, even with the the snow ! Very sultry weather and a difficult route no doubt left their mark on a number of people, with 47.79% abandoning.
Photo by Leslie Delamere
6th Km Vertical - Friday June 24th : Two Norwegian podiums
Chamonix Vertical Kilometre has, in only 6 years, become a very popular race. 3.8 km undertaken against the clock, 1,000m of ascent, with a start every 30 seconds, from the centre of Chamonix to the top of the Planpraz cablecar at Brévent. There were 573 runners, of whom 110 were women, with only 7 abandoning. Each year, from spring to autumn, they come in their hundreds to make dry ascents over this route... training, small outings or fast trail-runs, it is a true success and becoming increasingly popular!
In the race, it was a great return to Chamonix for the Norwegian Stian Angermund-Vik, winner over this KMV which was shrouded in heavy and stormy weather. Second in 2015, (but winner of the Cross) the time was just one second slower this year. America took its place on the 2nd step of the podium with Andy Wacker 1 '48 behind. First Frenchman, Emmanuel Allenbac, took 3rd place in the general ranking.
Norway was also on the top step of the podium for the women with Hilde Aders in 43'40 which was a great performance.
38th 23 Km du Mont-Blanc - Saturday June 25th : International podiums
Under showers and on a route with a modified arrival in Chamonix caused by thunderstorms in the mountains, the Englishman Robbie Simpson flew round the historic Cross du Mont-Blanc with 7'57 of advance on the Frenchman Thibault Baronian and with more than 16 mins on the 3rd placed Robin Juillaguet.
In the women's race Norway was once again in front at the post with Yngvild Kaspersen who won the event in 2hr25'15 in front of her compatriot Hilde Aders, who crossed the line 6 minutes later, having finished first in the KMV the previous evening.The French woman Celine Lafaye, 1st woman in the Trail des Cabornis and 2nd in the Gendarmes and the Les Voleurs de Temps, confirmed that she is on form by finishing 3rd!
This was a very popular event, despite the rain: 1565 people ran, of whom 557 were women, 35.59% of those who started.
RESULTS
42 Km du Mont-Blanc
Men
1. Cédric Fleureton (FR) - 4h04'23
2. Xavier Thévenard (FR) - 4h07'51
3. Matthieu Brignon (FR) - 4h08'26
Women
1. Ida Nelsson (SWE) - 4h46'28
2. Amandine Ferrato (FR) - 4h57'07
3. Ekaterina Mityaeva (RU) - 4h58'04
80 Km du Mont-Blanc
Men
1. Diego Pazos (Sui) - 10h52'45
2. Guillaume Beauxis (FR) - 11h05'10
3. Remi Berchet (FR) - 11h16'14
Women
1. Caroline Chaverot (FR) - 11h40'59
2. Maïlys Drevon (FR) - 14h34'11
3. Li Dong (CH) - 15h16'07
Km Vertical du Mont-Blanc
Men
1. Stian Angermund-Vik (NOR) - 35'51
2. Andy Wacker (USA) - 37'39
3. Emmanuel Allenbach (FR) - 38'33
Women
1. Hilde Aders (NOR) - 43'40
2. Jessica Pardin (FR) - 45'03
3. Celia Chiron (FR) - 45'06
23 Km du Mont-Blanc
Men
1. Robbie Simpson (GBR) - 1h59'10
2. Thibaut Baronian (FR) - 2h07'07
3. Robin Juillaguet (FR) - 2h15'25
Women
1. Yngvild Kaspersen (NOR) - 2h25'15
2. Hilde Aders (NOR) - 2h31'26
3. Céline Lafaye (FR) - 2h34'03
10 Km du Mont-Blanc
Men
1. Gael Reynaud (FR) - 39'51
2. Romain Wyndaele (FR) - 40'42
3. Aurelien Patoz (FR) - 40'54
Women
1. Camille Ancey (FR) - 47'48
2. Alexia Coudray (FR) - 48'56
3. Sandrine Motto Ros (FR) - 52'11
