January
22
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Skimo World Cup 2017 at FontBlanca (Andorra): Vertical winners Emelie Forsberg & Werner Marti. Personal insight by Kilian Jornet, 2nd.
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The Skimo World Cup 2017 started this weekend at Fontblanca, Andorra. Killian Jornet and Laetitia Roux arrived as defending champions from 2016 to the competition at Vallnord’s ski station facilities. Laetitia Roux and Anton Palzer won the individual race on Saturday, then today Sunday the Vertical race went to Werner Marti and Emelie Forsberg.
The 2017 calendar for the Skimo World Cup will now move on to Cambre d´Aze at the french Pyrenees next weekend. In the meantime, let us review here the vertical race report, photogallery from the weekend and a special personal insight from Kilian Jornet himself.
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Skimo World Cup 2017 at FontBlanca. Podium Vertical Senior Men. (C) ISMF
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SKIMO WORLD CUP FONTBLANC ANDORRA 2017
VERTICAL RACE WINNERS EMELIE FORSBERG & WERNER MARTI.
The young Swiss skier Wernet Marti and the Swedish Emelie Forsberg were the winners of the 2017 Font Blanca Vertical Race, over rivals that were, in theory, the favourites to be on the highest step of the Vallnord Arinsal podium.
The competition took place at the unmatchable scenery of the Marrades ski trail on the Vallnord Arinsal sector, with perfect snow conditions. The stage, perfectly known by racers and fans alike, received once more the praises from everyone that could complete the route.
The weather also sided with the organizers this time. The day started cloudy but it improved noticeably as the start time approached. The sun shone at the peak of the day, ie during the SkiMo World Cup races and the following trophy ceremonies.
ISMF Senior Men World Cup: The duel between Kiliand Jornet (ESP) and Rémi Bonnet (SUI) had an unexpected guest in the likes of the young swiss racer Werner Marti (SUI). Up to the middle of the race, Bonnet kept the lead of the front group and it seemed unlikely that the winning trophy could slip away from his hands at that time. But in the last part of the climb, his fellow countrymen Marti attacked and nobody could follow his pace. Jornet and Bonnet fought for the second place in a sprint, and this time the 2016 champion was the strongest clearly passing in front.
Werner, Kilian and Remi striving upwards. (C) ISMF
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During the Vertical Race, Jornet got back some positives vibes and summarize his performance during the weekend in this way: “Two days ago I’ve had a tooth pulled and I’m still under antibiotics. I’ve then to value positively my performance in Andorra.”
Meanwhile, Rémi Bonnet felt satisfied with his podium place and added: “I’ve got the win in the Espoir category and the third place in the Senior Men. I’m very satisfied with my performance, to race in Andorra is always a pleasure.”
Results: 1.-Werner Marti (SUI) 26’55.69, 2.-Kilian Jornet (EST) a 8.490, 3.-Rémi Bonnet (FRA) a 21.380, 4.-Damiano Lenzi (ITA) a 42”180, 5.-Anton Palzer (GER) a 49.890 .
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ISMF Senior Women World Cup: Laura Orgué was the rival to beat and in this occasion the catalan could not keep the title she got last year. At the climb’s middle point, Orgué and Mollaret seemed to distance definitely their rivals. Forsberg was losing a few meters over the leaders.
The swedish reaction, second last year behind Orgué, during the second part of the race was spectacular, recovering all the lost ground and having the sufficient strenght to pass the french Mollaret in a very close finish line sprint.
Skimo World Cup 2017 Vertiical Fontblanca (C) ISMF
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Results: 1.-Emelie Forsberg (SWE) 32’07.91, 2.-Axelle Mollaret (FRA) a 3.720, 3.-Laura Orgué (ESP) a 22.680, 4.-Claudia Galícia (ESP) a 1’41.140, 5.-Jennifer Fiechter (SUI) a 1’45.620 .
The young skiers, Espoir and Junior: As commented before, among the ISMF Senior Espoir Men, Rémi Bonnet tilted in his favour the duel with Oriol Cardona (ESP) that had beaten him yesterday duing the Indiviual Race, meanwhile among women the italian Alba de Silvestro got, for the second year in a row, the double at the Font Blanca. From the spanish perspective, the men´s podium at Espoir was the brightest light of the weekend with Oriol Cardona second and Antonio Alcalde third, as reflected in the pic below by FEDME.
In the ISMF Junior Category, the italian dominance showed yesterday during the Individual repeated with the same racers, Davide Magnini for men and Giulia Murada for women, as shown below in ISMF pics. In both cases their rivals at the finish line were over 1’ away.
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WORLD CUP SKIMO 2017 AT FONTBLANCA: PERSONAL INSIGHT BY KILIAN JORNET.
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In his tenth season at the top Kilian Jornet has shown that he’s still very highly motivated, traveling and spending several day in Andorra, together with Emelie Forsberg preparing the event in earnest. For the past three years in Andorra he’s been at the top of the podium and despite some muscle pain he came second in the vertical race event in Arcalís, and sixth in the individual race. Here we share in his personal view about this first weekend at the Skimo World Cup 2017. .
“Both races were great this weekend. The weather and the snow quality have meant we could enjoy these very beautiful and technical courses through the Andorra mountains which we haven’t been able to enjoy for a while and in spite of everything I’m as motivated as ever. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel today after the muscular problems I had yesterday but it went well. A group of us set off together but right away it was clear that Martin had a lot of guts and he got away from us. I was gaining on him and in the end was able to attack enough to come second.”
At the individual race, Jornet made a fast start but immediately had trouble with his legs and he couldn’t keep up with the frenetic pace set from the start by the Italian Damiano Lenzi. In spite of seeing it wasn’t day that he was going to win, he said: “On the second uphill section a group of skiers were fighting for second place. In the end they got away from me and I struggled to finish sixth and get some points on the board. Let’s see if the legs are better for the next races. In mountain skiing you have to compete hard and my motivation is as great as ever.”
Kilian Jornet at Fontblanca Skimo World Cup Individual race (C) ISMF
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MORE ON SKIMO, TRAIL RUNNING AND MOUNTAIN GEAR
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Info by Mayayo Oxígeno for Trailrunningspain
