January 31

ISMF SKIMO VERBIER 2021: INDIVIDUAL RACE, VICTORY FOR ALEX GACHET-MOLLARET (FRA) & ROBERT ANTONIOLI (ITA)

Posted by Héctor Rubio on January 31, 2021 in ismf, ismf world cup, trail running spain | Leave a comment

Yesterday we told you about the ISMF Vertical Race in Verbier, with victroy for Rémi Bonet (SUI) and Alex Gachet-Mollaret (FRA). The second day of ski mountaineering competitions at the Verbier World Cup has arrived with a spectacular Individual race.

Beautifull sunny day in Verbier. Photo: ISMF

What a great competition! Suspense was in the air everywhere and the athletes put forth extraordinary performances.

There have been prestigious signatures in the Individual race held in Verbier – Val de Bagnes (Switzerland), which effectively has closed the second stage of the 2020/21 ISMF World Cup circuit. The Italian Robert Antonioli and the French Axelle Gachet-Mollaret have triumphed in the Bruson ski resort.

Among U23 the success of the day and some important points for the overall ranking have been for the Italians Giulia Murada and Andrea Prandi, while in the U20 category Lisa Moreschini (ITA) and Paul Verbnjak (AUT) have got the gold, being worthy of note. Just long enough to recover from the efforts of the Vertical race of Friday that this morning the best skimo athletes worldwide have been called upon to compete on a course as insidious as spectacular. It was a track loop that the Seniors had to face several times.

The positive difference altitude for the oldest category has been of 1500 metres split in four ascents and as many descents. It had to be scuffle and scuffle has been. The Swiss Rémi Bonnet and Werner Marti started leading the race with an Italian-French group behind them composed of Robert Antonioli, Thibault Anselmet, Matteo Eydallin and Davide Magnini.

During the various ascents, there has been a real competitive struggle with many changes in the first positions that have subsequently been upset in the descents.

Robert Antonioli, after a last very exciting descent, has crossed the finish line with a time of 1:22’14”, preceding his teammate Davide Magnini (2° place) and Rémi Bonnet (3° place).

The female competition has been more defined with the indisputable Axelle Gachet-Mollaret (FRA), in front of the entire group, dictating the time, followed by Tove Alexandersson (SWE) and Alba De Silvestro (ITA). At the end the French athlete has stopped the clock at 1:27’34”, while the Swedish girl at 1:31’00” and the Italian racer has achieved the third position on the podium with a total time of 1:32’12”.

The two race days in Switzerland are now archived and the ISMF World Cup circuit will be back already next weekend with a third leg that promises to be electrifying. On the snows of the French ski resort of Flaine, Arâches-la-Frasse, there will be a Sprint race on Friday 5 and an Individual race on Saturday 6 February 2021. Certainly, they will be two excellent opportunities for the skimo élite athletes to train and exercise to find the right physical shape for next month’s ISMF World Championships to be held in Andorra.

Thomas Kähr, the ISMF President, states: “I am pleased with the development of the competitions that have just ended here in Verbier. The heavy snowfall that affected the first few days seemed to have ruined the race weekend, but fortunately this did not happen. I would like to sincerely thank the organising committee who proved to be very competent and experienced in setting up an international ski mountaineering event, obtaining excellent results and a great success”.

Discover the podiums of the Individual race:
Senior Women
1. Axelle Gachet-Mollaret (FRA)
2. Tove Alexandersson (SWE)
3. Alba De Silvestro (ITA)

U23 Women
1. Giulia Murada (ITA)
2. Giorgia Felicetti (ITA)
3. Marie Pollet-Villard (FRA)

U20 Women
1. Lisa Moreschini (ITA)
2. Samantha Bertolina (ITA)
3. Margot Ravinel (FRA)

Senior Men
1. Robert Antonioli (ITA)
2. Davide Magnini (ITA)
3. Rémi Bonnet (SUI)

U23 Men
1. Andrea Prandi (ITA)
2. Sebastien Guichardaz (ITA)
3. Patrick Perreten (SUI)

U20 Men
1. Paul Verbnjak (AUT)
2. Robin Bussard (SUI)
3. Léo Besson (SUI)