ISMF EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2024: INDIVIDUAL RACE VICTORIES FOR BONNET AND ALEXANDERSSON. Our SKI MOUNTAINEERING section bring us the first results from the ISMF European Championships in Flaine.
Rémi Bonnet add another gold medal to his already impressive collection this Monday in Flaine (France), with another masterclass of strength and skills to win the individual race of the ISMF European Championships. On the women’s race, it was Sweden’s Tove Alexandersson who mastered the day with an impressive return to the top places of the podium at top level competitions.
ISMF EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2024:
INDIVIDUAL RACE VICTORIES FOR BONNET & ALEXANDERSSON
Men Races
In a stunning display of athleticism, Remi Bonnet reaffirmed his status as the unbeatable force in individual mountain running races by clinching the European Championship title. The Swiss, who has maintained an undefeated streak for the past 24 months and the current World Champion, dominated the challenging course with finesse and determination.
The race unfolded with Bonnet adopting a slightly cautious approach during the initial ascent, positioning himself in sixth place behind front-runners like Dalsen Lodoen Trym of Norway, Robert Antonioli (ITA), Nadir Maguet (ITA), Thibault Anselmet (FRA), and Maximilien Drion du Chapois (BEL). However, as the competitors reached the second ascent, Bonnet unleashed his full potential, surging to the forefront and steadily widening the gap until he triumphantly crossed the finish line.
Photo ISMF
Behind Bonnet, Xavier Gachet of France secured the second position. The battle for the bronze medal was intense, ultimately won by another Frenchman, Thibault Anselmet, managing to leave Aurelien Gay (SUI) a few meters behind while Nagir Maguet (ITA) rounded the top five on the day.
“This was the goal of the year for me, to be the European Champion, and now that this one is done I can focus on the vertical race and the Mixed Relay”, explained Bonnet.
“I’m happy with third today, it was a hard race and the downhills were really fast and not easy, so I managed to keep the third place, this is a good start for the European Championships for me”, said Anselmet.
In the U23 category, Austria’s Paul Verbnjak emerged victorious, demonstrating exceptional skill and strategy. Verbnjak’s teammate Nils Oberauer and Switzerland’s Robin Bussard secured the bronze medals, rounding off an impressive display of talent in the younger age group.
“This race was crazy but I am very proud. Especially on the first lap, everybody went down really hard and it was complicated, but I managed to go quite fast. I am really pleased because at the beginning of the week I didn’t feel really good, I was a bit weak, but today I had the legs and I could also team-up with Nils and help him to also finish on the podium”, said Verbnjak after his race.
The U20 race witnessed a remarkable performance from France’s Jules Raybaud, who continued his season dominance by conquering the challenging course. Despite a time penalty, Raybaud’s teammate Elliot Robin-Saje secured the third spot, while Italy’s Simone Compagnoni claimed the silver medal.
In the U18 category, Luca Curioni of Italy emerged as the European Champion beating his teammate Enrico Pellegrini (ITA) by almost half a minute. “I didn’t expect this at all”, said Curioni. “We all started really fast and there were a few crashes on the descends, I fell twice myself, but I was able to recover and still win”, he explained.
Arno Mooser (SUI) closed the podium on the day on the category that saw more participants of the younger categories, showing that the new generations are really coming strong. Gustave Blanc (FRA), Malik Uldry (SUI) and Rodal Haugen Aron (NOR) closed the top six.
Women Races
After almost one year off the podiums -and the races- in 2023, Tove Alexandersson made a spectacular comeback, clinching a well-deserved victory in the Individual race at the European Championships in Flaine. The women’s race mirrored the men’s with a frenetic start on the initial ascent, where competitors jostled for prime positions to navigate the first descent smoothly, avoiding congestion in narrow spots.
However, as the field tackled the second ascent, Tove Alexandersson asserted her dominance, pushing relentlessly and leaving no room for her rivals to catch up. The absence of two formidable competitors, Emily Harrop (FRA) and Giulia Murada (ITA), due to illness, further strengthened Alexandersson’s bid for victory.
Alexandersson maintained her aggressive pace throughout the race, securing the gold medal and improving upon her second-place finish in the previous European Championships. Célia Perillat-Pessey (FRA) claimed the silver medal on one of her best performances ever, while the bronze medal was for Alba de Silvestro (ITA), who passed Ana Alonso Rodriguez (ESP) in the last descend after the Spaniard had some issues with her skins.
Photo ISMF
In the U23 category, local athlete Margot Ravinel (FRA) delighted the home crowd with a victory. Lisa Moreschini (ITA) took home the silver medal, and Noemi Junod (ITA) secured the bronze, adding to the Italian success in the competition.
The U20 Women’s race brought a big surprise with Norway’s Ida Waldal claiming the victory ahead of some of the big names of the category, and despite having a one minute penalty for equipment. Behind her, Louise Trincaz (FRA) grabeed the silver medal and Lea Ancion Havet (AND) the bronze medal, consolidating both their results this season. Clizia Vallet (ITA), Margaux Mendes de Leon (SUI) and Eva Matejovicova (CZE) closed the top six
The younger female category showcased the dominance of Spanish talent Laia Selles, who led from start to finish with an impressive display. Selles, at only 17 years old, demonstrated her prowess, finishing with a six-minute lead over the next competitor, Melissa Bertolina (ITA). Martina Scola (ITA) secured the bronze medal, and Vanessa Marca (ITA) claimed the fourth position. Spanish athletes Aina Garreta and Emma Bogonez rounded off the top six in this highly competitive category. Selles’ performance suggested a bright future for Spanish mountain running on the international stage.
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