Cedric Fleureton returns to make his mark in the Marathon du Mont Blanc

News Release / 27.06.2016

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07:00 this Sunday, there were 2217 runners -  398 of them women - who started the  42 Km race, the queen event of the  Marathon du Mont-Blanc races. After hot weather for the 80 Km and the stormy inclement weather which obliged the organisers to move the finish of the 23km to Chamonix, the weather was fair this morning, despite the banks of thick cloud on the mountains.

As from the start, the race was led by Cédric Fleureton, ex-triathlon athlete of high calibre (vice champion of Europe in 2005 and 2007) who has since converted to trail-running with a convincing list of wins : double champion of France for short trail-runs in 2014 and 2015, and champion of France for mountain races in 2016. Scattering one by one the outsiders, he took control in 4hr 04' 23. True 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 setting is magnificent and I am going to have only good memories”.

For the 2nd and 3rd places on the podium, the battle raged right up to the finishing line! Until the Flégère (37 Km) Tony Moulai, also an ex-triathlon athlete of high calibre held 2nd place in the provisional ranking, 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, formidable 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  the Flégère, seizing themselves the  second place for Xavier and the 3rd for pour 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 of 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.

A 100% French podium which hasn't happened since 2011 !

For the women, 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 women, were at the start on Friday 24th. On the menu 82km and 6 000 m ascent in less than 24hrs, on a course which was modified due to important snow cover at altitude.

The Swiss man,  Diego Pazos  masterfully won this 80 Km, completing the race with the lead over ¾ of the course. The second place was for the Frenchman Guillaume Beauxis. With the women, a superb French victory for Caroline Chaverot who flew through the event and who was classed 6th Scratch, only 48 minutes behind Diego and with 11h40 for the race. Maïlys Drevon arrived second, 2h53 later. A very mountainous route greatly appreciated by everybody, even with the snow !

Very sultry weather and a difficult route no doubt left their mark on a number of people, with 47.79% abandoning.

6th Km Vertical - Friday June 24th: Two Norwegian Podiums

Chamonix Vertical Kilometre has, in 6 years, become popular: 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 cable car at Brévent. There were 573, of whom 110 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 outing or fast trail-run, it is a true annual success and popular!

Concerning the race, it was a great return to Chamonix for the Norwegian Stian Angermund-Vik winner over this KM V shrouded in heavy and stormy weather. Second in 2015, (but winner of the Cross) the time was one second longer this year, without doubt due to the heat with an average of  634 km/h ! America took its place on the 2nd step of the podium with Andy Wacker at 1 '48 behind. First Frenchman, Emmanuel Allenbac  took  3rd place in the general ranking.

Norway was once again on the top step of the podium for the women with Hilde Aders in 43'40 which was a good performance.

38th 23 Km du Mont-Blanc - Saturday June 25th: International podiums

Under cloudbursts and on a route with a modified arrival in Chamonix  caused by thunderstorms in the mountains, the Englishman Robbie Simpson flew during 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.

Norway, for the women, 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, first in the KM V the previous evening. The French woman Celine Lafaye, 1st woman in the Trail des Cabornis et 2nd in the Gendarmes and the Les Voleurs de Temps confirmed that she is on form!

A very popular event, they were numerous despite the rain: 1565, of whom women: 557 making 35.59% of those who started.