A French couple celebrates in Martell

On the opening day, the Frenchman Xavier Gachet prevailed among the men, while, curiously, his wife Axelle Gachet Mollaret triumphed among the women. Last year's winner Matteo Eydallin (3rd) and Alba De Silvestro (2nd), two ski mountaineers from the Italian national team also made it onto the podium. Alex Oberbacher, the only South Tyrolean at the start, came in eleventh.

The Marmotta Trophy enjoys legendary status in ski mountaineering circles. Ascents and descents are extremely technically demanding and demand everything from the best female ski mountaineers in the world and their male colleagues in the heart of the Stelvio National Park. It was no different on Thursday either. At 9.30 a.m. the starting signal for the men's race of the 16th edition of the renowned winter sports event took place at the end of the Martell Valley. The best ski mountaineers in the world had to cover 14,3 kilometers and 1504 meters in altitude.

Alex Oberbacher at his finish. © Sportissimus

For a long time it looked as if the Swiss Rémi Bonnet could win. The World Cup leader was in the lead at the various checkpoints and even before the final descent it was said that the athlete with number “1” would be in the lead. But spectators and media professionals were amazed when, 150 meters below the finish, Xavier Gachet, William Bon Mardion (also France) and Matteo Eydallin were the first to appear to put on their skins for the last time and tackle the last section of the route with a slight climb.

The competition was only decided in the finish sprint It was Gachet who finally crossed the finish line first after 1:23.59,94 hours, leaving his teammate Bon Mardion behind by 4,55 seconds. Eydallin lost 5,22 seconds to the day's winner. Rémi Bonnet, who was only caught by his pursuers on the last descent, had to settle for fourth place in the end. With Federico Nicolini (8th), Michele Boscacci (9th) and Robert Antonioli (10th), three more “Azzurri” made it into the top ten, while Alex Oberbacher from Val Gardena – the only South Tyrolean at the start – took eleventh place.

In the women's race, Axelle Gachet Mollaret celebrated a start-to-finish victory on the 13,25 km long route with an elevation gain of 1366 meters. The 31-year-old, who also won the individual in Martell last year, was in the lead at the various checkpoints and gradually built up a reassuring lead. In the end, the Frenchwoman triumphed in 1:27.24,04 hours, around 40 seconds faster than Alba De Silvestro. The Austrian Johanna Hiemer came third, 1.45,88:5 minutes behind and was able to celebrate her first podium in the World Cup. The “Azzurre” Giulia Murada (8th), Giulia Compagnoni (10th) and Lisa Moreschini (XNUMXth) also made it into the top ten.

Axelle Gachet Mollaret (center) celebrates as the winner. © ISMF

The Würth Modyf ISMF World Cup in ski mountaineering in Martell, for which 148 athletes from 23 different nations are registered, will continue on Saturday, February 24th with the mixed relay. Qualification begins at 8.55:25. This year's Marmotta Trophy comes to an end with the sprints on Sunday, February 9.40th. The competition starts at XNUMX:XNUMX a.m. This is what the protagonists of the individual competition say: Xavier Gachet (France/winner): I am very happy with how the race went today and am happy about the victory. The Marmotta Trophy is always very spectacular and the many technical passages challenge us to the limit. But everything is well organized, so a compliment to the organizers.

Matteo Eydallin (Italy/3rd place): We claimed victory at the last change and it's a shame that the other two were faster in the end. But I can't blame myself and I gave it my all. You just need a little bit of luck when it's so close and the routes are so rough. In any case, my condition is good.

Alex Oberbacher (Gröden/11th place): For the past two days I didn't know whether I could start here due to inflammation in my shoulder. But I didn't feel anything during the race and that's why I'm happy with eleventh place. For me, this year's Marmotta Trophy ends after the individual, but I will be in action at a promotion race on the Streif in Kitzbühel at the weekend.

Axelle Gachet Mollaret (France/winner): It was exciting today and I really liked the track because it was very technical. The descents were also very interesting because visibility was somewhat limited by the fog. I am happy about the victory that I can share with my whole family.

Alba De Silvestro (Italy/2nd place): I'm happy and happy to take this second place. Of course I hoped that I could win, but it was very foggy on the descents and so I couldn't catch up with Axelle (Gachet Mollaret, editor's note), who is stronger on the climbs. Maybe we can win here in Martell next year.

Results 16th Marmotta Trophy: Men 1. Xavier Gachet FRA 1:23.59,94 2. William Bon Mardion FRA 1:24.04,49 3. Matteo Eydallin ITA 1:24.05,16 4. Rémi Bonnet SUI 1:24.19,83 5. Thibault Anselmet FRA 1.24.27,87 Women 1. Axelle Gachet Mollaret FRA 1:27.24,04 2. Alba De Silvestro ITA 1:28.04,37 3. Johanna Hiemer AUT 1:29.09,92 4. Emily Harrop FRA 1:29.28,99 5. Giulia Murada ITA 1:30.01,13

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A French couple celebrates in Martell

The ski mountaineering World Cup in Val Martello, the legendary Marmotta Trophy, began on Thursday morning with the individual competitions. In light snow and fog, brilliant sporting performances were offered and a very special story was written.

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