Morgins – Friday’s Individual race put the perfect close to a week of competition at its best in the Dents du Midi region. One of the most beautiful tracks of this year‘s WÜRTH MODYF ISMF World Cup, the Individual race saw a high-level competition in both categories – Men and Women.
The 56 men lining up had five uphills and 1575 D+ in the menu for the day, while the women’s race was a bit shorter, with one less uphill and a total of 1325 D+.
Dominant Bonnet
The men were the first to start at 9:00 CET. Rémi Bonnet, the winner of Wednesday’s Vertical race, pushed from the first metres and already had a lead at the first summit. The race was decided on the next climb. At the finish, Bonnet was almost two minutes ahead of second-placed Xavier Gachet of France.
“This was my best feeling ever, even better than on Wednesday. I enjoyed the race, but in the last uphill, I was very happy that there it was the very last one,” said Bonnet, who has already won four World Cup races this season out of five starts.
The second place on the day was for the Frenchman Xavier Gachet, while the ballet for the bronze medal was an epic one, with legend Matteo Eydallin grabbing the last spot of the podium ahead of his Italian compatriots Nadir Maguet and Robert Antonioli. Sixth in the finish was William Bon Mardion (France), followed by the leader of the World Cup Thibault Anselmet (France). Davide Magnini, Samuel Equy and Michele Boscacci closed the Top 10 of the men’s race.
The winning streak continues
As in the men’s race, it was a winner’s show from start to finish in the women’s race. Axelle Gachet-Mollaret had the whole race under control, building a huge gap early into the race, enough to keep her in a safe position until she crossed the finish line, never looking back.
“I know I am the strongest in uphills, so I tried to create an advantage there. In the downhills, I was trying to go fast but to be able to control it. I am satisfied with the course, with my performance and the whole week in Switzerland,” said Gachet-Mollaret in the finish area. She has now won 10 Individual races in a row. The last time she didn’t win was on February 21, 2021 in Val Martello, Italy.
The current World leader, Giulia Murada of Italy, crossed the finish line in second place after an all-race-long battle with third Emily Harrop of France. Célia Perillat-Pessey (France), Mara Martini, Giulia Compagnoni (both Italy), Johanna Hiemer (Austria) and Alessandra Schmid (Switzerland) closed the women’s Top 10 of the day.
