William Bon Mardion and Mireia Mir Tromso’s snow crowned Kilian and Laetitia Roux the new Ski Mountaineering World Championship winners. Amidst a thousand snow-covered mountain peaks overlooking the Norwegian fiords, the last World Championship challenge took place. The race was gripping from the very start and saw the victory of the French William Bon Bardion and the Spaniard Mireia Mirò Varela. Right after the start, at 10 o’clock sharp, it was Kilian who led the group at the first uphill stretch, a long pack on his trail, including Yannick Ecoeur, Martin Anthamatten and Manfred Reichegger. As far as the ladies are concerned, Mireia Mirò immediately took the lead of the race. Laetitia Roux and Gloriana Pellissier finished second and third, respectively.
The men’s race, after the first downhill and the second uphill stretches, saw a change at the lead. Martin Anthamatten took the initiative and took the lead, with Yannick Buffet and Manfred Reichegger on his trail. The order changed again at the end of the last uphill stretch. Manfred Reichegger hits the slope first, Bon Mardion, who had problems with his gear, following suit; Killian changes his gear right after. In the blink of an eye the French is right on the Italian’s tail and crosses the finish line after speeding up on a straight line in 1.32.48. Reichegger skipped a direction post and took a five-minute penalty, and on top of that, he lost his focus and missed on his opportunity to get on the podium. He crossed the finish line in fourth position but after the penalty, Reichegger finished eighth. Ecoeur and Anthamatten took advantage of it and competed for the second spot on the final straight stretch. Ecoeur got the better of his opponent and finished the race in 1.33.39, two seconds ahead of Anthamatten.
As for the ladies’ race, at the last downhill stretch Mireia Mirò Varela was passed by Roux. The French competed superbly but she also skipped the direction post and got a five-minute penalty. Roux crossed the finish line, her hands up in the sky, but was forced to forfeit her win to the Spaniard contestant. The Italian Gloriana Pellissier finished third.
As regards the World Championship ranking, after Kilian, William Bon Mardion finished second and Manfred Reichegger ended in third position.
As for the ladies’ challenge the podium was as follows: Roux, Mireia Mirò Varela and Maude Mathys, who finished fifth on today’s race.
The special ranking dedicated to Espoir athletes Matheo Jacquemoud and Elisa Compagnoni were the winners. Robert Antonioli and Michele Boscacci finished second and third, respectively. As regards the ladies’ challenge, the Italian Martina Valmassoi stepped on the second place of the podium while Victoria Kreuzer finished third.
