Morgins – The WÜRTH MODYF ISMF World Cup week in the region Dents du Midi continued on Wednesday with the Vertical race. More than 500 vertical metres in two kilometres in cold weather made the race a demanding one.
The first half of the track was not so steep, but it was just to get the athletes readz for what was coming next: the last two hundred meters, where a steep ramp, just before crossing the finish line.
The women were the first to start at 16:45. The men started just before sunset at 17:20.
Axelle Gachet-Mollaret had the women’s race under her baton from the opening metres. The French queen of the Individual and Vertical disciplines created a decisive lead in the steep passage.
“I liked the track, especially the steep part, which suits me. I was controlling the race till this part as I was confident in my power. I wasn’t going to the limit as I was thinking a bit on Individual. But in general, I had good feelings, and I’m looking forward to the race on Friday,” said Gachet-Mollaret, the winner of the last three verticals on the World Cup circuit.
Behind her, a long line of athletes lined up with Austrian athlete Sarah Dreier crossing the finish line in the second place, just like last month in Andorra, this time just 14 seconds behind Gachet-Mollaret. Third to cross the finish line was Giulia Murada, from Italy, whose third place todaz was enough to put her leading the overall World Cup rankings.
Emily Harrop couldn’t keep up with Murada’s massive finish in the end and finished fourth. Fifth at the finish and the best among the home Swiss women was Alessandra Schmid. Celia Perillat-Pessey, Alba de Silvestro, Marta Garcia Farres, Marcela Vasinova and Ana Alonso Rodriguey closed the top ten today
Bonnet smashed the men’s race
The pre-race prediction was that the biggest favourite, Rémi Bonnet, would go under 19 minutes. And he did deliver. The Swiss machine ran up the hill in 18 minutes and 27 seconds, 55 seconds faster than the second man today, Maximilien Drion du Chapois, from Belgium.
“It was a cold race tonight. But the shape is good, so I managed to win after a nice battle with Werner Marti. The time is crazy, it’s one minute faster than the record of the local race we are doing every year,” said Bonnet, who has already won three races this season.
His biggest goal of the winter is the World Championships, but he is very motivated for Friday: “With this kind of shape and at home… I really want to do a good race and do the same as today.”
The third place was for Werner Marti, current European Champion, who grabbed today the first podium of the season after almost 14 months.
Two youngsters, Aurélien Gay (Switzerland) and Paul Verbnjak (Austria), rounded out the Top 5. It is the best result for both of them in the elite category. Thibault Anselmet, (France), Thomas Bussard
(Switzerland), Gedeon Pochat Cotilloux (France), Christof Hochenwarter (Austria) and Anselme Damevin (France) close the Top 10 today.
There are no races on Thursday. Athletes will do the recognition of the track for Friday’s Individual race Individual course.
