After a year of absence due to lack of snow in 2023, the traditional La Crève-Cœur ski touring race took place this Friday, January 12. 201 participants attended, a record edition, the last best edition dating back to 2018 with 185 registered.
The dark streak finally seems to be over for La Crève-Cœur. After a 2021 edition canceled due to the global pandemic, a 2022 edition due to health constraints then a 2023 edition postponed before being canceled due to lack of snow, ski touring enthusiasts did not shy away from the edition 2024. La Crève-Cœur had in fact never experienced such an influx.
There were therefore 154 of them to take the start of the classic “La Crève-Cœur” course, a 5,8 km route for 730 meters of positive altitude difference with a particularity: a descending part requiring the competitors to remove and then put back the seal skins. Upon arrival at the summit of Les Salles (Portes du Mont-Blanc ski area), Sébastien Guichardaz won the men's race with a time of 36 min 58, followed by Mathéo Jacquemoud in 37'11. Robin Challamel ranks 3rd in 40'12.
For the ladies, it was Laury Eloy who finished first in 48 min 01. Marie Charlotte Iratzoquy and Sandra Chesney completed the podium with respective times of 48'48 and 49'47.
On the side of “La Petite Crève-Cœur”, an alternative course with a distance of 3,9 km for 570 meters of altitude difference, 47 participants were at the start. Guillaume Cambon took the first step of the podium by finishing the race in 30 min 48, completed by Kévin Garnier in 34'10 and Eddy Vienne in 36'05.
Mathilde Coulon ranks first among the ladies with her time of 45 min 45, followed by Léonie Bibollet-Ruche 2nd in 52'29. Juliette Roger was right behind her and finished 3rd in 52'53.
Everyone gathered after the race for the prize giving ceremony with very nice prizes for the medalists offered by Völkl, partner of the event, CAIRN, partner of the resort and the resort's merchants, followed by a meal. post-race in a warm atmosphere, with participants happy to have found La Crève-Cœur in its original format and its good-natured atmosphere.
The help provided by the thirty volunteers as well as the Combloux ESF, the teams from the Les Portes du Mont-Blanc ski area, Jean Lain (official resort partner) and Culture Vélo Sallanches (events partner) also largely contributed to the success of this 14th edition!