Altitoy Ternua celebrates start to ski mountaineering's La Grande Course

On Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 the Altitoy Ternua ski mountaineering competition took place in the heart of the French Pyrenees. This event forms part of the “great classic” long distance circuit that, this year, is comprised of 4 stages in 4 different countries. After last weekend’s new entry that took the athletes to 2877m on Pic De Midi, in mid-March the circuit continues with Pierra Menta at Arêches-Beaufort in France, followed at the start of April by the Tour du Rutor in Italy’s Valle d’Aosta to then finish at the end of April with the legendary Patrouille des Glaciers in Switzerland.

After two days of competing on race courses that had to be modified due to the abundant snowfall, the Altitoy Ternua was decided by a photo-finish, with three of the men’s teams finishing within less than a minute of each other. Final victory went to the day’s winners Mathéo Jacquemoud - Kilian Jornet Burgada in 3h40’45’’, a mere 9 seconds ahead of the Italians Damiano Lenzi - Matteo Eydallin (3h40’54’’), who were followed by Michele Boscacci - Robert Antonioli (3h41’06’').

There were no major upsets in the women’s race, with Saturday’s results being repeated and France’s Laetitia Roux - Axelle Mollaret winning with a final time of 4h33’, ahead of Spain’s Mireia Mirò Marta Garcia Farres (4h39') and Italy’s Martina Valmassoi - Katia Tomatis (4h41’).

The next stage of the long distance circuit will be the 31st Pierra Menta, scheduled to take place from 9 - 12 March 2016.