European Ski Mountaineering Championships 2018: Robert Antonioli and Axelle Mollaret win Individual Race. All Mt. Etna results

Strong gusts of wind and rain storm forced the Etna European Championships Organising Committee and the ISMF staff to take the tough decision to cancel the Vertical race scheduled for Friday morning at Piano Provenzana. Weather conditions improved on Saturday for the Individual race to take place as planned however.

Individual Race



The Seniors race took place on the slopes opposite Rifugio Monte Conca and comprised of a circular track that athletes had to travel twice, past a positive difference in height of 1620 m spread out over 5 ascents. Senior women and Junior men faced a 1170m difference in height and 4 ascents. All cadets and Junior women tackled 3 ascents and 850m of positive difference in height.

Straight after the start a small group of men made up of Spain’s Kilian Jornet Burgada, the two Italians Michele Boscacci and Robert Antonioli and Switzerland’s Martin Anthamatten took the lead and distanced itself from the rest of the field. The following ascent was an exciting struggle between Kilian Jornet Burgada, Boscacci and Antonioli. Throughout the rest of the race this situation didn’t change, with these three men leading the race and no one managing to take a significant lead. It was the last change which decided the fate of this Individual race: Kilian Jornet started with a few seconds head-start, but the Italians began the ascent with only one goal: to catch the Spaniard. Robert Antonioli made the most of his downhill skills and overtook Kilian Jornet Burgada. Antonioli literally flew down the descent and crossed the finish line with a time of 1 hour 10 minutes and 22 seconds’. Behind him Michele Boscacci and Kilian Jornet Burgada fought for second place and it was the Italian who eventually came up trumps. Davide Magnini (ITA) and Damiano Lenzi (ITA) placed fourth and fifth respectively.

The women’s competition was led from the outset by France’s Axelle Mollaret, followed by Laetitia Roux (FRA) and Emelie Forsberg (SWE). Mollaret battled hard to take the continental title, crossing the finish line with a time of 1:05:18. Her teammate Laetitia Roux won silver, while bronze was won by Sweden’s Emelie Forsberg.

The track of this Individual race hosted on the Rifugio Monte Conca’s pistes guaranteed to all spectators to see, follow and cheer athletes in different phases.

Vertical Race
Fridays’ Vertical race, cancelled due to strong winds and a hailstorm, was retrieved on Sunday in Nicolosi on the southern slopes of Mt. Etna volcano, the highest active volcano in Europe. Athletes competed in a 550m positive difference on a track close to Rifugio Sapienza. Weather conditions put a strain on the Local Organisers Committee, in fact Sunday’s competition was dominated by 20 cm of fresh snow and visibility was far from optimal.

Champion Kilian Jornet Burgada dictated the rhythm of entire race. Immediately after the start the Italian Nadir Maguet took the lead, but he was soon overtaken by the Spaniard, who gained precious metres. Behind him there were Davide Magnini (ITA), Werner Marti (SUI), Robert Antonioli (ITA) and Antonio Alcalde Sanchez (ESP). Burgada kept a good rhythm, even if young Magnini kept close on his heels. Burgada appeared from the mist and sped directly into first place, crossing the finish line with a time of 23’34’’. Davide Magnini (ITA) placed second just four seconds later, while Antonio Alcalde Sanchez (ESP) placed third. Fourth and fifth places went to Robert Antonioli and to Werner Marti.

The women’s race was dominated once again by Axelle Mollaret who won gold with a time of 25’54’’, ahead of Switzerland’s Victoria Kreutzer and Italy’s Alba De Silvestro, who crossed the finish line after 27’15’’. Fourth and the fifth places went to Katia Tomatis (ITA) and Claudia Galicia Cotrina (ESP).

Davide Magnini was crowned champion of his Under 23 category, Antonio Alcade Sanchez (ESP) placed second while Rémi Bonnet (SUI) finished third. Alba De Silvestro (ITA) shone among the women, placing first ahead of Alexandra Hauser (AUT) and Marianne Fatton (SUI).

The winner of the Junior men category was Pau Coll Turra (ESP) with a time of 23’21’’, while Sebastien Guichardaz (ITA) and Andrea Prandi (ITA) placed second and third respectively. In the Junior women’s race it was extraordinary Ekaterina Osichkina (RUS) who took gold, ahead of Giulia Murada (ITA) and Mallaurie Mattana (FRA).

The ISMF will be back soon on 7th and 8th April with the World Cup competitions hosted at Madonna di Campiglio, Italy.

INDIVIDUAL
Cadet Men
1. Léo Besson (SUI)
2. Tobias Donnet (SUI)
3. Maxime Trombert (SUI)

Cadet Women
1. Caroline Ulrich (SUI)
2. Samantha Bertolina (ITA)
3. Madeleine Paillard (FRA)

Junior Men
1. Andrea Prandi (ITA)
2. Julien Ançay (SUI)
3. Arthur Blanc (FRA)

Junior Women
1. Ekaterina Osichkina (RUS)
2. Justine Tonso (FRA)
3. Giulia Murada (ITA)

Espoir Men
1. Davide Magnini (ITA)
2. Antonio Alcalde Sanchez (ESP)
3. Thibault Anselmet (FRA)

Espoir Women
1. Alba De Silvestro (ITA)
2. Marianne Fatton (SUI)
3. Adèle Milloz (FRA)

Senion Men
1. Robert Antonioli (ITA)
2. Michele Boscacci (ITA)
3. Kilian Jornet Burgada (ESP)

Senior Women
1. Axelle Mollaret (FRA)
2. Laetitia Roux (FRA)
3. Emelie Forsberg (SWE)

VERTICAL
Cadet Men
1. Matteo Sostizzo (ITA)
2. Gheorghe-Petrut Jinga (ROM)
3. Léo Besson (SUI)

Cadet Women
1. Samantha Bertolina (ITA)
2. Caroline Ulrich (SUI)
3. Anna Folini (ITA)

Junior Men
1. Pau Coll Turra (ESP)
2. Sebastien Guichardaz (ITA)
3. Andrea Prandi (ITA)

Junior Women
1. Ekaterina Osichkina (RUS)
2. Giulia Murada (ITA)
3. Malaurie Mattana (FRA)

Espoir Men
1. Davide Magnini (ITA)
2. Antonio Alcalde Sanchez (ESP)
3. Rémi Bonnet (SUI)

Espoir Women
1. Alba De Silvestro (ITA)
2. Alexandra Hauser (AUT)
3. Marianne Fatton (SUI)

Senion Men
1. Kilian Jornet Burgada (ESP)
2. Davide Magnini (ITA)
3. Antonio Alcalde Sanchez (ESP)

Senior Women
1. Axelle Mollaret (FRA)
2. Victoria Kreuzer (SUI)
3. Alba De Silvestro (ITA)

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