Pierra Menta 2023 won by Axelle Gachet-Mollaret - Emily Harrop & Michele Boscacci - Davide Magnini

The 37th Pierra Menta, ski mountaineering's equivalent of Tour de France, took place from 8 to 11 March 2023 and was won by Michele Boscacci & Davide Magnini from Italy and by Axelle Gachet-Mollaret & Emily Harrop from France.

The 37th Pierra Menta took place from 8 to 11 March and was, as usual, spectacular. After four days of competitions, upsets and twists and turns, those who claimed gold were Michele Boscacci & Davide Magnini from Italy and by Axelle Gachet-Mollaret & Emily Harrop from France

212 teams showed up at the start on Wednesday 8 March, ready to tackle the 20-kilometre course with its +2550m height gain in anything but good weather conditions. These didn't stop the athletes, least of all Matteo Eydallin and Nadir Maguet who dominated the men's race with a time of 2:25:40. Michele Boscacci and Davide Magnini placed second after 2:27:42, while Samuel Équy and Mathéo Jacquemoud clocked in third after 2:28:06. In the women's race, Axelle Gachet-Mollaret and Emily Harrop easily called it their own in 2.54.33. 3:05:52 was the time needed by the sisters Candine and Léna Bonnel, while Martina Valmassoi and Elena Nicolini settled into provisional third after 3:12:47.

The second competition day provided a +2600 altitude gain spread out across 25 kilometers, more than enough to change some the provisional standings. William Bon Mardion and Xavier Gachet excelled in 2:37:40, and gained 3 positions overall. Hot on their heels, Nadir Maguet and Matteo Eydallin finished after 2:37:42, while Samuel Équy and Mathéo Jacquemoud finished after 2:39:42. Axelle Mollaret and Émily Harrop strengthened their lead with a time of 3:04:42, 16 minutes faster than second-placed Bonnel sisters who stopped the clock after 3:20:32. Third place, with a time of 3:32:21, went to Martina Valmassoi and Elena Nicolini.

The third day was hit by poor weather and strong winds and this, for the first time in the competition's history, led to the cancellation of a stage.

The weather didn't improve a great deal and poor conditions and the risk of avalanches forced the organisers to change the course on the final stage and opt for a +600m time trial. Mollaret - Bon Mardion sprinted to victory in 34:27, ahead of Jakob Herrmann and Martin Anthamatten who stopped the clock after 34:45. Third, after 35:00, were Alexis Sévennec and Anselme Damevine. Despite finishing fifth on the last day of the competition, the Boscacci-Magnini duo placed first in the general ranking. Second place overall went to Xavier Gachet - William Bon Mardion, third to Samuel Equy - Mathéo Jacquemoud.

The outcome of the women's competition was less of a surprise: the Gachet-Mollaret - Harrop duo dominated every single stage, even the last one with a time of 39:34. They claimed gold, while the Bonnel sisters placed second after 43:39. Laurie Renoton and Périne Gindre placed third after 43:39.

Pierra Menta delivered as always. Exciting and spectacular from start to finish, this is quite rightly considered France's ski mountaineering equivalent of the Tour de France.

Link: www.pierramenta.com, Karpos, SCARPA