Ski Mountaineering World Championships 2013: France wins Team Race, Italy takes silver

With the thermometer down to almost -20°C the race set off at an extremely rapid pace and after 500m of vertical gain William Bon Mardion (nicknamed BMW ...) and young Matheo Jacquemoud took the lead and managed to control the field for more than 2000m vertical gain, racing through the finishing line after a mere 2 hours and 32 minutes. Silver, with a 2 minute margin, went to the strong Italian team comprised of South Tyrol's Manfred Reichegger and Matteo Eydallin from the Valle d'Aosta who exclaimed afterwards: "It was a really tough competition, also because of the low temperatures, but this medal confirms our valor and we're really satisfied. " Third place went the France's Xavier Gachet and Alexis Sevennec who checked in with a time of 2 hours 36 minutes. Worth noting is the excellent fourth place of the Italians Pietro Lanfranchi and Davide Galizzi.

In the women's event all bets were confirmed by the irrepressible 27-year-old Laetitia Roux - unbeatable after her recent four victories in the World Cup - and 20-year-old Axelle Mollaret who won the race in 2 hours and 59 minutes. Behind them, with a 4-minute gap, Italy's Gloriana Pellissier and Elena Nicolini who described their silver as "an enormous satisfaction." Bronze went to the Swiss duo Maude Mathys & Emilie Gex-Fabrythys. Despite their excellent time of 3 hours and 12 minutes this shows that the next races - the sprint today, tomorrow's Individual, Thursday's Vertical Race and Friday's Relay - will most probably be decided by these four French and Italian athletes.

TEAM RACE
Results male
1 Jacquemoud, Matheo France 02:32:17
1 Bon Mardion, William France 02:32:17
2 Reichegger, Manfred Italy 02:34:16
2 Eydallin, Matteo Italy 02:34:16
3 Gachet, Xavier France 02:36:10
3 Sevennec, Alexis France 02:36:10
4 Lanfranchi, Pietro Italy 02:40:53
4 Galizzi, Davide Italy 02:40:53
5 Ecoeur, Yannick Switzerland 02:41:49
5 Anthamatten, Martin Switzerland 02:41:49
6 Lenzi, Damiano Italy 02:42:11
6 Holzknecht, Lorenzo Italy 02:42:11
7 Pinsach Rubirola, Marc Spain 02:42:40
7 Jornet Burgada, Kilian Spain 02:42:40
8 Blanc, Didier France 02:46:10
8 Favre, Valentin France 02:46:10
9 Solà Pastoret, Marc Spain 02:50:00
9 Caballero Ortega, Miguel Spain 02:50:00
10 Taam, Max United States 02:58:54
10 Gaston, John United States 02:58:54

Results female
1 Mollaret, Axelle France 02:59:45
1 Roux, Laetitia France 02:59:45
2 Nicolini, Elena Italy 03:04:44
2 Pellissier, Gloriana Italy 03:04:44
3 Mathys, Maude Switzerland 03:12:07
3 Gex-Fabry, Emilie Switzerland 03:12:07
4 Riba Carlos, Marta Spain 03:14:55
4 Miró Varela, Mireia Spain 03:14:55
5 Vikberg, Josefina Sweden 03:15:27
5 Forsberg, Emelie Sweden 03:15:27

PROGRAM 2013
Saturday 9 February: 4:30 – Opening ceremony
Sunday 10 February: 8:45 – Team race (Senior Men & Senior Women)
Monday 11 February: 10:00 – Sprint (all categories)
Tuesday 12 February: 10:15 – Individual (Cadet & Junior)
Wednesday 13 February: 9:30 – Individual Senior Women. 9:45 – Individual Senior Men
Thursday 14 February: 10:00 – Vertical Race (all categories)
Friday 15 February: 10:00 – Relay (all categories). 18:15 – Closing ceremony