The final stage of the 40th Pierra Menta was held today under difficult weather conditions, with heavy snowfall throughout the morning forcing organizers to adapt the course. A modified route was set around the Beaufort ski domain, mainly through forested terrain to ensure athlete safety while preserving the competitive intensity of the race.
The stage began with a climb through the forest including several short boot-packing sections leading to the summit of Tête de Cuvy. From there, athletes crossed easier terrain toward the middle of the ski area near the Panoramic Restaurant before descending and returning to the same sector where the finish line and official timing point were located.
With approximately 1,600 meters of elevation gain, the final stage proved to be fast and intense. Despite multiple transitions, athletes pushed a very high pace from start to finish.
Stage 4 Track Profile
Women’s Race – Stage 4 Results
In the women’s race, Emily Harrop and Margot Ravinel delivered an impressive performance. Starting the stage with more than four minutes ahead of the second team, they set a strong pace from the beginning and maintained their effort throughout the course, securing the overall victory and demonstrating their excellent form.
They finished ahead of the experienced French team Axelle Gachet-Mollaret and Célia Perillat-Pessey, while the Italian duo Alba De Silvestro and Lisa Moreschini completed the podium.
Women – Overall & ISMF World Championships Long Distance
- Emily Harrop / Margot Ravinel (FRA) – 1:52:53
- Axelle Gachet-Mollaret / Célia Perillat-Pessey (FRA) – 1:55:55 – +3:02
- Alba De Silvestro / Lisa Moreschini (ITA) – 1:56:20 – +3:27
Men’s Race – Stage 4 Results
The men’s race delivered a tight battle on the final day. The French team Samuel Equy and Anselme Damevin attacked from the start, needing to gain significant time on the overall leaders William Bon Mardion and Xavier Gachet.
Equy and Damevin succeeded in taking the stage victory with a time of 1:36:05, finishing 52 seconds ahead of Bon Mardion and Gachet. The German–French pair Anton Palzer and Nadir Maguet completed the stage podium.
Men’s Overall Results (Stage)
- Samuel Equy / Anselme Damevin (FRA) – 1:36:05
- William Bon Mardion / Xavier Gachet (FRA) – +0:52
- Anton Palzer / Nadir Maguet (GER/FRA) – +2:21
Despite the strong performance from Equy and Damevin, Bon Mardion and Gachet managed their advantage carefully, securing the overall victory of the 40th Pierra Menta in front of their home crowd in Arêches-Beaufort.
ISMF World Championships Long Distance – Men (Stage)
The stage also counted as the ISMF World Championships Long Distance, determining the championship podium for the men.
- Samuel Equy / Anselme Damevin (FRA) – 1:36:05
- William Bon Mardion / Xavier Gachet (FRA) – +0:52
- Rémi Cantan / Simon Bellabouvier (FRA) – +3:59
Final Overall Classification – Men
After four demanding stages and more than ten hours of racing, the victory of the 40th Pierra Menta goes to the local French team:
- William Bon Mardion / Xavier Gachet (FRA) – 10:24:28
- Samuel Equy / Anselme Damevin (FRA) – 10:25:06 (+0:38)
- Davide Magnini / William Boffelli (ITA) – 10:41:21 (+16:53)
The incredibly tight 38-second margin between the top two teams highlights the intensity of this year’s race.
ISMF World Championships – Long Distance (Men Classification)
The race also counted toward the ISMF Ski Mountaineering World Championships Long Distance team title. The final classification included:
- William Bon Mardion / Xavier Gachet (FRA) – 10:24:28
- Samuel Equy / Anselme Damevin (FRA) – 10:25:06 (+0:38)
- Michele Boscacci / Robert Antonioli (ITA) – 10:59:36 (+35:08)
Women’s Race – Overall & ISMF World Championships
The women’s competition was also dominated by strong French performances, confirming their strength and versatility across both sprint race and long-distance race ski mountaineering formats. Emily Harrop and Margot Ravinel delivered a consistent and powerful race across all four stages to secure both the overall victory and the ISMF Long Distance title.
Final Women’s Overall Classification
- Emily Harrop / Margot Ravinel (FRA) – 12:13:15
- Axelle Gachet-Mollaret / Célia Perillat-Pessey (FRA) – 12:21:02 (+7:47)
- Alba De Silvestro / Lisa Moreschini (ITA) – 12:47:13 (+33:58)
A Legendary Edition
Despite difficult weather conditions on the final day, the 40th edition of the Pierra Menta once again delivered spectacular racing and confirmed its reputation as one of the most demanding and prestigious events in ski mountaineering.
From high alpine ridges to deep forest terrain, the race showcased the endurance, strategy, and resilience of the world’s best ski mountaineering athletes.
