Friday, Janurary 16, 2026 – Courchevel (FRA)
Today marked the second day of competition, highlighted by the spectacular Vertical Night Time Trial in Courchevel. In this special race format, athletes competed individually against the clock on one of the most iconic vertical courses in the sport.
This evening was particularly significant with the debut of Rémi Bonnet and Axelle Gachet-Morallet, both current record holders of the Courchevel Vertical. Their presence added prestige to an event that takes place every Wednesday and has become a true reference for vertical racing records.
The Vertical race brought together 152 athletes from 25 nations, including 57 women and 95 men.
Starting in Courchevel Le Praz and finishing in Courchevel 1850, the course features 520 meters of vertical gain. This demanding and uninterrupted climb places a strong emphasis on pure uphill performance, endurance, and pacing, making it one of the most challenging vertical races on the calendar.
It was also great to see Daniel Ganahl back racing with us after a serious bike crash, marking an encouraging return to competition.
Women’s Vertical
It was an intense and exciting battle for the podium in the women’s Vertical Night Race. In the end, Axelle Gachet-Mollaret once again demonstrated her excellent form at the very start of the season. She secured the victory, missing her own course record by just two seconds.
After racing the day before, local favorite Emily Harrop delivered an incredible performance on home terrain, finishing in a strong second place and confirming her consistency and endurance.
Completing the podium in third position, Sarah Dreier showed clear satisfaction with her result, celebrating a well-earned podium finish against a highly competitive field.
Results – Women’s Vertical
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Axelle Gachet-Mollaret (FRA, 1992) – 23:40.5
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Emily Harrop (FRA, 1997) – 24:21.7 (+41.2)
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Sarah Dreier (AUT, 1995) – 25:08.1 (+1:27.6)
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Margot Ravinel (FRA, 2002) – 25:40.1 (+1:59.6)
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Giulia Murada (ITA, 1998) – 25:43.8 (+2:03.3)
Men’s Vertical
On the men’s side, the battle for the podium was extremely intense, with the top positions decided by very small margins. Rémi Bonnet delivered another outstanding performance to claim victory, once again confirming his strength in vertical racing—this time without breaking the course record.
He was pushed all the way by his teammate Aurélien Gay, who finished just 1.06 seconds behind, making it one of the closest finishes of the night.
The podium was completed by Oriol Cardona, who, after winning the previous day’s race, secured his first-ever Vertical podium in the senior category, marking an important step in his career.
Just off the podium, Paul Verbnjak finished in fourth place after a strong effort, while Samuel Equy rounded out the Top 5.
Men’s Vertical – Top 5 Results
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Rémi Bonnet (SUI, 1995) – 20:02.5
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Aurélien Gay (SUI, 2000) – 21:08.9 (+1:06.4)
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Oriol Cardona Coll (ESP, 1994) – 21:12.9 (+1:10.4)
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Paul Verbnjak (AUT, 2001) – 21:13.5 (+1:11.0)
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Samuel Equy (FRA, 1996) – 21:25.1 (+1:22.6)
ISMF Courchevel World Cup Ends After Two Days of Racing
The second World Cup of the season, held over two days, came to a close today in Courchevel after spectacular racing. The event delivered intense battles, world-class performances, and unforgettable moments in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
With the Courchevel World Cup now concluded, attention turns to the next stop on the calendar. The circuit continues next week in Andorra, where athletes will compete on 25–26 in the Classic Vertical and the Sprint events.
Courchevel once again proved itself to be a world-class venue, and excitement is already building as the season moves on to its next challenges.
