Gachet – Bon Mardion win, but the challenge is wide open. On the women’s side, the home champions instead placed a serious claim on success. In the second stage of the “Tour de France of Ski Mountaineering” it was a battle between the home champions William Bon Mardion – Xavier Gachet and our Robert Antonioli – Davide Magnini. At the end of a real stage (30km and 3200 m d+) made even more treacherous by the great heat, the boys from Arêches prevailed by eliminating the gap of the first stage and leading the general classification with 12″ over Robert Antonioli from Furvia and the Trentino from Val di Sole Davide Magnini.
Third place for the Mathéo Jacquemoud – Jakob Herrmann team who placed behind Matteo Eydallin – Thibault Anselmet and Nadir Maguet – Maximilien Drion. In the women’s category there was no change in the lead, the two home champions spread themselves in the second stage, taking 11’47” over our Alba De Silvestro – Giulia Murada who slipped to third place today. In the second stage on Thursday, a good performance for the French riders Célia Perillat Pessey – Lorna Bonnel (today second and third in the general classification). Followed in fourth and fifth place are the sisters Léna and Candice Bonnel and the Italians Martina Valmassoi – Corinna Ghirardi.
NOW THE CHALLENGE COMES TO LIVE: based on the weather conditions, the organizing committee will decide whether to climb the legendary Gran Mont in the third or fourth and final stage. One thing is certain, now young people will also take to the field and for them the dream of racing this super classic over obviously smaller distances and differences in altitude. As regards the ranking, the men’s head-to-head could be decided based on the residual energies of the two leading themes; even if for the moment the Arêches team and that of the CS Impero have shown no signs of slowing down. On the women’s side, the Italians De Silvestro – Murada will have to try to get rid of the toxins as soon as possible because their direct opponents are decidedly motivated.
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