15 November 2016

Top athletes, spectacular races, alpine ski enthusiasts from all over - and a thrilling new adventure on the edge of the sky is ready to kick off

La Grande Course circuit is all set to go with a winter of great classic races. But before the curtain goes up on an exciting new season featuring stages of undeniable appeal such as the Pierra Menta, Adamello Ski Raid and Mezzalama Trophy, the organising committee of the “best and most prestigious circuit in the Alps” wanted to pay tribute to the winners of the 2015/2016 season with a round of well-deserved applause. In the impressive Unicredit headquarters in Milan, the specialised press and numerous national newspapers were able to meet athletes and organisers at an event that effectively marked the imminent start of the new winter season.


Looking at last year’s results, dominating the men’s rankings was the Cs Esercito (Army Sports Centre) athlete from Valtellina, Michele Boscacci. With him on the podium were William Bon Mardion – Xavier Gachet from France, who shared second place. Topping the women’s classification were French athletes Laetitia Roux – Axelle Mollaret who, having always raced side by side, shared the highest step on the podium. In third place was Mireia Mirò from Spain.     

Nor are the youngsters who represent the present and future of this increasingly popular sport forgotten. As well as providing them with specially-designed courses, a shorter version of the real skimo trails raced by athletes in the senior categories, the LGC organising committee also invited the most promising young athletes in European alpine skiing to the impressive Milanese venue. In the cadet category, a well-deserved first place went to Fabien Guichardaz from the Valle d’Aosta, who won just in front of his twin Sébastien. Bronze went to Alberto Gontier. Amongst their female counterparts, Justine Tonso triumphed over Marie Borriglione and Charlotte Iratzoquy. In the junior class, the highest step of the podium was taken by Enrico Loss from the Veneto region, who succeeded in getting the better of Pablo Oderiz and Titouan Huige in the circuit rankings. Amongst the girls, first place went to Giorgia Felicetti and her friend and teammate Melanie Ploner. Erola Bisquert Parés and Maria Ila tied for third place.                      


Dates for 2017: here are four dates you can’t afford to miss… Everything is ready for the start of a new adventure. Everything’s ready for another winter of great classic races. And raising the curtain on the upcoming season will be no less than the “Tour de France” of ski mountaineering: the 4-day Pierra Menta event, to be held from 8 to 11 March.  

April will kick off with the Adamello Skiraid on the 2nd, and will end on an amazing high with the Mezzalama Trophy on the 22 April.  So now- all that’s left to say is: Save The Date!!