Media Information
Remi Bonnet and Sarah Dreier conquer the vertical race of the European Championships in Flaine
Third gold of the Championships for Laia Selles (Spain, U18 women) and Ida Waldal (Norway, U20 women)
Flaine, 11 January 2024 – Remi Bonnet (SUI) delivered today in Flaine (France) another masterclass of a vertical race to claim his second gold medal at the 2024 European Championships. On the women’s race, Sarah Dreier knew that with quite a few absences on the start line, today could be the day of her first big win, and she did deliver. On the Youth categories, both Laia Selles (ESP, U18 women) and Ida Waldal (NOR, U20 women) clowned themselves as absolute queens of the Championships, with a hattrick of golds for both of them, winning the individual, sprint and vertical races.
Standing on the start line, Remi Bonnet showed the confidence of someone who knows he has not been beaten on a vertical race in over two years. And someone who also knows that 500m of elevation can be done fast. Really fast. And he did deliver. The Swiss pushed from the gun and faced the first wall of the vertical race already leading the field, with the rest of the men stretching behind them.
He crossed the finish line in first place and then waited for 38 seconds to see the second man on the line, his teammate Marti Werner. The bronze medal was for Federico Nicolini (ITA), stepping on a major competition podium for the first time.
Also impressive was Paul Verbnjak (AUT), finishing in fourth place overall, just 48 seconds behind Bonnet, and claiming the U23 title, followed by Anselme Davidin (FRA) and Thomas Bussard (SUI).
On the women’s race, Sarah Dreier knew that this was an excellent opportunity for her to grab a major championship title, the first of her career, with some notable absences on the start lists. Axelle Gachet-Molleret (FRA), the current world champion of the vertical races, was not in Flaine after giving birth to a baby just six weeks ago; Giulia Murada, Emily Harrop and Tove Alexandersson recovering from the flu.
The Austrian seized the opportunity and pushed extremely hard from the beginning and managed to cross the line in first place, followed 18 seconds behind by Alba de Silvestro (ITA). The third place was for Marta Garcia Farres (ESP), who was on her first podium after giving birth to a boy 18 months ago.
On the U23 category, it was Katia Mascherona, from Italy, who was crowned European Champion, with another Italian, Lisa Moreschini, in second place and Caroline Ulrich (SUI) rounding up the podium.
Youth categories
The 2024 European Championships have crowned two young female athletes who will surely have a great future ahead: Laia Selles (ESP, U18 women) and Ida Waldal (NOR, U20 women), who have collected three gold medals already in this competition. individual, sprint y vertical.
On the Women’s U18 race, Selle’s dominance was impressive once again, winning by almost one minute of margin, a time that would have meant her finishing in second place in the U20 category. Behind her, Klara Velepec (SLO) crossed the finish line in second place, while Melissa Bertolina was the third one on the line. Silvia Boscacci (ITA) and Aina Garreta (ESP) rounded the top five on the day.
The U18 Men’s race saw Enrico Pellegrini (ITA) pushing hard to grab the gold medal after his silver three days ago in the individual race. The young Italian finished almost 20 seconds ahead of Gonzalo Casares (ESP), getting on an international podium for the first time in his career. Bronze was for Malik Uldry (SUI), with Elias Peer (AUT) and Gustave Blanc (FRA) rounding the podium.
Ida Waldal showed another magnificent display of strength to claim the vertical race, a hat trick for her in the European Championships in the U20 female category. The young Norwegian arrived in Flaine with no international podiums in her pocket and has already had three golds this week. Her teammate Elise Hjelset Andersen (NOR) grabbed the silver, showing that their country is really pushing for the upcoming debut of skimo at the Winter Olympics, and Margaux Mendes de Leon (SUI) closed the podium. Clizia Vallet (FRA) and Berta Guitart (ESP) completed the top five.