Iker Ozkoidi Garcia consolidates his lead

This 5th stage was a long one with 37 km of track, steep with 1300 m of positive ascent, but really magnificent through the Les Karellis ski area, on beautiful, slippery snow. ‘This is the most difficult and the most technical of the stages,’ said Sophie Verney, mayor of Montricher-Albanne, where Les Karellis is located, as she gave the go-ahead for the start.
All the conditions were right for a great show for the holidaymakers, who were thrilled by the performance of the carriages. The start on the snow front, at the foot of the ski lifts, was very spectacular as the competitors immediately attacked the slope before merging into the forest towards the Col d’Albanne. The route alternated between Nordic and Alpine loops, starting at the bottom of the Ponsonnière piste. With staggered starts from 4pm, the last skiers had the chance to see the mushers up close.

‘The stage was technical and the alpine sections were very good. I like these climbs, I have to run to help the dogs,’ laughed Spain’s Iker Ozkoidi Garcia, who set the fastest time of the day at 1 h 34 mn 48 s. It was a stage that all the mushers enjoyed, with Cindy Duport declaring that it was her favourite stage at 1 h 48 mn 54 s. A fine performance considering that she had to put one of her two wheeldogs, which lacked drive, into the ‘Plume’ sled three times. Elsa Borgey, who had lost her Suzuki-sponsored leader’s jersey to yesterday’s and today’s winner following a painful fall the day before, made up for it on this stage by clocking the 3rd fastest time (1h 49 mn 27 s).

In the Nordic category, leader Jean Combazard extended his lead even further, completing the trail in 2 hrs 07 mins 28 sec. ‘It took me around 20 minutes less than last year on the same route, so I’m happy,’ he said at the finish. His two pursuers Matteo Fossati and Cécile Durand lost more than 14 minutes on this stage. The podiums in both categories therefore remain unchanged at the end of this long and highly technical stage.

Yoann Henry, who had decided not to take part the day before because one of his dogs had a health problem, which has now been resolved, wore the ‘Dog Care’ chasuble sponsored by Royal Canin at the start.

See you tomorrow, Friday 17 January at the start in Aussois for the sixth stage of La Grande Odyssée VVF, presented by Zolux.

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