All the athletes are now on the second half of the race, on their “way back” to Courmayeur: Donnas life base was in fact closed this morning at 6am. The last part of the runners is going up towards Rifugio Coda and from there down to Gressoney, while the first, Patrick Bohard, passed Ollomont ( 283, 5 km) and Col Champion ( 2709 meters) before dealing with a slope down to Saint Rhémy en Bosses. From there up to Malatrà ( 2936 meters), the highest peak on the “way back” but also the last the big descended towards Bonatti, Val Veny and finally Courmayeur.
Denise Zimmermann left Rifugio Cuney ( 256,7 km) at 8.40, first woman in the ranking.
It rains on the paths, but the snow did not come fon now.
The highest peak is already under the control of the Organization. Last night, quite a bunch of withdrawal due to cold, humidity and tiredness.
The race keeps going even if, of course, slower than the last years.
Foto: Stefano Jeantet