Stage 8 – Valmorel – Doucy presented by the Grande Cause Nationale and the Crédit Mutuel

Overcast skies awaited the competitors of La Grande Odyssée VVF as they set off from Valmorel in Savoie for their 8th stage presented by La grande cause nationale and Crédit Mutuel.

It took them all the way to the resort of Doucy, a 24 km trail won by France’s Elsa Borgey in 1h04’35” at an average speed of 26 km/h. She took 4’49’ off the event leader, Norwegian Hans Lindalh, who continues to wear the leader’s jersey sponsored by Crédit Mutuel. Frenchwoman Cindy Duport rounded off the day’s podium, after Spain’s Iker Ozkoidi was given a 2′ penalty for late presentation of the dog list at the start of the stage.
In the Nordic category, Jean Combazard retained his Crédit Mutuel-sponsored Nordic jersey as overall leader. The rookie Clément Raux made a fine comeback, squeezing in between the two experienced mushers, even though his team of six Alaskan huskies was the only dog on the course. He snatched 7th place from Philippe Desmurger.
Despite the damp, grey skies, brave spectators turned out to cheer on the competitors, who immediately attacked the day’s 1,000 m climb, starting on the slope that runs from the bottom of the Savoyard resort’s slopes around Planchamp.

Weather conditions forced the management to shorten the course by 4 km, as wind gusts reached 90 km/h on the Arnouillaz loop. It was a roller-coaster stage, with the carriages having to absorb three steep climbs and 1140 m of negative altitude difference, a technical course that is not always easy for them. “We take the time to massage them so that their muscles are relaxed,” explains Virginie Pe, Philippe Desmurger’s handleuse.
Elsa Borgey wears the Royal Canin-sponsored dog care mascot of the day, for her excellent handling of her dogs on their own at the Mont-Cenis bivouac.

Rendezvous on Tuesday, January 23, at Les Sept Laux for the 9th stage.