With a best time of 4 hours, 54 minutes and 41 seconds, Benjamin Védrines beats Kilian Jornet's long-standing undisputed record by an incredible 3 minutes.
Currently, good record conditions prevail at Mont Blanc: Just a few days after the new women's best time of Élise Poncet cracked this week Benjamin Vedrines the current men's record in ski mountaineering.
New record by a whisker
In 4 hours, 54 minutes, and 41 seconds, the French alpinist sprinted from the church in Chamonix to the 4.806-meter-high summit and back. After a neck-and-neck race against time, Védrines finally beat the previous record held by the Spanish ski mountaineer and mountain runner. Kilian Jornet – by an unbelievably short 3 minutes.
Védrines had recently been with his Winter solo ascent of the Petit Dru west face He has proven how comfortable he feels even in adverse conditions. Nevertheless, the record-breaking attempt on Mont Blanc demanded a great deal from the 32-year-old: "The mental and physical difficulty left its mark on me."
This is a big surprise and a huge step for me.
Benjamin Vedrines
To beat the previous best time of Kilian Jornet To beat the 2013 record, everything had to be just right for Védrines' attempt. "I honestly didn't think a new personal best was possible on the roof of Europe," the Frenchman wrote on social media. The route covers approximately 35 kilometers and over 3.800 meters of elevation.
Jornet set the bar so high with his time of four hours, 57 minutes, and 40 seconds that his best time remained unbeaten for twelve years. Despite several falls, injuries to his eye and ankle, and a broken ski pole, Benjamin Védrines achieved the improbable.
My eye hurts, my ankle is broken. But I'm happy – I've fulfilled a dream.
Benjamin Vedrines
Védrines is no stranger to records in alpine terrain. Since last July, he has held the Record on K2, which he climbed in under eleven hours without additional oxygen.
That might interest you
- Benjamin Védrines succeeds in winter solo ascent of the Petit Dru west face | BASE
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Credits cover photo: Noa Barrau