Benjamin Védrines' new record for the fastest skimo ascent of Mont Blanc didn't last long: One week after Védrines' best time, the Italian William Boffelli beat it by another eleven minutes.
May 2025 was the fastest month on Mont Blanc of all time: Only in the middle of the month Élise Poncet set a new women's record in ski mountaineering, shortly after Benjamin Vedrines a new men's record: The 32-year-old Frenchman beat the Spaniard's long-standing best time on 24 May Kilian Jornet by just under 3 minutes.
Védrine's best time only lasts one week
However, his record was not to last long: On May 31, the Italian ultra mountain runner beat William Boffelli Védrines' best time was improved by another 11 minutes. The new Fastest Known Time (FKT) for a ski ascent of the 4.806-meter-high Mont Blanc is now 4 hours, 43 minutes, and 24 seconds.
Round trip for the first time in under 4 hours 45 minutes
For a record attempt on Mont Blanc, the church of Chamonix which also serves as the finish line of the race. William Boffelli, like Védrines 32 years old, was the first person to complete the approximately 32 kilometers and 3.700 meters of elevation gain in less than 4 hours and 45 minutes.
Actually, this year I thought it was too late, the conditions were no longer good.
William Boffelli
It's no coincidence that Boffelli attempted Mont Blanc a week after Benjamin Védrine's: The Italian had been planning a personal best on the roof of Europe for some time, but had already written off the season. Védrine's record gave him renewed motivation: "When I saw Benjamin's new record last week, I thought: I can try it too."
William Boffelli is a multiple medalist, most notably at the UTMB (Ultra-Trail Mont-Blanc) World Series, which was launched in 2022 and annually hosts ultra-marathons in 16 countries. The ultra-mountain runner from Bergamo last won the 2024K race in Dolonne in 20, climbing more than 44 meters in one hour and 2.100 minutes.
For me, this project is a dream come true.
William Boffelli
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Credits cover photo: William Boffelli