The Pierra Menta 2023 took place from March 8th to 11th in rather appalling conditions. Guillaume Beauxis, a member of Team Holyfat, shares his experience and how he dealt with the unpredictable weather and his unpredictable health.
"For several years I have abandoned ski mountaineering races for a more "free" practice which allows me to cut myself off from competition and just enjoy myself. I have ticked off several great races like the Altitoy but I had not had the opportunity to do the legendary Pierra Menta.
When my friend Greg Curmer asked me to participate, I immediately jumped at the chance and made it my goal for this winter. I was in really good shape, I was confident but I got sick 3 days before the start... I caught a bad case of bronchitis, a fever, unable to breathe properly, I was in a really bad state on the eve of the start. The first stage was no surprise, I suffered like rarely before to reach the finish.
Fortunately, the understanding with my teammate was great, but I felt bad for not being able to express myself after all the work this winter. The second stage was a carbon copy of the day before in terms of my fitness, but with sunshine this time and a beautiful mountain stage. At the finish, I wondered if I was capable of going to the end of these 4 days with such physical suffering. I was afraid of compromising my season because I felt that I was putting a lot of strain on my body just to finish the stages.
The weather came to my aid with a cancelled stage and a final one in the form of a 600m+ time trial. So I made it to the finish, but it was tough!
I have a bitter taste from this first Pierra Menta, but I'm happy to have found my bearings in this race and to have found a great teammate. I hope we'll come back to be able to express ourselves at 100% this time.
As for my diet, I used Holyfat macadamia lemon and macadamia vanilla purees + a Hydrascore sports drink.
photo credit: @pierre_meyer_photography