Xavier Thévenard, three-time winner of the UTMB, has just accomplished an unprecedented challenge in the Jura Mountains, of which he is the ambassador. For several months, the Jurassian had been preparing for what turned out to be a monstrous performance. At 7 am on Monday, March 16, he started the uphill and downhill skiing from the village of Mijoux at 1000 m up to the summit of the Faucille site at 1550 m at the Monts Jura resort.
He completed this course as many times as possible during 24 hours. His record of 13,200 m of elevation gain and 220 km was set on Tuesday, March 17. Everest and Mont Blanc in 24 hours without a plane!
This feat also resonates as a victory for the athlete who contracted Lyme disease in 2020. The last time he was seen was at the UTMB in August 2021, where he abandoned the race at the 50th kilometer.
The return of the legend For four years, his health deteriorated, having chronic Lyme infection, the most severe form of the disease. As he confided to Dauphiné Libéré, the unsatisfactory management of this disease in France had revolted him, leading him to seek effective treatment in Germany.
As his condition improved, he was able to participate in the first edition of Alp’Lyme, 600 km of ultra-trail, between Saint-Gingolph and Nice (30,000 m D +), on the GR5 route in 2024… without completing the entire race.
The legend of the UTMB, Xavier Thévenard, seems to have regained all his abilities and mental strength. The question now is whether he will return to a trail race. And if so: when?
