The athlete from Bertrix had made this race a first objective for 2024. Contract fulfilled.
Among the men, Raoul Raus (CS Dyle, lives in France in the Pyrenees) is already in his 3rd title in the same exercise, after 2021 for juniors and 2023 for seniors. He won ahead of Jérôme Vanderschaeghe and Jean Faymonville (three athletes from Malmédy AC, the organizing club of numerous national mountain championships, appeared in the first 4 places…).
As for the juniors, Louis Bourgeois (Acte) and Clara Rulot (Arch, 2nd in the race, but first back) took the gold medal. Not meeting the federation's criteria (they had to achieve a lower time over 8 km than the passing times of the senior winners at the end of their 2nd round), they will not go to Annecy.
The rankings:
Gentlemen (12 km, 965 m): 1. Raoul Raus, 1:00:26; 2. Jérôme Vanderschaeghe, 1:00:51; 3. Jean Faymonville, 1h01'56; 4. Victor Hendricks, 1:02:42; 5. Jasper Mannaert, 1h03'19;…; 6. (1st V1), Jérôme Demaerschalk.
Ladies: 1. Victoire Cravatte, 1h14'48; 2. Charlotte Cotton, 1:16:57; 3. Elodie Dancette, 1h21'55.
Juniors: 1. Louis Bourgeois, 42'26; 2. Oscar Bourgeois, 43'03; 3. Gaston De Cumont, 43'34.
Juniors: 1. Ayla Blondé (unaffiliated), 59'38; 2. Clara Rulot, 1h02'19.
