The Patrouille des Glaciers 2022, marked by two postponements of the race, ended in style in Verbier on Sunday 1st May. After a 24-hour postponement due to the weather, the start was given in Zermatt on Saturday evening in an intense atmosphere that was missed by the PdG fans! A Swiss patrol took its revenge and won against the Italian patrol that had won the 2018 edition.
The trio of the Swiss Team 1 patrol, made up of Martin Anthamatten, Marti Werner and Rémi Bonnet won the second Zermatt-Verbier race on Sunday, May 1st. They completed the course in 6 hours 35 minutes and 56 seconds. A little less than 9 minutes ahead of the Italian patrol C.S Esercito, formed by Michele Boscacci, Matteo Eydallin and Davide Magnini, who completed the course in 6 hours 44 minutes and 40 seconds. As a reminder, in 2018, the patrouilleurs Michele Boscacci and Matteo Eydalli won the race (with Robert Antonioli) by just over 10 minutes ahead of Swiss Team 1! This victory, savoured by the Swiss team at the finish line, was congratulated by their Italian opponents.
The third team, also Italian and called Lasportiva, completed the race in 7 hours 17 minutes and 55 seconds. The trio was formed by Filippo Beccari, Martin Stofner and Alex Oberbacher.
Arolla-Verbier
The second Arolla-Verbier race was marked by a podium composed of three very young teams! First, the Swiss patrol Team Gruyere composed of Léo Besson, Thomas Bussard and Robin Bussard completed the Arolla-Verbier course in 3 hours 1 minute and 45 seconds.
They were followed by the German patrol Youngsters composed of Jon Kistler, Loïc Dubois and Finn Hösch, with a time of 3 hours 7 minutes and 19 seconds. In third place, the Swiss Team Ski Alpi patrol, consisting of Louis Bétrisey, Tristan Gaspoz and Ambroise Repond, finished in 3 hours 30 minutes and 53 seconds. It is worth noting that all nine patrollers on this podium were born between 2001 and 2003.
Rain in Zermatt, freezing in Tête Blanche
The second races, like the first, were postponed by 24 hours. The reason for this was a deterioration coming from the west and a cloud accumulation that was expected on the summits on Saturday risked preventing any medical evacuation by air during the race. The start was therefore given on Saturday 30 April at 9.30 pm, on the station square in Zermatt. The patrollers set off in light rain with the encouragement of the many spectators.
In contrast to the mild temperatures during the first races on Thursday 28 April, the weather was harsher during the second races. The temperature was below -20°C at Tête Blanche, the highest point of the course (3650m). The PdG 2022 was also marked by a lack of snow, with the result that segments of the race, totaling 14km, had to be covered on foot.
The Patrouille des Glaciers Commander would like to thank the more than 1500 military personnel involved behind the scenes, without whom this event would not have taken place. He also salutes the numerous civilian entities and partners working for the smooth running of the event, and of course the patrollers and their public for their loyalty to the PdG!
Long live the Patrouille des Glaciers!
Selection of photos available to the press
Soldat David Wagnières, comm PdG