Pierra Menta 2023 — Portrait of Italian athlete Matteo Eydallin, five-time winner of the famous ski mountaineering race
The Pierra Menta 2023 is at fever pitch — the famous ski mountaineering race is currently under way at the Arêches-Beaufort resort, from 8 to 11 March. Italian athlete and Cimalp ambassador Matteo Eydallin, individual world champion in the discipline in 2021 and 5-time winner of the Pierra Menta, is once again taking part in this international event alongside his partner. French athlete Bastien Fleury, who also races under the French brand's colours, has likewise started the race as part of a duo. Here are portraits of these two exceptional athletes.
Since 1986, the Pierra Menta, a major ski mountaineering race, has taken place in the beautiful mountains of Arêches-Beaufort, on the slopes of the Grand-Mont. This international ski mountaineering competition brings together the elite Men's and Women's competitors in the discipline. Over 4 days, participants tackle explosive ascents and vertiginous high-speed descents.
In numbers, the Pierra Menta draws each year approximately:
- 200 two-person rope teams
- 10,000 metres of positive elevation gain
- 15 summits
- 2,000 and 2,687 metres of altitude
- 1 Senior race, 1 Youth race
- thousands of spectators
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Jocelyn Chavy - Race start[/caption]
Matteo Eydallin, 5-time winner of the Pierra Menta and 2021 ski mountaineering world champion
While he is currently competing at the Pierra Menta, one might wonder who Matteo Eydallin really is. Behind this reserved personality lies a man in love with the vertical. This athlete from the Italian military sports centre has amassed victories in ski mountaineering. His track record is extraordinary! Following a team gold medal at the Ski Mountaineering World Championships, vice-world champion in the individual event, and 1st at the Italian Championships, here is a non-exhaustive list of his victories:
- Individual ski mountaineering World Champion 2021
- 2 overall World Cup victories
- 8-time Italian Champion
- 5 victories at the Pierra Menta
- 8 Transcavallo victories
Cimalp ambassador since 2022, Matteo Eydallin has also been a 5-time winner of the iconic Pierra Menta. A mountain lover, hungry for challenges and the vertical, he is a genuinely engaging athlete whose values align perfectly with the brand: passion for summits, pushing personal limits, respect for nature, and a spirit of closeness and friendship. Also passionate about cycling, trail and above all climbing, this true devotee of the vertical joined the Cimalp Family through a mutual contact at the Drôme-based company. In Cimalp, the athlete has found technical products that meet his needs.
Beyond the partnership, a genuine friendship and relationship of trust has grown between Matteo and Cimalp. This athlete, with his impressive technical skill and composure, regularly contributes to the development and improvement of products from the outdoor mountain equipment brand. Exchanges are made all the easier by the Italian's perfect command of French! Matteo actually lives in France — near the mountains, as you might have guessed.
Bastien Fleury: a quiet athlete, an exceptional man
At the Pierra Menta, Bastien Fleury may not always be in the spotlight. But some of his times speak volumes about the extraordinary athlete he is. A true machine!
- Chamonix-Zermatt record in 16h35 with Olivier Meynet on 21/03/2016.
- Traverse of the Mont White massif in 21h28 with Bastien Lardat.
- Chamonix-Mont-White timed ascent and descent on skis in 6h39.
Same goes for his track record:
- Winner of the Swiss Peak 2022: he holds the record for the 170 km in 28h33min46s!
- 8th at the Pierra Menta 2022
- 9th at the Mezzalama 2019
- Winner of the Transvanoise 2016, 2017 and 2019.
- 2nd at Altitoy 2022.
- 2nd at the Verbier Marathon 2022
This child of the Alps, born in Chamonix, is a mountain rescue gendarme with the PGHM (Peloton de Gendarmerie de Haute-Montagne). Attentive and dependable, Bastien shines both on the sporting stage and through his presence as a person. A true mountain man at heart, he does not limit himself to a single outdoor discipline. In addition to trail, ski mountaineering and hiking, he also practises paragliding and mountaineering.
Quiet by nature and with a palpable warmth, athlete Bastien Fleury will be in the spotlight sooner or later. Streaming giant Netflix is currently working on a documentary film about this extraordinary man. Stay tuned!
For a deep dive into the Pierra Menta 2022, watch the video!
