Switzerland, France win vertical races at ski mountaineering WC

MORGINS, Switzerland -- Swiss skier Remi Bonnet and France's Axelle Gachet Mollaret claimed victories in the men's and women's vertical races, respectively, at the ski mountaineering World Championships on Tuesday.

In the afternoon races, China's Langjia Gongsong won the U18 men's vertical gold medal, while his teammate Ani Pumu clinched victory in the U18 women's race.

Bonnet secured his third consecutive world title with a time of 18 minutes and 50.3 seconds, finishing 46.7 seconds ahead of Belgium's Maximilien Drion du Chapois. Swiss skier Aurelien Gay took third place in 19:40.3.

In the women's race, Mollaret finished with a clear advantage, clocking 22:24.9. Sweden's Tove Alexandersson came in second, 41.1 seconds behind, while Sarah Dreier completed the podium.

China's Liu Jianbin finished 62nd in the men's race, while Cidanyuzhen and Lamuyuzhen finished 12th and 29th, respectively, in the women's competition.

The ski mountaineering worlds, slated from March 3 to 8, features 400 athletes from 25 countries and regions competing in three individual events of individual race, vertical race, sprint race as well as two team events.

It serves as a direct qualifier for the upcoming Winter Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026, offering quotas in each of the three Olympic events on the program: four (two men and two women) in the mixed relay, two in the women's sprint, and two in the men's sprint.