French mountaineer sets new Mont Blanc speed climb record / Photo: © AFP
-
North Dakota Enacts Bipartisan Insulin Price Cap Amid National Push
-
Honda Recalls 635,000 Vehicles Over Software-Induced Power Steering Failure
-
Readers Question Naughty Dog’s ‘Intergalactic’ Hype and GTA 6 Marketing Strategy
-
Digi Power X Reports Q3 2026 Revenue Up 85% and AI Revenue Up Over 400% Compared to Q2
-
Westminster Council Unanimously Rejects Green Party Motion in 'Zionism is not racism' Vote
-
Below Deck alumnus João Franco and brother arrested after fatal Turkey fight
-
Kingfishr Announces UK and European Spring Tour Following April Album Release
-
Ole Miss inquiry expands after video and monkey-noise allegations
-
General Hospital actor Randall England dies at 75
-
Senators Push for Sports Betting Ad Ban as Bill S-211 Advances
-
Bunnie XO artwork taken down from Jelly Roll’s Nashville bar
-
London museum removes Russell Brand hair exhibit after rape conviction
-
Arlington sentinel rebukes Pete Hegseth entourage for laughter near memorial
-
RBI Gold Loan Rules 2026: Key Changes for Auctions, Renewals, and Valuation
-
Yella Beezy sentenced to life for arranging rapper Mo3’s murder
-
Kylie Jenner employee describes closet ordeal and pepper-spray incident
-
Authorities to identify Montauk Mary and five other Long Island cold-case victims
-
Davante Adams injury deepens Los Angeles Rams receiver shortage
-
Over-75s Face 25% Surge in Emergency Department Delays
-
Barbie sequel negotiations stall over reported $25 million pay packages
-
João Franco’s earlier post draws attention after arrest over fatal Turkey brawl
-
Bath & Body Works launches buy-one-get-one-free candle offer
-
Itlu Arjuna receives U/A certificate ahead of theatrical release
-
Dhananjaya de Silva guides Sri Lanka to 221-4 against Pakistan
-
Niraj Kumar earns Los Angeles Olympic quota with 50m rifle bronze
French mountaineer sets new Mont Blanc speed climb record
Rising French mountaineering star Benjamin Vedrines broke the record for the fastest ascent and descent of western Europe's highest mountain Mont Blanc, beating a mark that had stood for over a decade, his team said Sunday.
Vedrines' effort on Saturday to reach the 4,809 (15,777 feet) metre peak from Chamonix and then return to the resort was three minutes faster than that set by the Spanish ultra-running icon Kilian Jornet in 2013.
Having set out just before 9:00 am, Vedrines, 32, a specialist in rapid alpine-style ascents, completed the round trip from the church in Chamonix at 1,043 meters (3,422 feet) to the summit of Mont Blanc in a whirlwind 4 hours, 54 minutes, and 41 seconds.
"I really didn't believe it at first. It's a record that fascinated me, but I never thought I was capable of it, I really lacked the confidence to attempt it," the climber said in a statement sent to AFP.
Jornet ran to the summit while Vedrines, who also holds the record for a speed ascent of K2 in Pakistan, mixed trail-running and skiing.
"Bravo, what a show. The artist," Jornet, currently preparing for the prestigious US Western States race in June, wrote in tribute on social media.
L.Dubois--BTB