By Two recent back-to-back Hill climb racing weekends in France, both near the Switzerland border.
Firstly, the 1.143 miles (1840 metres) in distance Marchaux to Amagney public roads time trial (fifty years since first edition in 1976), that hosted the second round of this year’s ‘Championnat de France de la Montagne’.
Superbike, Supersport race honours went respectively to Hugo Grange-Martin and Joffray Lelievre.
Overall Marchaux Hill Climb race winner in 2021, (2019 and 2022 runner-up) is pending Southern 100 exponent, three-times national French hill-climbing Champion (2019 SBK – 2021 SBK and SSP), Amalric Blanc.
The second event to profile, made its return after thirty years (previously held from 1974-1996), ‘Cote de Sancey’.
SBK, SSP winners at Sancey were Robert Henriot and Wilfried Gurnot.
Loic Sirot (P17 – Supersport class – track time 1.11.685) is Southern 100 bound in July (meeting debut last year), same applies to ex IRRC SBK rider, 2025 SBK Champion of French hill-climbs and 2020 European Hill Climb Road Race Champion in Supermoto category, Steven Bellavoine (Motor Isle Billown course newcomer).
Former racer, 300 Curves of Gustav Havel – Horice experienced Patrick Alzingre, held the role of Race Director for ‘Cote de Sancey’.
Next rounds of ‘Championnat de France de la Montagne’ commence next month at Panissieres (11th-12th July) and Petit Abergement (25th-26th July).
Top 10 Superbike, Supersport finishers from Marchaux and Sancey hill climbs, are as follows:
Marchaux Hill Climb:
Superbike:
1st – Hugo Grange-Martin – 1.06.200
2nd – Joffray Lelievre – 1.06.413
3rd – Robert Henriot – 1.06.701
4th – Steven Bellavoine – 1.08.217
5th – Franck Fournier-Bidoz – 1.08.811
6th – Anthony Senot – 1.09.176
7th – Uwe Rademacher – 1.09.435
8th – Damien Duck – 1.09.708
9th – Anthony Henriot – 1.10.040
10th – Simon Perret – 1.10.040
Supersport:
1st – Joffray Lelievre – 1.06.946
2nd – Wilfried Gurnot – 1.07.843
3rd – Vincent Pfister – 1.07.875
4th – Steven Bellavoine – 1.08.224
5th – Loic Roy-Clerc – 1.09.090
6th – Joe Thauront – 1.09.552
7th – Cyril Mounier – 1.09.707
8th – Yoan Poloni – 1.09.893
9th – Yanis Carleton – 1.10.433
10th – Kevin Duc – 1.10.714
Sancey Hill Climb:
Superbike:
1st – Robert Henriot – 0.56.149
2nd – Joffray Lelievre – 0.56.299
3rd – Anthony Senot – 0.59.099
4th – Anthony Henriot – 0.59.729
5th – Olivier Vicaire – 1.00.615
6th – David Da Silva – 1.04.448
Supersport:
1st – Wilfried Gurnot – 0.58.448
2nd – Gilles Pagnot – 0.59.926
3rd – Yoan Poloni – 0.59.413
4th – Kevin Duc – 1.01.127
5th – Christophe Fusillier – 1.01.745
6th – Killian Gassmann – 1.08.482
7th – Bruno Scaringella – 1.13.267
Words by Jan Vavra
