Ludovic Pommeret, one of the big tricolor winners attacking the TDS

A victory in the UTMB, another in the Grand Raid de la Réunion. How many ultra-trail athletes can take advantage of such a list of hunts? When we talk about these two victories, we obviously think of Kilian Jornet or François D’haene, who have won them several times and who have become the big stars of the discipline. But we often forget that another Frenchman also won these two legendary events: Ludovic Pommeret. “I don’t consider myself in the same group as these two athletes. But it’s true that these are great achievements, especially the Diagonale des Fous which I particularly like”says the Frenchman.

The UTMB was in 2016. Ludovic Pommeret had however started the race very badly since he was in 50th place in the first third of the course, at Les Chapieux. “It was not going at all. But I absolutely wanted to finish this race that I hadn’t finished yet (a shortened 2012 edition and a retirement in 2014, editor’s note). I had resolved to spend a night in Courmayeur and to finish quietly when my strength returned, but I finally managed to speed up », remembers the one who, about ten hours later, crossed as winner the highest ultra-trail in the world. Does his steel mind make the difference against the rest of the elite? “Not necessarily, many at the head of the pack are hard-headed”humbly replies the one who joined on the shelves that year names such as François D’haene or Xavier Thévenard, illustrious of the world ultra-trail.

But the one that struck him the most was the Diagonale des Fous. Lover of the Reunionese atmosphere and more at ease on the technical trails of Mafate than on the rolling descents of the Grand Col Ferret (although he completed the very fast Western States (United States) in 6th place in July last), he finished crossing Reunion Island twice on the podium (2nd in 2009 and 2014) before winning one edition, that of 2021. “It’s true that I’m best known for my ultra performance, however, I don’t consider myself an ultra runner. I run and I like all distances. It’s rather that at my age, it’s easier to perform well over the long run than the short run (laughs)”, continues the 47-year-old runner. This is evidenced by his selection for the French trail running team and his 5th place at the 2018 World Championships in Spain.

A rich track record which certainly makes him the greatest French potential still active after François D’haene. Without his media presence really reflecting his sporting level: “I’m not a great communicator and I don’t have anyone to help me manage my social networks. I try to share a little stuff, but I know I should do more. » Moreover, Ludovic Pommeret is not a professional athlete despite the sequence of two seasons of trail running in the summer and ski mountaineering in the winter. A computer scientist, he has only just negotiated a part-time job with his employer to be able to spend more time training.

On the TDS trails, from this Monday midnight, the Frenchman intends to pull out of the game. Savoie seems well suited to the qualities of the athlete. “Even if we have to keep up with the pace of a rather fast start to the race until Bourg-Saint-Maurice. It’s really after that it gets more complicated and it suits me better. » For this, the rider of the Hoka One One team will have to contain the attacks of the German Janosch Kowalczyk, the Chinese Min Qi and the Italians Davide Cheraz and Franco Colle. With the key to a new prestigious victory for the Frenchman?