Maximilien Drion

PERSONAL RECORD

First name, Last name: Maximilien Drion
Year of birth: 1997
Origin: Brussels, Belgium
Sport: Ski mountaineering and mountain running
Diplomas: High school diploma and Bachelor's degree in economics
Education: Master's degree in management

IN THE PRESSE

Le Nouvelliste, 04.03.2025

World ski mountaineering championships in Morgins: how Maximilien Drion found his way back to the top after his depression

Le Nouvelliste, 15.07.2023

How did Maximilien Drion, winner of the Tour des Alpages, get to where he is today? The Belgian from Vercorin shares his keys to success

COURSE

1997-2007: Tennis and gymnastics at school.
2008: Moved from Brussels to Valais.
2008: Unihockey with the Vercorin club and debut as a runner.
12.2008: First run, without training, over a 400m climb, won ahead of the Swiss 1000m champion.
Since 2009: member of the Sierre athletics club.
2009: 2nd place in the annual cycle cross-country race (7km).
2009: First ski touring outings. First race during the night ascent of the Mont Lachaux Trophy in Crans-Montana.
2010: 1st place in the cycle's annual cross-country race (7km) and cycle record since then.
2010-2011: Ski mountaineering debut.
2013: Represented Belgium at the World Ski Mountaineering Championships (results: 9th, 8th and 6th in the cadet category).
2014: Member of the Mountain Performance ski-mountaineering centre.
2017-2020 : Several World Cup podium finishes in the Espoirs (U23) category.
12.2020: Races among the elites and ramping up during the 20-21 winter season.
2020-2021 : First World Cup win in ski mountaineering.

SUMMER 2024 CALENDAR

25 May: Valais Terroirs Half Marathon
16 June: Neirivue-Moléson (10.6km / 1290m+)
30 June: Mont Blanc Marathon (42km / 2540m+-)
20-21 July: Eiger 35k
4 August: Thyon - Dixence (16.3km / 700m+ 435m-)
10 August: Sierre - Zinal (31km / 2200m+ 1100m-)
27 August: ETC (15km / 1200m+-)

WINTER RESULTS 2023/2024

2nd overall in the World Cup
2 World Cup podium finishes (2x 3rd)
4th in the Pierra Menta

WINTER CALENDAR 2023/2024

25.11.23 World Cup Val Thorens (FRA) / sprint
29.12.23 Montée de la Foilleuse Morgins (SUI) / vertical
08.01.24 European Championships Flaine (FRA) / individual race
10.01 European Championships Flaine (FRA) / sprint
11.01 European Championships Flaine (FRA) / vertical race
20.01 World Cup Arinsal (AND) / individual race
21.01 Arinsal World Cup (AND) / vertical race
27.01 World Cup Boì Taüll (ESP) / sprint
02.02 Villars World Cup (SUI) / sprint
05.02 Villars World Cup (SUI) / individual race
22.02 World Cup Val Martello (ITA) / individual race
25.02 World Cup Val Martello (ITA) / sprint
02.03 Schladming World Cup (AUT) / vertical race
03.03 Schladming World Cup (AUT) / sprint
13.03 Pierra Menta stage 1 (FRA) / race by teams of 2 (approx. 2h30 per day)
14.03 Pierra Menta stage 2 (FRA) / race by teams of 2
15.03 Pierra Menta stage 3 (FRA) / race by teams of 2
16.03 Pierra Menta stage 4 (FRA) / race by teams of 2
22.03 Sellaronda (ITA) / team race of 2
06.04 World Cup Cortina (ITA) / vertical race
07.04 World Cup Cortina (ITA) / individual race
09.04 World Cup Cortina (ITA) / sprint
20.04 Patrouille des Glaciers (SUI) / race in teams of 3 (approx. 6 hours)

2022/2023 RESULTS

Ski mountaineering

2nd overall in the World Cup
World champion in the combined ranking
World vice-champion in vertical race
5 World Cup podium finishes (4x 2nd and 1x 3rd)

Mountain / Trail running

6th in the Mont Blanc Marathon
Victory in the Tour des Alpages
2:48 at Sierre-Zinal
2nd in Montreux - Les Rochers de Naye

Summer season in review 2023

After an incredible winter in terms of results and emotions, I went into the summer season with a lot of ambition. Like every summer, my main objective is the Sierre-Zinal race. Each of the races I took part in beforehand served as preparation for being in top form on the big day. Unfortunately, the race didn't go as well as I'd hoped and I started to suffer very early on in the race. I had to grit my teeth to reach the finish. This was my fourth participation in this legendary race, and the fourth time that the result didn't live up to my expectations. But I'm not giving up hope: one day I'll manage to put in a performance that I'm proud of. Now it's on to the Dérupe between Chalais and Vercorin, my last race of the season!

2021/2022 WINTER RESULTS

16.12.21: World Cup Ponte-di-Legni (Italy), sprint -> 5th elite
17.12.21: World Cup Ponte-di-Legni (Italy), vertical race -> 17th elite
19.12.21: World Cup Ponte-di-Legni (Italy), individual race -> 19th elite
28.12.21: Montée de la Foilleuse (Morgins, Switzerland), vertical race -> 2nd elite