Christophe Abadie Claims Dramatic Victory in Race 3
Saint-Auban, France — 26 August 2025
Day three of the 12th FAI SGP World Final brought heat on the ground, cumulus in the sky, and plenty of drama in the air. With 362 km on the task sheet, the stage was set for an intense and technical race. No one was able to escape the pack - until the very last moment - with Christophe Abadie (2L) claiming a Dramatic Victory, while Stefan Langer (SF) was forced to outland in Sisteron.
Right from the start, three distinct strategies emerged. The main gaggle headed east along Vaumase, Col de Jouère and Malaup, while outsider Adrien Henry (FM) got caught low in the Buëch valley. Mario Kiessling (I) and Stanislaw Biela (S) also tried a bold western detour without success, losing 5 minutes on the main pack.. but opening the way for a sensational come-back. The “gaggle” option proved to be the strongest, with 17 pilots reaching Turnpoint 1 at La Cluse earlier and higher than the rest.
At Pic de Bure, the pilots climbed to 3,600 m, setting up a fast run towards Jausiers. Yesterday’s winner Kévin Faur (LB) pushed to the front, closely followed by Alberto Sironi (LEO), with the main pack not far behind. By Turnpoint 3 at Saint-Crépin, Stefan Langer (SF), Klaus Kalmbach (CT), and Arne-Martin Güettler (MA) were leading, with the pace quickening along the well-known “Parcours du Combattant”.
The split came before Cousson. Didier Hauss (KW) and Erik Borgmann (JG) gambled on a climb at Blayeul, reaching over 3,000 m, while others stayed low along the ridge. This set up a tense approach to the final sector as the field compressed once again.
The airspaces near St-Auban made it difficult for the pilots, as they had to make a long glide from Puimichel to Lure Mountain - but that’s where the drama unfolded.
After jumping over the crest of Lure, in the Jabron Valley, most of the field was struggling below 1,400 m. A brand-new race started as the pilots fought to find the one decisive final climb before the push to the line. The one who would find a good lift, would be the winner of the day.
Playing like a chess master, Christophe Abadie made the best move of the day, and clinched victory after finding the best thermal of the area. It was a powerful one, about 3 meters per second, he stated - while the other could barely find a meter per second. Christophe then climbed patiently into a safe final glide, knowing that he had taken a clear advantage on the rest of the field.
Abadie’s lead was unassailable. He crossed the line first to secure a famous home victory, followed two minutes later by Borgmann in second and Millenaar in third.
Both Kévin Faur and Stefan Langer failed to finish, shaking up the overall standings dramatically. On another note, we must emphasize that US pilot Robin Clark has had a wonderful day, completing his first race of the Finals, even though he is a ‘rookie’ in the Alps. Congratulations Robin!
The title is still to be decided
With three different winners in three days, the World Final remains wide open. Maximilian Seis leads with 16 points, followed closely by Peter Millenaar (14 points) and Erik Borgmann (13 points). Christophe Abadie, Mario Kiessling, Conrad Hartter, Kévin Faur, and Stefan Langer are all tied at 10 points, highlighting the tight battle for the podium. The narrow margins and varied strategies among the top pilots shows that the championship is far from decided, setting the stage for the upcoming races. Check out the results and overall standing here: Results
