Five weeks after the successful Olympic qualification at the World Climbing Championships in Japan, the best climbers in the lead discipline competed against each other last weekend in Kranj, Slowenia. For the women, the Korean Chaehyun Seo was on top of the podium. In the men's race Adam Ondra won. Switzerland and Germany were not represented in the final. Austria took the places 2 (Jessica Pilz) and 7 (Jakob Schubert).
Nachdem Jessica Pilz Having already achieved her big goal of the season, direct Olympic qualification at the 2019 Climbing World Championships, the 22-year-old from Lower Austria took advantage of the World Cup in Kranj as a final test for the upcoming Lead European Championship (October 04-06) in Edinburgh, Scotland. Jakob Schubert For his part, after an outstanding performance in the qualification (6th place) and the semifinal (2nd place), he was somewhat left unrewarded. A mistake at the beginning of the final route cost Jakob the opportunity to duel with his long-time Czech rival Adam Ondra for the victory. With a height of 12+, the scoreboard showed Schubert in the final, instead of the hoped-for podium finish.
Only top in the men's final for Adam Ondra
An outstanding performance showed the Czech Adam Ondrawho was the only one to reach the top after a successful qualifying and semifinals round in the final and thus secured the gold medal. In the final closely on his heels was the Japanese Kai Harada, At the final of the ladies was Jessica Pilz in the meantime in the lead. Only the two-time winner of the season Chaehyun Seo from Korea could exceed their height by one move.
Placement at the World Cup in Kranj 2019
Video: Highlights of the World Cup in Kranj
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Credits: Artwork Eddie Fowke / IFSC, Text sections Austria Climbing