The World Climbing Europe Series continued in Žilina, Slovakia, with a Lead competition in the adult category, across both the men’s and women’s fields.

VIGHETTI TAKES GOLD AT 17

Italy’s Gianluca Vighetti won the men’s gold with a score of 45, delivering standout performances in both the semi-final and the final. The 17-year-old, made repeated use of knee-bar rests through the routes, a technical skill that set him apart from the rest of the field. Belgium’s Nicolas Collin, 28, took silver on 40, giving the podium a wide generational spread. France’s Jordi Poles completed the podium in third with 38.

Four climbers in the men’s final fell at the same point on the route, a dynamic, coordination-dependent move, which proved more demanding than expected.

DEUBLER CONTINUES STRONG FORM AFTER YOUTH WORLDS

In the women’s final, Austria’s Anika Deubler took gold with a score of 50+, just weeks after winning the U19 Lead title at the World Climbing Youth Championship in Arco. Deubler climbed high on the route and came close to a top, reaching the final hold before falling. Germany’s Annika Müller took silver on 48+, with Ukraine’s Rafael Kazbekova claiming bronze on 47.

The women’s route produced a well-spread field with no single decisive crux, in contrast to the men’s final.

ALL THE PODIUMS

Men’s Lead:

1. Gianluca VIGHETTI (ITA) – 45

2. Nicolas COLLIN (BEL) – 40

3. Jordi POLES (FRA) – 38

Women’s Lead:

1. Anika DEUBLER (AUT) – 50+

2. Annika MÜLLER (GER) – 48+

3. Rafael KAZBEKOVA (UKR) – 47

NEXT UP

The World Climbing Europe Series continues in Ostermundigen, Switzerland, from 21 to 22 August.

All European events will be live streamed on the World Climbing Europe YouTube channel. News and updates about all World Climbing events will be available on the World Climbing website, and on the Federation’s digital channels: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, and exclusively for the Chinese audience, Douyin, Weibo, and Xiaohongshu.