WOMEN'S BOULDER

The women kicked off the finals, and everyone came out meaning business on the first boulder with many of the finalists flashing the route.

Boulder two was a different story: a long, demanding slab, complex reading, unstable balance, very few attempts possible, with no climber managing to reach the top. There were some close attempts from Louise Puech-Yazid and Zélia Avezou who both fell on the very last hold.

The third boulder, dynamic and explosive, completely revived the final. Agathe Calliet topped it on her second attempt. Lily Abriat followed, with one more attempt. Selma Elhadj-Mimoune fought until the last seconds and came out with a top. Zélia Avezou and Lucile Saurel also found the solution. And then, Oriane Bertone flashed the boulder. At that precise moment, it became clear: the title would be decided by details and a few attempts.

The last boulder was a physical one, where all the finalists would make the top, meaning the difference would be made by the number of attempts, and one climber was almost perfect from start to finish: Oriane Bertone, who completed this final boulder on her first attempt, sealing her fourth consecutive title.

Bertone finsihed 0.1 points ahead of Abriat who took the silver medal. Saurel and Avezou were tied a further 0.1 points behind. Thanks to her better semi-final performance, it was Saurel who claimed the bronze medal.

MEN'S BOULDER

The men's final lived up to all expectations: electric, technical, unpredictable, an open final after a semi-final that had already reshuffled the deck.

On the first coordination boulder, Mejdi Schalck, despite being a specialist in dynamic movements, failed to reach the top and only managed to reach the zone. In contrast, Paul Jenft, Arthur Le Bris, Camille Claude and Max Bertone quickly found the solution and scored an important top. 

The atmosphere changed completely on boulder two which was physical, a test of endurance on small holds, a battle from start to finish. One by one, the climbers took their turn without finding the solution. Bertone, who was last to go, took his first attempt and reached the top. 

Boulder three kept things interesting with three climbers going to the top: Jenft, Schalck and Le Bris. Bertone took a long time to find the solution, but failed to reach the top. 

The last boulder was physically demanding. Le Bris managed to top it. Then Jenft topped the boulder and maintained his provisional lead over Le Bris. There was still everything to play for. Schalck also topped moving up to provisional third, but with three climbers still to go he was in a precarious position. If Bertone topped the boulder he would win gold and the national title. He launched himself into the boulder and topped it on his first attempt.

Bertone stepped onto the top step of the podium joined by silver medallist Jenft and Le Bris the bronze medallist in his first senior competition.

For full results : Resultats-finale-senior_Montmartin.pdf