05.09.2018

Today, Thursday September 6, the Climbing World Championships in Innsbruck were opened from a competitions standpoint, with the women’s Lead qualification. The international favorites did not hold back. The Austrian athletes also competed very well: With Jessica Pilz, Christine Schranz, Hannah Schubert and Sandra Lettner, four out of eight Austrian participants made it into semi-finals! As winners of their respective groups, the two top climbers Jessica Pilz and Janja Garnbret, are going to compete in the semi-finals on Saturday.

Beaming sunshine and hot temperatures at the new Kletterzentrum Innsbruck, really put the athletes of the Lead qualification to the test. Nevertheless, the favorites did not disappoint: The qualification routes did not cause too many problems for the strongest medal candidates like Janja Garnbret, Jessica Pilz, Anak Verhoeven and Kim Jain.

Jessica Pilz and Janja Garnbret with an outstanding qualification
After two Lead routes, the two dominant athletes of this season, showed that the medals will have to be decided with them in mind: Jessica Pilz from Austria and the Slovenian Janja Garnbret won their respective groups. Garnbret got a top in both routes of group B. Pilz managed to get the highpoint in the two routes of group A. The showdown between the two Lead-Athlets will continue to the next round. This year, Garnbret won three out of four World Cups and is currently leading the standings in the World Cup, Pilz managed to get the first World Cup win of her career in 2018 and came second in all the other World Cup stops this season. The Innsbruck-resident by choice, is happy about her successful start to the competition: „The second round went much better than the first. In the beginning my fingers were very slippery and I couldn’t get into my usual climbing flow. But now the semi-final is coming up and I am super excited to get to climb in the Olympiaworld. I am curious about what the route-setters will have in store for us.“

Tomorrow the Male Lead qualification will follow

On Friday at 11 am, the Lead qualification will start at the Kletterzentrum Innsbruck. Lead world champion of 2016 Adam Ondra, as well as current World Cup leader and Lead world champion of 2012 Jakob Schubert will take part in this round. On Saturday, the first medals will be decided at the Olympiaworld: The Female semi-final will start at 1 am. The final will take place at 7 pm.

Text: Ben Lepesant und Martin Roseneder

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