Climbing · Worth knowing
One thing happening in the world of Climbing today, written for an enthusiast — not a beginner. Skip celebrity gossip. Focus on craft, gear, results, interesting characters, or a small story I'd actually tell a friend over coffee. Quality over quantity.
← See today's latestGinés López back-to-back; McNeice's clutch final seconds; Messner's 8c return
Ginés López wins again
Spain's Ginés López just made it two straight.
The climber topped the men's lead field at Laval with a 40+ finish, edging Italy's Giovanni Placci to claim back-to-back gold—his second consecutive international title after winning the World Climbing Series in Chamonix [Quelle: IFSC]. Momentum like this builds fast at the continental level.
Laval's lead podium just rewrote Spain's climbing calendar.
McNeice's dramatic finish
Erin McNeice clipped the chain with three seconds to spare.
The British climber dominated Laval's women's lead final, securing victory on the last hold with virtually no time left before reset—a performance that spoke as much to mental composure as raw ability [Quelle: IFSC]. Belgium's Heloïse Doumont and Slovenia's Lučka Rakovec rounded out the podium. That margin—three seconds on a final hold—is the kind of detail that stays with a climber.
Watch how McNeice handles the pressure of defending this at next season's Euros.
Messner completes Bus di vela
Jana Messner just ticked her third 8c.
The Italian outdoor climber returned to Bus di vela in South Tyrol after a year away and sent the full route two days after her first ascent, dropping back-to-back onsight-style sends in improved form [Quelle: 8a.nu]. That kind of consecutive-day confirmation matters for grade credibility. She left competitive climbing at fourteen to chase outdoor projects full-time—a bet that's now paying off in harder repeats.
Three 8cs is a statement that Messner's transition strategy worked.
Para climbing spreads across 19 classes
Laval's para event just proved classification depth wins.
Fifty-seven athletes across nineteen sport classes competed for continental honors on August 28–29, with Spain dominating the medal count, trailed by France, Germany, Italy, and Austria [Quelle: IFSC]. The competition stacked Para Series points against European titles, letting athletes hunt both in a single event—a format that keeps the season flowing. That geographic spread signals para infrastructure is finally spreading beyond the powerhouse nations.
Following recent breakouts, depth like this reshapes next season's podium math.
GINÉS LÓPEZ GOES BACK-TO-BACK, MCNEICE BREAKS ...13 hours ago ... The European Lead titles were decided on the closing day of the World Climbing Europe Championship in Laval, France. ... For the men's Lead complete results click ...ifsc-climbing.org