Men's and women's finals line-ups complete from Koper semi-finals
In front of the adoring crowd in Koper, Slovenia the two-time Olympic champion Janja Garnbret seems as determined as ever to win a World Cup, this time with the added incentive of giving her home nation a glimpse of the glory she secured at Paris 2024.
Garnbret topped the semi-final route, the only climber to do so, and added it to the two tops she got in qualification. There is no such thing as an Olympic hangover for the Slovenian, she looks as immaculate in her climbing as ever.
Behind Garnbret is the new European champion from Villars, Switzerland last week – Italy’s Laura Rogora. Continuing the form, Rogora reached hold 46+ for her second position.
Third at Paris 2024 and third through to the final is Austria’s Jessica Pilz. Hold 43+ was enough for her to progress.
Two-time Olympian Oceania Mackenzie has been showing improvement in her Lead results, and she has a final to add to the list now in her first appearance in Koper.
Through in fourth on hold 40+, Mackenzie said: “I felt really good on the wall. I was a little bit scared about the hand jam and it did freak me out a little bit, but after that I really got in the flow and enjoyed it and felt really confident.
“I’ll just be resting tomorrow. Eating. Spending time with my sisters and the Swiss team and just enjoying it.”
On hold 39, USA’s Annie Sanders goes through in fifth ahead of sixth placed Mattea Pötzi of Austria who moved up from 19th in qualification. Pötzi reached hold 38+.
Great Britain’s Erin Mcneice in seventh and France’s Zélia Avezou in eighth both reached hold 37+ for their final spots.
Find the women’s Lead qualification results here: https://ifsc.hopp.to/kp24wlr
In the men’s competition it is becoming a bit of a theme that Japan’s Anraku Sorato and Great Britain’s Toby Roberts are fighting it out at the top of the order. Roberts got the upper hand at Paris 2024 taking gold to Anraku’s silver, and the Japanese climber is out to turn that around by leading the chasing pack.
Anraku progressed with a hold 41+ performance and Roberts was just behind on hold 40+.
Omata Shion joins teammate Anraku in the final going through in third on hold 33+.
Germany’s Yannick Flohe moved up from 18th position in qualification to make the final also reaching hold 33+ for fourth.
There are two French climbers in final with Sam Avezou in fifth on hold 32 and teammate Max Bertone in seventh on hold 28+. Bertone made his first senior final last time out in Briançon and is once again in the top eight and still in with a medal shot.
Two French final climbers, but just beaten by Japan who have three. The French are split by the third Japanese climber, Yurikusa Ao, in sixth who was also on hold 28+.
South Korea’s Lee Dohyun makes the final in eighth on hold 27 as an appeal late in the round downgraded Japan’s Murashita Zento 27+ to a 27 and moving him out of the final spots and Lee in.
After the semi-finals Lee said: “I wasn’t that nervous. I was feeling good but the climbing was not perfect, so I want to do my best in the final tomorrow. I will rest during the day tomorrow and try to prepare my condition.
Looking ahead to the IFSC World Cup Series finale being in Seoul, South Korea Lee said: “I like the competition in Seoul as it’s my home ground and there are so many Korean fans. I want to do my best there. I don’t really think about the Series titles, just focus on training really.”
Find the men’s Lead qualification results here: https://ifsc.hopp.to/kp24mlr
Lead semi-finals and finals will be live streamed on the IFSC YouTube channel, Geographical restrictions will apply., for more information on where to watch and follow the IFSC World Cup Series 2024 click here.
News and updates about the IFSC World Cup Koper 2024 will be available on the IFSC website and the Federation’s digital channels: Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, LinkedIn, and exclusively for the Chinese audience, Douyin and Weibo.