Garnbret and Kruder win in Moscow

Garnbret and Kruder win in Moscow, Rakovec and Peharc just off the podium.



Moscow is a lucky place for Slovenian sport climbing, as Janja Garnbret and Jernej Kruder won the second Boulder World Cup on April 14, while Lučka Rakovec and Anže Peharc reached fourth place in their first senior final. A new exceptional achievement for the Slovenian national team in sport climbing!







Current world champion in bouldering Janja Garnbret (Šaleški AO), second after an extremely demanding semifinal, flashed all four boulder problems in the final and swept the competition. "It was an excellent final behind me, not as demanding as I expected after a very tough semifinal. That worried me a bit, but I concentrated in the final and enjoyed it, I'm happy that I managed to flash all four boulders in the final. Now I'm already looking forward to the Chinese tour," the 20-year-old Carinthian was glowing, who already celebrated in Moscow last year. She started the pre-Olympic season with a World Cup win in Meiringen a week ago, thus maintaining the lead in the overall Boulder World Cup standings.







In Moscow, the runner-up was Frenchwoman Fanny Gibert, third was Britishwoman Shauna Coxsey. For the first time in her career, 16-year-old Lučka Rakovec (PK FA) qualified for the final and with three final flashes and one zone secured an excellent fourth place. Rakovec won the European youth bouldering title and a silver medal at the World Youth Championships in bouldering last year.







2018 overall Boulder World Cup winner Jernej Kruder (ŠPO PD Celje Matica) thrilled with victory in Moscow, as the only one in the men's competition he achieved all four final tops, the last one even solely and on sight. "It was my day, I already felt good in qualifiers, not so good in semifinal, but I rested after it and came to the final super prepared. I'm very proud that I climbed the last final boulder, which was decisive. I really gave everything, and I was lucky to climb first," Kruder was excited, who excellently capitalized on his sixth place from the semifinal for his second World Cup win in his career.







Second was Czech Adam Ondra, third Japanese Yoshiyuki Ogata. Like Rakovec, the other Slovenian finalist Anže Peharc (AO PD Kranj) qualified for the World Cup final for the first time in his career. The 21-year-old from Tržič climbed to fourth place with two final tops and three zones, while he already won bronze at the 2017 European Championships in bouldering.







"We achieved a new incredible success! Janja's and Jernej's victories are excellent achievements, and Lučka and Peharc qualifying for the final is an additional success. Although we already achieved two wins and a second place in Munich last year, this is certainly one of the biggest Slovenian successes at a bouldering competition. The whole team is very happy for everyone, as there was a slightly bitter aftertaste with the guys after Meiringen despite Janja's win, but today everything was redeemed. We are thrilled, not only for the wins but also because everyone climbed so well. Really incredible!" was also excited by the selector of the Slovenian sport climbing national team Gorazd Hren, whose right hands are coaches Urh Čehovin and Luka Fonda.







Katja Kadić (PK Scena) finished the semifinal in 19th place, while Gregor Vezonik (AK Ravne), who won bronze in Moscow last year and stepped on the podium for the first time in his career, missed the semifinal with 23rd place. Mia Krampl (AO PD Kranj) qualified for 29th place, Zan Sudar (AK Ravne) for 51st and Domen Škofic (ŠPO PD Radovljica) for 65th place.







Sport climbers will face the Chinese World Cup tour with bouldering and lead trials in two weeks. From April 26 to 28 they will compete in Chongqing, from May 3 to 5 in Wujiang - this competition will also be broadcast on TV Slovenia's second channel.