Gold for Janja, bronze for Domen in Briançon
22.07.2018
Slovenian sport climbing heroine Janja Garnbret convincingly stepped onto the top podium with the top of the final route on July 21 in Briançon at the third World Cup 2018 lead event, while the only Slovenian finalist Domen Škofic earned a bronze medal after a one-year break from the winners' podium in France. The team success was complemented by Mina Markovič with fifth, Vita Lukan with sixth and Mia Krampl with seventh place, helping to have four Slovenian women in the World Cup final for the second time in history.
Janja Garnbret (Šaleški AO) stepped onto the winners' podium for the third time in a row at the third World Cup 2018 lead event, and Briançon is also marked by the number three, as she triumphed there for the third consecutive season. After the 2017 and 2016 overall World Cup lead winner triumphed in Villars and was second in Chamonix, she celebrated gold again at the third event in Briançon. "At the previous competition in Chamonix I wasn't quite myself, although second place is excellent, but in Briançon I felt good and trusted myself again. The final route wasn't that hard, but I knew Jessica had topped, so I maybe made it a bit harder. I enjoyed it, as always, and the most important thing is that I have those good feelings again," said the satisfied 19-year-old from Carinthia, who returned to the competitive circuit with the World Cup lead after a bouldering break due to her matura: "Matura was good in one way, as I climbed and trained relaxed, but it wasn't good that I missed the events and fell a bit out of competitive rhythm. The switch was quite demanding, but the tough season is going well, as I've started to trust myself again and enjoy it." Second was Austrian Jessica Pilz, third Belgian Anak Verhoeven.
Domen Škofic (ŠPO PD Radovljica), the only Slovenian in the men's final, stepped onto the podium for the first time this season. After leading the semifinals, he had to yield to winner German Alexander Megos and runner-up Frenchman Romain Desgranges in the final. "The feeling of third place is like winning. It was hard to start last, because I climbed the semis really super. I'm very satisfied with the climbing, especially happy that from event to event I'm more relaxed, better able to show what I trained in the preparation period. Form is top-notch, but I still try to climb everything too safely. After a year since the last podium, I feel like I won, I want to keep this feeling and enjoy the next events," summarized the 24-year-old from Radovljica, who started the season with seventh and fourth places, last tasting the World Cup winners' podium in July last year in Villars, where he was second.
The women's final was dominated by Slovenians, with four in the top eight, happening for the second time in World Cup history, first in November 2007 at the Valence event, also in France. That final also featured the most experienced Slovenian, 30-year-old Mina Markovič (ŠPK Plus), who climbed to fifth in her first final this year in Briançon. Vita Lukan (ŠPO PD Radovljica) and Mia Krampl (AO PD Kranj) reached the senior final for the second time in their careers, placing sixth and seventh, the best result yet for the 17-year-old from Radovljica, while the 18-year-old from Golnik equalled her best from last year's Chamonix on her birthday.
"The team success was no accident, but the result of good work. We knew the girls were well prepared, we didn't dare predict four finalists, though you never know who will explode. Domen also climbed really well and showed top form in semis. Luka Potočar was second in quals last time, this time missing semis, but it shows we have potential. I'm glad we're growing before the World Championships, everything is heading right, team atmosphere is good. We have time until Innsbruck and some aces up our sleeve," enthusiastically said Slovenian sport climbing team coach Urh Čehovin.
In France, Slovenian colors were also carried by Lučka Rakovec (ŠD Proteus) in 20th, Tjaša Kalan (AO PD Kranj) and Luka Potočar (ŠPO PD Radovljica) in 28th, and Martin Bergant (PK Škofja Loka) with 52nd.
The sport climbing caravan awaits the next event next weekend in Italian Arco, with the season climax being the September World Championships in Austrian Innsbruck.