Janja Garnbret and Domen Škofic second in Briançon

Janja Garnbret and Domen Škofic won second places in the difficulty discipline in front of five thousand fans at the first competition of this year's World Cup season in sport climbing in Briançon, France. The other members of the team were also excellent, as six members of the Slovenian team qualified for the final. In the women's competition, Italian Laura Rogora celebrated her first victory, while Czech climber Adam Ondra was the best in the men's.







This year's season is very different from previous ones due to the coronavirus epidemic, and competitors were left almost without any competitions. After a long time, they were able to rush into the climbing wall again in Briançon for new accolades. All competitors were looking forward to the first international competition. Unfortunately, some athletes, especially from Asian countries, did not come due to coronavirus restrictions, but the competition was still very strong.







If four years ago Janja Garnbret and Domen Škofic defeated all competitors in Briançon, this year they almost repeated their success. They were just a little short of the very top. They brought silver medals to Slovenia.







In the women's final on Saturday, Janja Garnbret and Italian Laura Rogora reached the top of the route; Rogora had led in qualifications and semifinals and won the test. Third place went to Frenchwoman Fanny Gibert. After the competition, Janja was overwhelmed with great feelings. Similar to last year, she also took second place in France this year. "I could hardly wait for the international competition to take place. I needed something to get the adrenaline flowing through my veins again. The semifinal route was harder, and I was a bit angry with myself for climbing it worse. Maybe because it was the first competition after a long time and there was almost a bit of nervousness. In the final, I was much better." The coronavirus restrictions did not throw her off balance. "All the restrictions seemed much more complicated at first than they actually were. Competitors had to maintain interpersonal distance, ensure proper disinfection, and have their own climbing rope, but otherwise it was almost the same. So we could fully focus on the climbing wall."







Czech Adam Ondra defeated all competition, but Domen Škofic took an excellent second place, third went to Jakob Schubert from Austria. Domen Škofic was very pleased with the result. "It was incredible to climb in front of a multi-thousand crowd again. The atmosphere was top-notch." Did he think about repeating the result from four years ago? "Maybe Janja was ready for a new victory, I wasn't. If someone had told me before the competition that I would be fourth, I would have been happy with that, but second, I didn't even imagine. It seems I'm in top form too. I'll continue training the same way as before, whether there are competitions or not. I don't have special plans, it's pulling me back to the rock, where I've been a lot since spring."







Slovenia had four representatives in the final, the most among teams, which is a new great achievement for the Slovenian sport climbing team. In addition to them, two male finalists. "Of course, this is a very good achievement, or rather top-notch. That Lucija performed in the final for the first time, I think it's great for her. She got a bit scared of the harder part and let go. Too bad for her. Tjaša was good, similar to training, I expected more from Vita, who really climbed well, but complicated it in the harder part before the end. Janja climbed the final excellently, a bit worse semifinal, which cost her the victory. Similar to Lucija, it was also Luka's first final and a very nice surprise. Domen was excellent and seems to be in the right form," described the Slovenian performances by the selector of the Slovenian sport climbing team Gorazd Hren.







Vita Lukan and Tjaša Kalan took fifth and sixth places, Lucija Tarkuš finished her first final at the highest level competitions in ninth place out of nine competitors who competed in the final. Luka Potočar took fourth place, which is his best achievement in World Cup competitions. "If someone had offered me fourth place before the competition, I would have happily taken it, so there's no bitter aftertaste. I climbed the best I could. To compete among the best climbers in the world and be fourth is unique. The organizers prepared a top competition. In the future, I will train to the best of my abilities and maintain good form." The competitions in France were also attended by Martin Bergant, Milan Preskar, Žiga Zajc, Tjaša Slemenšek, and Lana Skušek.







The team is returning to Slovenia, and on September 5, the first competition of the national championship awaits them on the bouldering wall in Log-Dragomer. This will be followed by a few more national championship competitions; it is hard to know when the next World Cup competitions will be. For now, it is confirmed that the European sport climbing championship will be in Moscow in November.