Last year's winner Yannick Flohé © DAVIDE TERENZI

Starting field of superlatives at the Brixen World Cup

The official registration deadline for the Boulder World Cup in Brixen from June 9th to 11th has passed. Around 200 climbers from no fewer than 45 different nations will be in action in the cathedral city in a week and a half - including Olympic champion Alberto Ginés López from Spain and multiple world champion Adam Ondra from the Czech Republic.

30 May 2023

From: pm

Alexandra Ladurner is having a good laugh at the moment. The sporting director of the Boulder World Cup in Brixen, which is organized by the Alpine Club, can look forward to a starting list that reads like the “Who’s Who” of the international climbing scene. “Almost 200 athletes from 45 different nations will arrive in the cathedral city in just over a week. This puts us above the values ​​of the premiere last year. For the men, we have all six finalists from last year competing in the vertical. “We are of course very pleased with such a strong response,” says Ladurner.

Last year's winner Yannick Flohé from Germany, second place Maximilian Milne from Great Britain and the Japanese Tomoa Narasaki - third last year - are well-known names in the climbing scene. They are joined by the Korean Dohyun Lee from Korea, as well as the two Japanese Yoshiyuki Ogata and Meichi Narasaki, who took places four to six last year. “The Olympic champion will also be at the start, namely the Spaniard Alberto Ginés López. We are expecting Jakob Schubert from Austria and then the living and still active climbing legend Adam Ondra from the Czech Republic has also registered. He is taking part in his home World Cup this weekend in Prague and will then also be able to be admired in Brixen,” adds Ladurner.

Grossman, Bertone, Meul or another top climber?

Last year's podium is also fully registered for women. Winner Natalia Grossman, who was also named overall World Cup winner at the end of the season and was already successful in Salt Lake City this year, will be challenged by Hannah Meul from Germany and the Chinese Zhilu Luo. With the American Brooke Raboutou, another stage winner of the 2023 Boulder World Cup is at the start, as is Oriane Bertone from France, who has already been on the podium twice this year. “All Austrian fans can look forward to, among other things, the participation of world and European champion Jessica Pilz,” adds Ladurner.

The Italian association FASI is sending no fewer than 13 climbers into the race at the home vertical World Cup, including the two South Tyroleans Michael Piccolruaz and Filip Schenk. Also taking part will be Gabriele Moroni, who will make a comeback on the international competition stage. “Gabriele was one of the coaches in the team at the beginning of the season before he now wants to attack again. Among the women, the names of Giorgia Tesio, Camilla Moroni and Laura Rogora stand out,” Ladurner concludes.

The Boulder World Cup in Brixen begins with a cultural supporting program: on Friday, June 2nd, the Austrian singer Hubert von Goisern will be on stage at the Vertical Climbing Stadium, and on Thursday, June 8th, the Italian premiere of “REEL ROCK 17” the world's best climbing films shown; The well-known climber Jacopo Larcher will also be live on site and will talk about his climbing experiences. The World Cup program starts on Friday, June 9th at 9 a.m. with the women's qualification (admission is free). The men will be on duty from 16 p.m. On Saturday, June 10th, it's all about the climbers in the vertical, with the semi-finals starting at 11 a.m. and the finals starting at 20 p.m. The men's World Cup winner will be determined on Sunday - with the semi-finals starting at 11 a.m. and the final at 20 p.m.