The Boulder World Cup in Bressanone concluded on Sunday with the victory of Toby Roberts (Great Britain). In the top quality final, the 18-year-old from Surrey prevailed over Dohyun Lee (South Korea) and Yoshiyuki Ogata (Japan) in the sold-out Vertikale. This marked the end of the big Bressanone festival dedicated to climbing, which over the three days of competition attracted around 10,000 spectators to the cathedral city.
After the first boulder it seemed that it could come down to a duel between Dohyun Lee and Toby Roberts. They were the only ones who solved the first problem with a top. Lee managed one flash, Roberts needed four attempts. Boulder number two was the end of the line for the two leaders in the zone, while youngster Sorato Anraku fought back with a top. The 16-year-old Japanese had gone empty-handed on the first boulder – but he was now catapulted to third place.
All six finalists solved the third boulder problem. Lee stayed ahead of Roberts with two tops and three zones on fewer attempts (3-7), while Anraku secured third place with his second top and stayed on the heels of the leading duo. The result had to come on the fourth boulder. Lee made a mistake and “only” made the zone, which Roberts took advantage of with the third top, making his first World Cup victory just perfect. For Lee, 20 years old from Seoul, on the other hand, it was the third podium place in his career. The no less exciting race for third place was won by Yoshiyuki Ogata. The 25-year-old from Tokyo, who was competing for the 124th time in a competition organised by the International Climbing Federation (ISFC), advanced with his second top and four zones. For Ogata it was the tenth podium in the Boulder World Cup.
The organisers from the Alpine Club are thrilled
“We have had three amazing days. Over the three days of the competition, we were able to welcome more than 10,000 spectators to the Vertikale, had a sold-out stadium almost at almost all times, and the weather cooperated too. I am speechless about how smoothly everything went. On behalf of our organising committee, I would like to thank our many partners and sponsors. But the biggest thanks go to our countless volunteers, without whom an event like this would not be possible. Bressanone is a climbing town. We will do everything we can to be on the World Cup calendar in the next few years as well,” Ralf Preindl, President of the Organising Committee, summed up at the end of the Boulder World Cup in Bressanone.
As in 2022, the women’s final on Saturday evening was won by Natalia Grossman from the USA. The podium was completed by Chaehyun Seo from South Korea and Stasa Gejo from Serbia. The climbing family now leaves Bressanone for Innsbruck, where the next World Cup stage is scheduled for next weekend.
Results final Boulder World Cup Bressanone, men:
1. Toby Roberts (GBR) 3T4z 10 7
2. Dohyun Lee (KOR) 2T4z 3 4
3. Yoshiyuki Ogata (JPN) 2T4z 5 6
4. Meichi Narasaki (JPN) 2T4z 5 11
5. Sorato Anraku (JPN) 2T2z 5 2
6. Tomoa Narasaki (JPN) 1T2z 1 2
