Adam Ondra frees Taurus, new 9b at Byci Skala in the Czech Republic

Just before Christmas Adam Ondra at Byci Skala close to his home in Brno made the first ascent of Taurus, an intense line with the crux right at the start which, were it to be a boulder problem, would be an 8C+ in its own right. Nine moves that demanded more off the 28-year-old than any other bloc, followed more easily by a section graded 8b. All this now equates into a 9b route.

Ondra almost managed to free the route in November but due to a broken hold and other commitments he had to postpone the redpoint until now. It's worth noting that this came just a few days after the first ascent of Kout Pikle at the same crag, cautiously graded 9a, although Ondra strangely indicated that it could easily be between 9a+ and 9b.

It has to be said that the limestone at Byci Skala isn't the most beautiful and inspiring in the world, but it is precisely for this reason that one could argue that the newest ascent is twice as impressive. Not only because of its exceptional difficulties therefore, but also because Ondra evidently continues to draw inspiration from extreme difficulties, regardless of where these are located. A bit like his Vasil Vasil: half a grade harder than Taurus and consequently the most difficult sport climb in the Czech Republic, established by Ondra at Sloup in 2013. At the time only the third 9b+ in the world after Change (2012) and La Dura Dura (2013, and currently still unrepeated.

ADAM ONDRA 9b - 9c
03/2010 Golpe de Estado, Siurana, Spain, repeat
02/2011 La Capella, Siurana, Spain. 9b, first ascent
03/2011 Chaxi Raxi, Oliana, Spain. 9b, first ascent
04/2011 Chilam Balam, Villanueva del Rosario, Spain. 9b, repeat
04/2011 La Planta de Shiva, Villanueva del Rosario, Spain. 9b, first ascent
10/2012 Change, Flatanger / Hanshallaren, Norway. 9b+, first ascent
02/2013 Fight or Flight, Oliana, Spain. 9b, repeat
02/2013 Dura Dura, Oliana, Spain. 9b+, first ascent
08/2013 Iron Curtain, Flatanger / Hanshallaren, Norway. 9b, first ascent
08/2013 Move, Flatanger / Hanshallaren, Norway. 9b, first ascent
12/2013 Vasil Vasil, Sloup, Czech Republic. 9b+, first ascent
02/2014 First Round First Minute, Margalef, Spain. 9b, repeat
11/2015 C.R.S., Mollans, France. 9b, first ascent
02/2016 Stoking the Fire, Santa Linya, Spain. 9b, repeat
10/2016 Robin Úd 9b, Alternativna stena, Slovakia, first ascent
02/2017 Mamichula, Oliana, Spain. 9b, first ascent
04/2017 Queen Line, Laghel - Arco, Italy, 9b, first ascent
04/2017 Lapsus, Andonno, Italy, 9b, first repeat
07/2017 Move Hard, Flatanger / Hanshallaren, Norway. 9b, first ascent
09/2017 Silence, Flatanger / Hanshallaren, Norway. 9c, first ascent
11/2017 One Slap, Laghel - Arco, Italy, 9b, first repeat
01/2018 Eagle-4, St Léger, France, first ascent
07/2018 Disbelief, Acephale, Canada, 9b first ascent
02/2019 Neanderthal, Santa Linya, Spain, 9b repeat
11/2021 Erebor, Arco, Italy, 9b repeat
12/2021 Taurus, Byci Skala, Czech Republic, 9b first ascent

Info: www.adamondra.com, Instagram Adam Ondra, La Sportiva