IFSC European Climbing Championships, great climbing begins at Campitello di Fassa

The curtain lifts in Campitello di Fassa today as the little town in Italy is set to witness some great competition climbing. The IFSC European Climbing Championships Lead and Speed 2017 begins at 18:30 today, Thursday, June 29, and this is a fantastic and unmissable opportunity to see the best competition climbers take part in the most important competition of the season. It is no coincidence therefore that tomorrow, Friday 30 June, below the magnificent Sassolungo rock faces, the strongest European Lead and Speed ​​specialists will have their say.

Starting with 24-year-old Adam Ondra (CZE), defending World Champion and the man everyone wants to beat, and continuing with Slovenia’s Domen Škofic, winner of last year’s World Cup and current number 1 in the world ranking. Other hot favourites include Austrian "Terminator" Jakob Schubert (2nd in the world ranking), France’s Romain Desgranges (3rd) and Stefano Ghisolfi (4th), possibly the athlete the Italian spectators wish to see most and (fingers crosses) one of the fittest. Of course, in the women’s event 18-year-old Slovenian champion and world ranking leader Janja Garnbret is tipped for a medal, but she will have to battle hard against Belgium’s Anak Verhoeven and also young Italian Laura Rogora who could well turn out to be the surprise of this European Championship.

The Italian team led by Luca Giupponi is, needless to say, extremely motivated and equally strong and there are many who hope to do well at their "home" venue. In the lead there’s the above mentioned Stefano Ghisolfi, but also Francesco Vettorata, Alberto Gotta, Michael Piccolruaz, Marcello Bombardi and Filip Schenk. In the women’s even those capable of doing good are young Laura Rogora, joined by tireless Jenny Lavarda, Claudia Ghisolfi, Andrea Ebner, Silvia Cassol and Asja Gollo.

The Italian line-up for the speed event includes Ludovico Fossali, Gianluca Zodda, Alessandro Santoni, Cristian Dorigatti, Alessandro Cingari and Michael Piccolruaz and Marcello Bombardi once again. The fastest females include Laura Rogora, Elisabetta Dalla Brida, Giorgia Randi, Silvia Porta, Francesca Vasi, Andrea Ebner and Asja Gollo.

Things begin in earnest on Friday morning at 9:00 with the lead qualifications, while the speed qualifiers begin at 18:00. The Speed finals then take place at 21:00, followed by the awards ceremony. On Saturday at 11:15 the Semifinal Lead male and female begins, while the finals take place at 21:00, followed by the Awards ceremony that end the European Championship.

It’s worth noting that there are numerous side events during this important continental championship; “Dolomia" - the 11th meeting of historical mountaineering clubs of the Dolomites - on Saturday, July 1st; Dolomiti Summer Festival featuring various leading outdoor companies that provide the chance to test their products during the championships; Dolomiti Walking Festival, the most important event dedicated to Nordic Walking in the Dolomites.

Info: www.fassaclimbingevents.com, www.valdifassaclimbing.it as well as Facebook and Instagram

PROGRAMME EUROPEAN CLIMBING CHAMPIONSHIPS LEAD & SPEED CAMPITELLO DI FASSA 2017

THURSDAY 29TH JUNE
15.00-17.00: Athletes registration (Men & Women - Speed and Lead)
18.00: Technical meeting
18.30: Opening ceremony and official athletes presentation
19.30: Welcome drink for all national teams

FRIDAY 30TH JUNE
07.30: Isolation for Lead in the ADEL facility; Opening/routes demonstration on maxi screen
9.00: Men & Women Lead Qualification on routes 1 and 2
15.30: Men & Women Warming Zone; opening Men & Women Speed Qualification
17.00: Men & Women routes pratice
18.00: Men & Women Speed Qualification
20.00: Men & Women Warming Zone; opening Men & Women Speed Finals
21.00: Women & Men SPEED FINALS
Following Awarding ceremony

SATURDAY 1ST JULY
08.30: Isolation Zone Open for Men & Women Semi-finals
10.00: Isolation Zone Closed for Men & Women Semi-finals
11.00: Men & Women routes inspection
11.15: Men & Women Lead Semi-finals
18.00: Isolation Zone Open for Men & Women Finals
19.45: Isolation Zone Closed for Men & Women Finals
20.45: Routes inspection for Men & Women Lead Finals
21.00: Women & Men LEAD FINALS
Following Closing ceremony and Awarding ceremony