Romain Desgranges retires from international climbing competitions

"After 18 international seasons, 130 World Cups and countless battles, the time has come for me to hang up my climbing shoes." With this short message 37-year-old French climbing ace Romain Desgranges officially retired from international lead climbing competitions the other day, although it would be unsurprising were he to take part in the occasional masters competition every now and then.

Desgranges has retired after almost twenty years representing France, during which he distinguished himself for his constancy and ability to fight to the bitter end, sometimes beyond this even. These characteristics enabled him to win six Lead World Cup stages and above all to be be crowned European Lead Champion twice, first at home in Chamonix in 2013, then at Campitello di Fassa in Italy in 2017.

Undoubtedly 2017 was Desgranges’s standout year as a few months later he also managed to complete a dream he had pursued ardently, namely winning an overall Lead World Cup. In doing so he followed in the footsteps of other legendary French World Cup winners, namely François Legrand, François Lombard, François Petit, Arnaud Petit and Alexandre Chabod.

The fact that Desgranges achieved this feat aged 35 did not go unnoticed and this was subsequently recognised with a La Sportiva Competition Award at the Arco Rock Legends 2018. The jury explained that the prize was his "For having taught us that the art of competitions and climbing never ends. And that dedication always leads to great results." Desgranges represents precisely this.