Speed Rock Daone: victory for Hroza and Ropek

The fourth and final stage of the IFSC Speed Climbing World Cup took place high in Valle di Daone, Italy, last weekend and was dominated by Libor Hroza from the Czech Republic and Edyta Ropek from Poland. In a thrilling final Hroza climbed a staggering 3 seconds faster than closet rival Maksym Osipov from the Ukraine, while Lukasz Swirk from Poland had to make do with bronze. Russian champion Sergey Sinitsyn placed only sixth but his margin was wide enough to clinch victory in the overall World Cup 2009.

The women's event was dominated once again by Edyta Ropek from Poland who also secured victory in the overall Cup. Second place in the Speed Rock Stadium went to Anna Stenkovaia from Russia, who beat teammate Valentina Yurina into third place.

The event proved successful and on a route parrallel to the World Cup over 50 youngsters participated in the SpiderKids event for children aged 5 -13. Furthermore, the dam also hosted the first IFSC Paraclimbing Cup for disabled climbers from as far afield as Hungary and Russia and the event proved to be not only a great sporting moment, but above all one of great human valour.

Results Men
1) Hroza Libor (Cze)
2) Osipov Maksym (Ukr)
3) Swirk Lukasz (Pol)
4) Oleksy Tomasz (Pol)
5) Kokorin Stanislav (Rus)
6) Sinitsyn Sergey (Rus)
7) Abdrakhmanov Sergey (Rus)
8) Komosinsky Jedrzej (Pol)

Results Women
1) Ropek Edyta (Pol)
2) Stenkovaia Anna (Rus)
3) Yurina Valentina (Rus)
4) Savisko Anastasiya (Ukr)
5) Tuzhylina Svitlana (Ukr)
6) Bud Gusaim Oleksandra (Ukr)
7) Morandi Sara (Ita)
8) Buczek Klaudia (Pol)