First World Cup in 2025 and gold straight away 🥇
After the less than positive experience in 2024, I flew to Salt Lake City with mixed feelings to compete in the first World Cup of the season. Since we couldn’t afford to pay the trip for my current sight guide, Patrik, I competed with my national coach, Marco, who had always been my sight guide until the end of last season. So, after a few days of training in Graz and here in Salt Lake, we entered the race well-rehearsed.
Although six athletes from three nations were originally registered in our class, our class was fortunately formed, even though we ended up with only three starters. One athlete had withdrawn, and the two Japanese athletes had been classified in B3 the day before and therefore started in a different category. So the two Germans and I competed in the qualification on Tuesday, and it was clear that we would all make it to the final. But of course I wanted to qualify first. The first qualification route went well, but was much too easy, so all three of us made it to the top. On the second route, I initially had problems with my knee at the top of a boulder section really climbing as high as Marco wanted me to (and the route demanded). I lost a lot of strength there, and unfortunately I fell off the route earlier than the other two. So, with third place on Wednesday, I went on to play catch-up.
In the final, a truly beautiful route was bolted for us, and I really enjoyed climbing it. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make or hold a move at the very top, which was pretty annoying, as I didn’t think it would be enough to win. But both German athletes who came after me fell off the route a few holds ahead of me, and I was able to take my third World Cup victory. I’m overjoyed and already looking forward to the rest of the season!
Here are the articles about the World Cup from Austriaclimbing:
Paraclimbing team thrilled at World Cup opening
[…] Linda Le Bon was the last athlete competing in the B2 category. After a top-class first route and 48+ holds in the second route, the fourth KVÖ athlete also made it into the finals, finishing third. “The first route was clearly too easy – we topped it all. Unfortunately, on the second route, they used black on black again, even though the guidelines don’t allow that. I find that extremely problematic – it still happens,” Le Bon summarized, adding: “There was a difficult section on the second route that was almost impossible to do with my new knee. I tried alternative solutions and somehow managed to get over it – but it took a lot of effort. If the final route is right, anything is possible.”
Article covering qualifcations: https://www.austriaclimbing.com/detail/artikel/paraclimbing-team-begeistert-beim-weltcup-auftakt.html
Paraclimbing Trio Cheers at World Cup Opener
The start for the home paraclimbers at the World Cup opener in Salt Lake City, USA, couldn’t have gone better.
Angelino Zeller and Markus Pösendorfer once again proved to be in a league of their own in the AL1 category, celebrating first and second places. Jasmin Plank (RP2) and Linda Le Bon (B2) were also unbeatable in their categories, securing two more victories. “It was a super day for us, it couldn’t have gone better. Not just in terms of rankings, but also in performance. We are really happy and very satisfied,” smiles KVÖ coach Marco Lamprecht.
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As Predicted: Le Bon Claims Third World Cup Victory
After a 3rd place in qualification, Linda Le Bon entered the final route in the B2 category in a lurking position. “If the route is right, anything is possible in the final!” the 60-year-old hinted the evening before about the direction things might take. And that’s exactly what happened. Le Bon fought her way well into the route and, after 35 holds, cheered for her third World Cup victory. This time, the two Germans, Luisa Grube (33 holds) and Ivon Lawrenz (32+ holds), had to concede victory to the Austrian at the opener in Salt Lake City.
“I am very satisfied that I climbed from third to first place. The final route was the most beautiful of all – quite easy at first, then suddenly really hard. When I fell, I wasn’t sure how good it was. I expected the other two would surely go further. But that wasn’t the case. Everything worked well between Marco and me. The whole stay was relaxed – the whole team was great. I felt the jet lag for a long time, and now it’s time to go home again – then we’ll start all over again. I notice I’m not 20 years old anymore,” jokes Le Bon.
Hier ein paar Eindrücke vom Weltcup in Salt Lake City:
