Tough start for Brixen winner Flohé – Meul much more self-confident
In Brixen, Yannick Flohé and his DAV competitor still shone at the Boulder World Cup. In Innsbruck his start was less confident.
An early end prevented by a hair’s breadth: DAV boulderer Yannick Flohé.
Two weeks ago, the 22-year-old Flohé not only clinched his first gold medal in the World Cup in South Tyrol, but also dominated every phase of the competition there, right up to the highest podium in the final. The man from Essen won the qualification, the semifinals – and also his first final.
In Innsbruck, on the other hand, things got off to a much slower start. The sixth and last Bouldering World Cup this season started on Wednesday with the qualification and Flohé just slipped into the semifinals of the top 20 athletes. With three out of five possible tops and five zone attacks, he was the last to reach the semifinals, which will take place on Thursday afternoon. The men’s final will then take place in the evening. “That was my worst performance in a qualifier this year,” said Flohé via Instagram, “but at least I’m one lap further.”
In addition to Flohé, Alexander Megos is also in the semifinals from the DAV athletes. The 28-year-old Erlangen finished 16th in qualifying (four tops, five zones), the other German sport climbers had to give up on Wednesday. Specifically, the Boulder World Cup season was over for Max Kleesattel (25th), Christoph Schweiger (35th) and Elias Arrigada Krüger (63rd).
Hannah Meul much more self-confident – a coup for Grossmann?
Hannah Meul, on the other hand, was able to take the momentum with her after her silver performance in Brixen and got off to a good start in the women’s bouldering competition. Third place with five out of five allowed Tops suggests that the 21-year-old from Frechen has clearly grown in self-confidence.
With her confident performance, Meul also left Natalia Grossman from the USA just behind. After Janja Garnbret’s departure from the Bouldering World Cup this year, the 21-year-old emerged as the secret dominator after her opening victory in Meiringen. Grossman won the four World Cups that followed, and if she also triumphed in Innsbruck, she would initial Garnbret’s fable record by a hair’s breadth, who could win all six Bouldering World Cups in 2019.
Meul is the only DAV athlete who is among the top 20 semi-finalists in Innsbruck. Leonie Lochner was 25th, Afra Hönig 33rd and Roxana Wienand 39th.
Lead World Cup started on Saturday – with Garnbret
The women’s semi-finals take place on Friday afternoon, in the evening the medals are at stake in the final. On Saturday and Sunday the World Cup in lead climbing begins for the women and men. From a German perspective, the following athletes have registered: Alexander Megos, Yannick Flohé, Sebastian Halenke and Philipp Martin as well as Hannah Meul, Martina Demmel, Käthe Atkins and Luisa Flohé.
In addition, Olympic champion Garnbret, who had taken a break from competition since the beginning of April and was primarily fighting for the title in rope climbing this season, will also join the lead again.