Innsbruck marks the sixth and final World Cup stop for bouldering, while it hosts the third lead World Cup event of the season. With both disciplines on the schedule, fans can look forward to another climbing highlight in the packed arena—including the much-anticipated appearance of Olympic champion Janja Garnbret (SLO), who will compete in Innsbruck for the first time in 2025.
The Slovenian climber is no stranger to gold—especially in Innsbruck, where she often tops the podium in both bouldering and lead. It will be exciting to see whether she needs time to shake off any “competition rust” or if she can pick up right where she left off after her Olympic victory in Paris 2024.
Another athlete with fond memories of Innsbruck is Colin Duffy (USA). In 2022, he became the first male climber ever to win both disciplines at a single World Cup event. But his connection to Innsbruck goes back further: “Innsbruck is one of my favorite places. I competed in my first Youth World Championships here in 2017—it was a very memorable event for me. I’ve had so many great experiences here.”
And how is he feeling now? “I’m ready for this competition. After a good result in Bern, I’m looking forward to wrapping up the bouldering season and seeing how my form is in lead.”
Preparing for both disciplines is no easy task: “My training wasn’t quite as perfect as I would have liked, but I had some good sessions in the week between competitions. I’m excited to put myself to the test.”
Does he have a favorite discipline? “That’s hard to say. Lead climbing is definitely more stressful for me in competition, but over the years I’ve had more success in it. I really enjoy the different challenges of both. It’s a completely different experience to compete in both disciplines.”
Duffy will face strong competition, including Olympians like Anraku Sorato (JPN), Paul Jenft and Sam Avezou (FRA), Hannes Van Duysen (BEL), and Olympic champion Toby Roberts (GBR)—all of whom will compete in both disciplines.
Among the specialists, Sascha Lehmann (SUI) and Alberto Ginés López (ESP) will focus more on lead, while Mejdi Schalck (FRA) and Nicolai Uznik (AUT) will concentrate on bouldering.
Yoshida Satone (JPN), who already claimed lead gold this season in Bali, is set to compete again, as is Pan Yufei (CHN), who won in bouldering in Bern and will now take on both disciplines.
In the women’s field, Oriane Bertone (FRA) and Nakamura Mao (JPN) will be aiming to prevent Garnbret from making a winning return.
Seo Chaehyun (KOR) and Erin McNeice (GBR), who shared lead gold in Wujiang earlier in 2025, will once again go head-to-head in both disciplines.
Also competing in both events will be Annie Sanders (USA), fresh off a bouldering World Cup victory this season in Keqiao.
