BURSTItalian climber Lorenzo Fornaro has made the fourth known ascent of Red Ram 5.15a at Montserrat, Catalunya, Spain. The 32-year-old routesetter at Sharma Climbing in Barcelona clipped the chains after around three and a half months of effort on one of the region’s most coveted sport climbs. Originally bolted by local climbing legend David Macià and his brother roughly 25 years ago, Red Ram has remained one of Montserrat’s benchmark testpieces. Ramón Julian Puigblanque made the first ascent in 2013, followed by sends by Alex Megos in 2022 and Alberto Ginés López in April 2026, with Ginés recently confirming the grade.
Fornaro’s send came after an unexpected setback, as shortly after Ginés’ successful ascent, part of a crucial hold in the crux sequence broke, forcing Fornaro to rethink the beta just as he was closing in on a send. Despite the change, he adapted and eventually secured the route’s fourth ascent. Originally from Genoa, Fornaro began climbing at 14 on the technical limestone of Finale Ligure. Over the past year and a half he’s made Catalunya his home, immersing himself in the local scene while working as a routesetter in Barcelona. He first started projecting Red Ram in February 2026, balancing attempts on the route with his full-time job.
“I’m really happy to have climbed my first 9a+ in such a beautiful and historic place,” said Fornaro. “Montserrat impressed me from the very first time I visited, and it has an incredible identity and history. This year I came back motivated alongside my flatmate Leonardo de Rivero, a very strong climber from Peru, and I connected with the route straight away.
“The key move is a dynamic off a small mono, and it suited my style well. The process wasn’t without its setbacks. After part of a key hold broke off, while I was feeling close to sending this route, I had to figure out new beta. Along the way I got to meet Alberto Ginés on the route, and David Macià, who told me the sector was originally equipped so Ramonet could train here. Knowing that later ascents were made Alex Megos and Alberto Ginés makes this route mean even more to me. Honestly, I believe some routes I had bolted and climbed back in Finale, without really knowing the grade, were probably at a similar difficulty level. I’d love to keep exploring lines at Montserrat and get motivated by other projects here, such as El Disbarat.”
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