BURSTElias Iagnemma recently repeated Christian Core’s Pilgrim. Located at Rifugio di Barbara near Turin, Italy, Core established the problem over 20 years ago, suggesting a grade of V13 for his first ascent. If no hold breakage has occurred since the first ascent, this would mean that the problem was potentially one of the hardest in the world when it was put up, as no V16 had yet to be established.
Gioia, a Core problem in Varazze, Italy, is considered by many to be the world’s first V16. Core established it in 2008, suggesting V15. Adam Ondra repeated it in 2011 and thought V16 was a better fit.
“Super hard line established by [Christian Core] more than 20 years ago,” said Iagnemma on Instagram after his ascent of Pilgrim. “I think this is probably the first repetition after all this time. There’s probably a reason! I spent in total 8 sessions for found the beta and the send. Originally graded [V13] I suggest a up-grade to [V15].”
Iagnemma is one of the world’s top boulderers. In March 2024, he became the fourth ascensionist of Burden of Dreams V17. In January 2025, he made the first ascent of The Big Slamm V17 in Tintorale, Italy – the problem has yet to be repeated. Later that year, in November, he made the first ascent of Exodia in Rifugio di Barbara, proposing the first-ever grade of V18. He topped one V16 in 2025, Jimmy Webb’s Ephyra in Chironico, Switzerland.
The 25-year-old Italian hasn’t had many high-profile sends yet in 2026. In February, he repeated The Big Island V15 in Fontainebleau. Seudain Seul V17 is a low-start to the problem. He had a sendy trip to Rocklands in South Africa over the summer, sending Cosmic Artifact V14, Red Bottom Sky V14, and the epic highball The Finnish Line V15.
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