BURSTDespite a new generation of climbers making their mark on the World Climbing Series, veterans Adam Ondra and Jakob Schubert continue to prove they belong among the best. Both secured places in the men’s Lead final in Prague, with Schubert delighted to once again share the stage with his long-time rival. “I’m really happy Adam [Ondra] made it as well,” he said. “We are the two old guns so hand in hand going into the final is great for the atmosphere if he is in it. It’s going to be great.”
Schubert was pleased with his performance after a difficult qualification round. “I had a nice time,” he said. “It was a super nice atmosphere here and I’m really excited to make it to the final as qualis didn’t go super well and luckily I could perform much better here in the semi-final.” The Austrian finished fourth in the semi-final on hold 37+, with Ondra close behind in fifth on hold 36.
Prague marks Schubert’s first event of the season, and he says he is finally free of the injuries that troubled him last year. “I’m completely healthy this year,” he said. “I felt a little bit rusty but it’s good to be in a World Climbing Series and see the intensity of the routes and see what you have to work on. There’s always room for improvement and I can realise what I need to work on. But I am feeling good and hopefully I can challenge for a podium tonight.”
While Japan’s Sorato Anraku and Neo Suzuki led the semi-final standings, Schubert and Ondra’s presence in the final serves as a reminder that experience still counts. The pair remain among the sport’s biggest names and will again go head-to-head in front of a stoked Prague crowd. Watch finals at World Climbing’s YouTube page here, and follow results here.
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