A look back at the Red Bull Dual Ascent 2024

During this third edition of the Red Bull Dual AscentJessica Pilz and Jakob Schubert brilliantly won. In just 48 minutes and 46 seconds, they climbed the six rope lengths, with difficulties up to 8b. Although they were unable to beat their record set in the semi-final, this was due not only to the increased difficulties in the final pitch, but also to a few small mistakes – not to mention the 32 degrees Celsius on the imposing wall .

Jakob Schubert climbs the last meters.

Decision in key length

The final began with a thrilling duel between Jessica Pilz and Andrea Kümin. The Austrian reached the first relay a little faster, but the Swiss were also very motivated. In the second length, they even managed to make up ground on the Austrians.

In the tricky pitch, Andrea Kümin was only three meters behind Jessica Pilz. But then the Swiss slipped into the thin crack. Even after trying again, Kümin could not find a solution to overcome this difficult passage. “We tried to push even harder than in the semi-final. Maybe we pushed too hard,” she commented after the duel. After that fight in the crack section, she was totally exhausted.

Jakob Schubert in the crack

Schubert in difficulty in the crack

In this final, the favorite team Schubert/Pilz did not have a smooth ride either. Jakob Schubert had much more difficulty in the first crack than in qualifying or the semi-final. Here too, speed was decisive, as the Austrian later recounted: “I knew that Andrea had a penalty and so I wanted to climb even more efficiently and quickly. »

But suddenly he found himself completely stuck and could only free himself with considerable effort. This mistake had serious consequences: “From that moment on, I had to fight to the top with totally exhausted forearms. »

Full throttle until the end

After their unfortunate falls in the third pitch, the two Swiss also activated “fight” mode. Sascha Lehmann and Andrea Kümin tried to catch up as much as possible in the remaining lengths. But the two Austrians climbed too hard and too fast, despite their fatigue, to be caught. Jakob Schubert reached the dam platform in less than 43 minutes. Those who hoped that Jessica Pilz would give the Swiss one last chance by falling were disappointed. Even when she hesitated during a dynamic move and had to come back down, she remained professional and focused. After 48 minutes and 46 seconds, she joined Jakob on the Verzasca dam, celebrated by the public.

Shortly after, Sascha Lehmann also reached the summit, followed by Andrea Kümin who bravely completed the last pitch. Just before the last dynamic movement, her strength left her, and she fell into the rope. With an additional penalty, she joined Sascha on the podium after 56 minutes and 41 seconds. “We took risks and we failed, but at least we tried,” summed up Andrea Kümin. Despite the falls, she really enjoyed the Red Bull Dual Ascent.

Le podium du Red Bull Dual Ascent.

Young people climb without restraint

The small final went differently than expected. Since Jenya Kazbekova and Alberto Ginés López were injured in the semifinals, Darius Rapa and Jennifer Buckley were already declared winners before the competition.

Petra Klingler put on the show.

Instead of resting on their bronze medal, they faced Petra Klingler and Louna Ladevant in a demonstration duel. The two youngsters climbed the six pitches in 59 minutes and 34 seconds, taking risks with numerous near-falls. Although they had already won, they gave their all in this unique multi-pitch climbing duel, cheered by the public on the jump-off.