"Sometimes the best days are not the ones you expect." This perfectly sums up Austrian lead climbing specialist Eva-Maria Hammelmüller’s latest triumph. On Friday the 13th, Hammelmüller clipped the chains on "WRC" (9a) in Col de Castillon, Southern France, securing her fifth route at the prestigious 9a grade.

The Route: A Test of Pure Endurance

Located just above the Mediterranean near Nice, "WRC" is an impressive, heavily overhanging tufa line established by Kevin Aglae in 2009. The route is essentially an extension of the classic 8c+ "Alien Carnage." To conquer "WRC," a climber must first battle through "Alien Carnage" before taking on an additional, highly demanding 8a+ section, culminating in a precision-dependent dynamic move right at the end.

The Journey to the Send

Hammelmüller's process on the wall was swift but physically taxing. First, she dispatched the foundational "Alien Carnage" (8c+) in just two days—marking her 19th route at the 8c+ grade. She immediately transitioned to projecting the full "WRC" line.

Despite making rapid progress, the final dynamic move shut her down three times. On her fourth consecutive day of climbing, she woke up feeling less than ideal, noting that her forearms were already tired. However, as it was her last day at the crag, she decided to tie in anyway.

Pushing through the pump and the fatigue, Hammelmüller held on through the final crux, sticking the dynamic move to clip the anchor. It was a massive, unexpected victory on a day when her expectations were low.

An Unbelievable Session

As if sending her fifth 9a wasn't enough, Hammelmüller capitalized on the "magic" of Friday the 13th. During that exact same session, she also:

  • Flashed "BarjoLand" (8b)
  • Sent "Total Jobard" (8b+)

It was a staggering, almost surreal day of climbing that highlights her incredible tenacity and fitness on the rock.

A New Era on Real Rock

This milestone also marks a symbolic turning point in Hammelmüller's climbing career. In late 2025, after more than a decade of competing on the international circuit, she announced her retirement from the Austrian national team to dedicate herself fully to outdoor sport climbing. Finding freedom on the rock without the pressure of rankings and comparisons, she has been on an absolute tear, sending fourteen 8c+ routes and three 9a's in 2025 alone.

With "WRC" now crossed off the list, Hammelmüller has proven once again that sometimes all it takes is tying in and giving it a try—even when you're tired.