The World Climbing Europe Series made an exhilarating second stop for the Boulder discipline in Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovakia. The weekend action saw 173 world-class athletes representing 31 European nations (plus guest competitors from Australia and South Africa) gather to battle for continental glory.
Matteo Reusa Dominates the Men's Final
Italy’s Matteo Reusa put on a clinic in efficiency and confidence during the men's Boulder final, comfortably capturing the gold medal with a phenomenal score of 99.6 points. Reusa topped all four boulder problems, including two spectacular flashes.
His path to the podium was a true redemption story; after a difficult qualification round, he barely sneaked into the semi-finals in the very last qualifying spot before finding his absolute peak form when it mattered most. Spain’s Guillermo Peinado Franganillo secured silver with 84.3 points, while France’s Adrien Lemaire rounded out the podium with bronze (59.6 points).
Jakoba Rauter Wins a Thrilling Women's Battle
The women’s event concluded with one of the tightest podium finishes of the season, where a mere 0.1 points separated first from third place. Austria’s rising star Jakoba Rauter overcame a tough start—failing to solve the first problem—to fight her way back. She topped the fourth and final decisive boulder to claim the gold medal with 59.7 points.
This marks Rauter's third consecutive European triumph of the season, following her previous successes in the Europe Youth Series in Soure and Graz. Slovenia's Neza Zajc finished tied on points (59.7) but took silver due to attempt count, while Spain's Geila Macià Martín narrowly missed out, settling for bronze with 59.6 points.
What's Next?
The Europe Series action continues next month as the circuit heads to Zakopane, Poland on June 14, and Barcelona, Spain on July 17 for the Speed discipline, immediately followed by the European Championship in Boulder.
