Jakob Schubert targets first European lead climbing title

Four-time lead climbing world champion Jakob Schubert will seek his first European title in the discipline this weekend in Laval, France, ORF reported.

The 35-year-old Tyrolean has won two European Championship bronze medals in lead, in 2010 and 2017. He has reached the podium at two of the three lead World Cup events he entered this year, and the European Championships will be his final competition of the season.

“The European field in lead climbing is currently very strong, with several athletes capable of winning World Cups,” Schubert said. “My expectations are high as always. I feel good and want to fight for the European title.”

Former world champion Jessica Pilz is also still missing a European lead title from her medal collection. The European silver medallist from 2022 said she was confident after finishing fourth, sixth and sixth in this year’s World Cup events.

Para-climbing begins on Friday, with the Austrian team hoping Jasmin Plank and Angelino Zeller can win medals again.