Finally this week the World Cup season 2008 in lead climbing is starting. All are a bit nervous, because the training "pause" is a bit longer then usually.

During the last years lead climbing had started by competition in Imst (AUT) and Puurs (BEL) some when in April. Now the all circus has been moved to the middle of the year.
There are six World Cup competition scheduled: Qinghai (CHN), Chamonix (FRA), Puurs (BEL), Imst (AUT), Bern (SUI), Kranj (SLO).
The top for all disciplines is this year on European Championshim in Paris.

The start will be without Flavio Crespi and Maja Vidmar, both has recently injured during training.

On the contrary World Cup series will be strengthened by  juniors from Innsbruck, Johanna Ernst and Jakob Schubert.

This year there is a bit new competition organization: the routes in qualification will be climbed on FLASH. The rest - that is semifinals and finals - will be OS.

Program:

Friday 27.6. - qualification lead from 9,30.
- qualification speed from 16h.
Saturday 28.6.- semifinals lead from 9,30h.
- finals speed from 14,45h.
- finals lead from 16,30h.

The winners of the last year lead competiton in Qinghai was Tomas Mrazek (CZE) and Maja Vidmar (SLO). In speed Evgeny Vaytsekhovsky (RUS) and Tatiana Ruyga (RUS).
There are 5000 dollars prepared for the winners. And the live TV broadcasting in the peak time.of course in Chinas Television.