U.S. prodigy Annie Sanders snatches the spotlight during a tight penultimate lead climbing round of the 2025 Climbing World Cup, capturing attention with her impressive performance.
2025 IFSC World Cup Lead Climbing Series: Dohyun Lee and Annie Sanders Triumph in Madrid
The world of lead climbing witnessed an exhilarating competition in Madrid, Spain, as the IFSC World Cup series reached its midpoint. The event saw the rise of two new champions, Dohyun Lee and Annie Sanders, while the race for the series victory remains wide open.
In the men's competition, Dohyun Lee, a 22-year-old climber from South Korea, secured his first-ever World Cup lead climbing victory. Lee's score of 40+ points just edged out his opponent, who finished with an impressive 40 points. Alberto Gines Lopez of Spain put up a valiant fight, but Lee's performance was unmatched.
Annie Sanders, a 17-year-old climber from the United States, won the women's competition. Sanders demonstrated skill and composure well beyond her years in the qualifying round, setting herself up for a thrilling final. She dominated the final route ahead of Italy's Laura Rogora, who won silver.
The competition was a tense affair for both the men's and women's series, with several climbers in contention for the coveted series victory. The women's lead climbing table is currently led by Chaehyun Seo and Erin McNeice, each having won two gold medals. However, neither Seo nor McNeice managed to make the podium in Madrid, ensuring that the competition for the series victory will be decided at the final round in Koper, Slovenia.
The IFSC World Cup is a year-long climbing competition that includes lead climbing, speed climbing, and bouldering competitions. The lead competition format includes qualification, semi-finals, and finals rounds, where climbers are ranked by their highest hold reached, with tie-breaking often determined by countback to previous rounds.
Top lead climbers include Great Britain’s Toby Roberts, who notably topped both qualification routes in Innsbruck and won Boulder gold and Lead silver there; Japan’s Anraku Sorato, who consistently tops routes and is a major rival; and Japanese climbers Suzuki Neo and Yoshida Satone. The USA’s Colin Duffy, a previous winner, remains a key contender defending his titles.
The 2025 IFSC Nations Grand Finale introduces a team event blending Boulder and Lead disciplines with strategic formats, featuring top national teams including Japan, France, Slovenia, Austria, USA, and Great Britain.
The final round of the IFSC World Cup lead climbing series will take place in Koper, Slovenia, starting on September 5. There will be a month-long break before the world's best sport climbers return to the wall for the decisive lead climbing event. The competition takes place across 14 different World Cup stages, held throughout the year and across the globe.
As the season progresses, the race for the series victory is heating up. The 2025 lead climbing World Cup season showcases a competitive field with emerging stars and established champions, marked by tactical onsight climbing under time pressure and evolving competition formats.
Dohyun Lee's first-ever World Cup lead climbing victory in Madrid indicates his growing prowess in the world of sports. The thrilling competition in Madrid series highlights the intense rivalry among top lead climbers, with the final round in Koper, Slovenia, set to decide the series victory.
