With Mont-Blanc as a backdrop, climbing shone with a thousand lights this weekend for three days in the city of Chamonix, with the flamboyant return of the star of the discipline, the Czech Adam Ondra, during the difficulty test.

But also a speed record that thrilled the crowd when he was only a breath away from going below the mythical 5 second mark.

"It was screaming!", Remembers for AFP the Frenchwoman Victoire Andrier, who climbed to the final of the speed test.

"You have to make your way through the crowd to get to the site, it's an impressive moment. The music is so loud and the crowd so large that the stress rises enormously. It's as if I was entering the arena! "

Spectators gather in Chamonix to watch the final of the Climbing World Cup on July 10, 2022 OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE AFP

Victoire Andrier, who had not returned to Chamonix for 3 years, was carried by the atmosphere to improve her personal best (7 sec 43) in the final, which was played on Saturday evening in the moonlight, with Mont -White under the eyes.

5 seconds

"I see the snow, it's just too good. When I'm in the call room, I also look at the mountains, it makes me feel good", continues the Frenchwoman, who leaves with beautiful memories which "will give her strength to train hard this winter".

The American Natalia Grossman during the final of the Climbing World Cup in Chamonix on July 10, 2022 OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE AFP

Kiromal Katibin also stocked up on images.

The Indonesian climber set his fifth world record since May 2021. During qualifying on Friday, he climbed the 12-meter wall in 5 sec 009, a week after his record signed in Villars (Switzerland), i.e. 5 sec 04.

And the public was not mistaken this year, because it was just as numerous during the qualifications as during the night finals.

"In Chamonix, there are all the ingredients for it to work well. The enthusiasm was not as great in past years. I think there is an Olympic Games effect, climbing is more publicized. In the years 2015, 2016, in the semi-finals of the difficulty test, there were 150 people, and it was mostly families. In the evening, it was full but there were not all those people we had throughout the competition," rejoices Fred Comte, director of the Chamonix sports club, to AFP.

South Korean Seo Chae-hyun during the Climbing World Cup final in Chamonix on July 10, 2022 OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE AFP

The 2024 Olympics were a dream

Only two events manage to fill the 10,000 square meter Place du Mont-Blanc: the draw for the Alpine Skiing World Cup and the Chamonix Climbing World Cup, the very first edition of which was held in 1998 before being labeled by the International Federation (IFSC) in 2000.

"In Chamonix, there is a very old tradition, it's a bit of a mecca for climbing, it's competition not to be missed. That's what Adam Ondra said again: so as not to come in Chamonix, both of his legs would have to be cut off!"

reports Comte, organizer of a free competition for the public and subsidized by the Community of communes of the Valley of Chamonix Mont-Blanc.

The Spaniard Erik Noya Cardona during the Climbing World Cup in Chamonix on July 9, 2022 OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE AFP / Archives

Adam Ondra, eleven times titled at the Worlds, made a triumphant return to Chamonix on Sunday, after a long break post Tokyo Olympics, where he finished only sixth.

The 29-year-old Czech won the difficulty test at sunset.

On the women's side, the Olympic champion, the Slovenian Janja Garnbret, won her third victory this season.

In two years, everyone will meet for the Paris Games, on a site in Le Bourget (Seine-Saint-Denis).

In Chamonix, many have dreamed of being the site of the 2024 Olympics.

"We tried. We didn't find it illegitimate, we raised our hands kindly, it was a dream. But not everything could be decentralized. We had the super postcard, however," Comte regrets a little.

© 2022 AFP