Jacopo Larcher and Melissa Le Nevé outstanding at Red River Gorge

At Red River Gorge (USA) Jacopo Larcher has sent his first 9a, while Melissa Le Nevé has redpointed her first 8c+.

As we mentioned a few days ago, Italy's Jacopo Larcher and France's Melissa Le Nevé are currently at Red River Gorge and after three weeks in the US the time has come for a quick summary which sees both at the very apex of their all-time form. The strong French boulderer has in fact managed to redpoint 50 words for Pump and Southern Smoke and in doing so she has now sent her first 8c+, while Larcher redpointed Pure Imagination (confirming Adam Ondra's 8c+ downgrade) and he has now upped his personal best by climbing Southern Smoke Direct 9a. For both climbers these routes mark an important step forward and, despite the mind-blowing grades which might lead to believe otherwise, female 8c+ and male 9a are still absolute reference points for superb athletes.