Cédric Lachat climbs Chilam Balam (9a+/b) at Villanueva del Rosario in Spain

"Et voilà, Chilam Balam 9a+/b, c'est fait." After almost a month of attempts, Cédric Lachat has successfully repeated one of the most famous sport climbs in Spain, Chilam Balam at Villanueva del Rosario in Andalusia.

This massively overhanging 80m, 200+ move journey was established in 2003 by Bernabé Fernandez who, not without controversy at the time, suggested the unprecedented grade of 9b+. Adam Ondra made the long-awaited first repeat in 2011 and downgraded the route to 9b, now after the discovery of numerous knee-bars and no-hands rests it seems as if the grade has settled in at 9a+/b. Regardless of the grade, Chilam Balam remains a difficult and coveted stamina test for the best, and so far only Seb Bouin, Edu Marin and Dani Andrada have added their names to the list of repeaters.

Before sending Chilam Balam, Lachat repeated the variations Maldita Envidia (9a) and Chilam Salsera (9a). With this latest ascent the 39-year-old has sent 50 climbs 9a or harder.

Info: fanatic-climbing.com, FB Cedric Lachat, Karpos, Petzl, SCARPA

CEDRIC LACHAT 9A+ e 9B
2011 - Papichulo Oliana, Spain
2013 - Chaxi Oliana, Spain
2018 - La cène du lézard Jansegg, Switzerland
2019 - Sweet neuf Pierrot Beach, France
2019 - La Rambla Siurana, Spain
2020 - Pachamama, Oliana, Spain
2020 - Super Crackinette, Saint-Léger-du-Ventoux, France
2023 - At Home Cornus (9a+), Vercors, France, first ascent
2023 - Fantasia (9b), Vercors, France, first ascent
2023 - Chilam Balam (9a+/b). Villanueva del Rosario, Spain