Jacopo Larcher and Melissa Le Nevé outstanding at Red River Gorge

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.