Oriane Bertone 'feeling strong' in Fontainebleau

French climber Oriane Bertone is currently in great form (is she ever not?), and confirmation that her winter training has paid off comes from Fontainebleau, where yesterday the 21-year-old made short work of two forest top-end "classics": the 8B Kheops and the 8B+ Gecko assis.

Bertone had tried both problems previously, and although they were definitely on her to‑do list, she had never invested too much time and effort in them. Bertone's are the first female ascents of both problems As to Gecko assis, she explained: "Long seen as a quite morpho and masculine boulder (quite true to be completely honest), I first tried Gecko a few weeks ago for training purposes, and ended up surprising myself, which makes sending it now even more meaningful."

Gecko assis is Bertone's fourth 8B+, after Golden Shadow at Rocklands in South Africa in 2018, Satan I Helvete - Bas at Fontainebleau in 2020 (first ascended by Bertone at 8C and subsequently downgraded by half a grade), and Super Tanker at Fontainebleau in 2021. After yesterday's sends, she stated: "I'm feeling strong, in a good place mentally and physically, and I'm so proud of all the work that's gone into getting here."