The news

On 18 July Alexander Huber frees "Bellavista" 8c on Cima Ovest di Lavaredo, first climbed in winter 1999

American Chris Sharma links the first and second section of Biographie at Ceuse in France, widely considered one of the hardest projects in the world, calling it Realization.

Climbing on Corsica: a selection of some of the best multi-pitch rock climbs in Bavella, Val Restonica and Valle du Tavignano. By Maurizio Oviglia.

Christian and Andreas Bindhammer repeat some Europe's hardest routes, including "Superplafond" 8c+, Volx and "Shangrila" 8c+, Frankenjura

On 16/06/01 Leo Houlding and Jason Pickles freed 9 out of 10 pitches of "The West Face" on the Leaning Tower, Yosemite.

Richard Colombo makes the first repeat of Altman 8c in Val Masino, Italy

The Austrian Bernd Zangerl makes the first repeat of Fred Nicole's Dreamtime 8c, Tessino, Switzerland

In two months Iker Pou repeats Fred Nicole’s Elfe in Switzerland, and a number or testpieces in the Frankenjura, including Maharadscha Fb 8b, Showdown (8c), Raubritter (8c) and Wolfgang Güllich’s rarely repeated Wallstreet Original (8c/8c+)

News from the ‘El Maneton’ about their ascents at Erto, Covolo, Arco etc

On 15-16 May the Austrian Beat Kammerlander redpointed Hotel Supramonte at the Gole di Gorropu, Sardinia

Inspired by the British "Hard grit" ethic, Maurizio Oviglia discovers and climbs new routes on basalt seacliff together with Simone Sarti on island just off Sardinia

Dave Graham has made the fourth ascent of Wolfang Güllich’s Action Direct 9a in Germany’s Frankenjura

Mauro Calibani, sends boulder problems in Sardinia, Corsica and Col del Lys. Of note are "Squalo 3-3D" 8a+ at Punta di Capineru (Corsica) and "Icaro" 8a at Col del Lys

Luca Giupponi redpoints 'Mike Jordan', 8B/8B+ at Pueblo di Massone, Arco and 'Superpolentin', 8b at Pian de Schiaveneis

Severino Scassa and Simone Sarti climb Hotel Supramonte at P.ta Cucuttos, Gole di Gorropu, Sardinia

At St.Leger du Ventoux the Italian Alberto Gnerro climbed eight hard routes between 8a and 8b+