An impressive field of over 83 athletes from 15 member associations contested the second round of the 2025-2026 UIAA Continental Cup series last Saturday. The destination was Zilina, Slovakia where the Slovak Mountaineering Union (JAMES) and La Skala Climbing Centre hosted a UIAA-sanctioned event for a seventh time.
The headline performances in the lead (difficulty)-only event went to Team France who secured both the men and women’s gold medals.
In the women’s competition, Marion Salmon-Thomas of France moved to the top of the Continental season leaderboard by claiming gold. This was her first Continental gold after a number of second places finishes including last weekend in the season opener in Bern. Salmon-Thomas (3:31) topped the route six seconds faster than her nearest rival, Catalina Shirley of the United States. Team France also took the bronze with 21-year old Ilona Serrar taking her second ever Continental Cup medal. She was one of five female climbers to top the route in the final and in doing so added to the silver she won in Sunderland, England in March.
For the second week running, France took the plaudits in the men’s event. However there was a change of guard with Virgile Devin, a past World Cup gold medal winner, climbing fastest and topping the route in 3:48. Six seconds also separated the leading two climbers in this competition. Silver went to Lucas Pérez Nieto of Spain. At just 17, the reigning World Youth champion in the U18 category is an exciting prospect. Andreas Gantner of Liechtenstein took bronze to claim his fourth podium place at a UIAA-sanctioned competition.
Season Rankings (after two rounds)
Women: (1) M Salmon-Thomas (FRA), 180 points; (2) I Serrar (FRA), 108 pts; (3) A Louzecka (CZE), 102 pts
Men: (1) V Devin (FRA), 137 points, (2) A Gantner (LIE) 111 pts, (3) O Hamerský (CZE), 105 pts
The third round of the UIAA Continental series will take place in Brno, Czechia on Saturday 6 December. For the two Czech athletes lying in third place in the season rankings it will present a perfect opportunity to climb the leaderboard.
Photos from the event are available here.
Qualification – Replay
Finals – Replay
Further Resources
Event Programme
Event Page
Registrations
Live Results
Photo credits: Martin Komlossy
