Saas-Fee, Switzerland hosted round 2 of the 2026 UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour. As it has done for over two decades, the venue in the Swiss Alps offered an enthralling competition in front of large crowds. Supported by the Swiss Alpine Club, the local organising team once again delivered an excellent competition.
Please note that this article is subject to updates.
Speed: Safdarian extends lead
As detailed in the preview press release, Iran’s Mohammadreza Safdarian is at home in Saas-Fee. His past three visits had yielded a gold, silver and a bronze. After winning the opening round of the season in Cheongsong two weeks ago, he repeated the feat. Instead of the regular duel (climber v climber) format, Saas-Fee opts for the solo format, climber versus the clock. In the final rounds this means each athlete has three attempts. Whoever records the fastest time, wins. With a blistering ascent of 8.60 seconds, Safdarian took the gold. For compatriot Mohsen Behesthi Rad it was a case of peaking too early. He actually recorded the fastest time of the competition, 8.55. However it came in qualification. In the final his time of 9.06 was enough for the silver medal, which bettered the bronze he claimed in South Korea. Florian Gantner of Liechtenstein, in a time of 9.14, also improved his Cheongsong performance by one position to claim bronze, his first ever World Cup medal. He also claimed the title of European champion as the Saas-Fee programme also counts as the European Championships. Joining him on the European podium were Nils Martin Dolf of Switzerland and Gantner’s compatriot Linus Beck.
Having not made the podium in Cheonsgong, Selenge Nyamdoo (Mongolia) – winner of the 2025 World Tour title – returned to form in Saas-Fee. Her ascent in 11.29 seconds pulverised the competition. In the women’s event the bar was raised for the final with times significantly faster than the qualification round. Nyamdoo’s time seemed to inspire others. Lorena Beck of Liechtenstein, who won the Saas-Fee World Cup in 2024, posted a time of 13.13 to finish second while reigning world champion and 2024 World Tour winner Aneta Loužecká, Czechia, ensured she was the only female speed athlete to podium at both World Cups to date. Her time of 13.29 ensured third place. Lorena Beck’s older sister Lea came fourth and Olga Kosek, Poland, who won the Cheongsong World Cup finished in fifth. Lorena Beck was also crowned European champion ahead of Loužecká and Lea Beck.
Speed – World Tour standings after two rounds
Men: (1) M Safdarian (IRN), 200 points; (2) M Beheshti Rad (IRN); 145 pts; (3) F Gantner (LIE) 120 pts
Women: (1) S Nyamdoo (MON), 155 points; (2) O Kosek (POL), 151 pts; (3) A Loužecká (CZE) 145 pts
Lead (Difficulty)
Report coming in due course
Fixe in Saas-Fee
Fixe, Technical Partner of the UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour, will run a number of exciting initiatives during the weekend. This includes a speed competition for those onsite with details provided in the post below.
The technical staff and teams at each World Cup event are using Fixe ropes, carabiners, anchors, harnesses, and helmets, with the brand covering all organisational needs in these product categories. Additionally, the world’s top ice climbers will use Fixe ropes, carabiners, and quickdraws throughout the circuit. One exciting announcement is the new 9.5 Saas-Fee rope, Fixe’s official choice for the 2025-26 season. This new rope will be pre-launched during the weekend in Saas-Fee. Please follow the Fixe social media channels for further details.
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Further Details
Event page
Event programme
Registered athletes
Photos
How to follow the World Cups
For each World Cup event, a preview and review press release will be made available. Subscribe here to UIAA ice climbing press releases.
Livestreaming will be made available on the UIAA YouTube channel for all semi-finals and finals and certain qualification rounds.
On the UIAA Facebook and Instagram channels, shortform content including video clips and behind the scenes highlights will be posted as well as updates about livestreaming timings as well as podium winner posts and ‘climbs of the weekend’ clips.
Live results are available from the UIAA Results service.
The UIAA Ice Climbing website provides full information about each event including programmes and provisional timings.
Photos from competitions will available on the UIAA Flickr Channel. A ‘best of’ gallery for media wishing to preview the 2025-2026 season is available here.
Photo Credit: UIAA/Kaspar Kellerhals
