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Cédric Lachat Joins the 5.15b Club

After years of being a top comp climber, he moved onto freeing big walls and has more recently focused on hard sport climbs

Cédric Lachat has made the first ascent of Fantasia L2 at Vercors, France, assigning the grade of 5.15b to the powerful line. Earlier this year, Lachat, who’s currently 38, climbed his ninth 5.15a with Home Cornus, also in France.

During his time as a competition climber, Lachat racked up nearly 20 medals, winning the Youth World Championships at 17. He went on to win bronze in lead and boulder at the 2007 World Championships. Over the past few years, he’s focused on 5.14 multi-pitch routes, such as Orbayu 5.14b, Silbergeier 5.14a and WoGü, all in the Rätikon, Switzerland.

About Fantasia L2, Lachat said, “The first time I tried it, I thought it was too hard for me. So I focused (and sent) all the other hard routes in the sector.” He then refocused his efforts on Fantasia 2 and sent it after several sessions. “I’m curious and opened about other people’s opinions on the route, and the grade,” he said.

A few years ago after repeating a Pirmin Bertle 5.15a called La Cène du Roi Lézard, Lachat told us, “Climbing is my profession and my real passion. I like complexity and I like pushing my own limits. It’s probably due to my experience competing. Long multi-pitch routes naturally appeal to me, since they require a great deal of experience and concentration. I like to be at one with myself, to give everything I’ve got to reach an objective.”

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