Gianluca Vighetti and Anika Deubler Surge in the 2026 World Climbing Europe Series Standings Following Historic Žilina Victories

The 2026 World Climbing Europe Series championship race has entered its decisive phase following a pivotal weekend in Žilina, Slovakia, where a wave of teenage phenoms completely reshaped the continental standings.[1][2]

In the Men's Lead competition, 17-year-old Italian prodigy Gianluca Vighetti delivered a masterclass to become the youngest winner of the season. Scoring a 45, Vighetti utilized technical knee-bar rests to bypass a dynamic crux that claimed four other finalists, vaulting him up the overall leaderboard.[1]

Vighetti's ascent in the competition circuit mirrors his meteoric rise outdoors. Known for sending 9a+ routes like Lapsus and Bombardino in his early teens, his transition into a dominant competitive force challenges veterans like Belgium's Nicolas Collin, who took silver in Žilina with a score of 40.[1]

The youth movement continued in the Women's Lead event, where 18-year-old Austrian Anika Deubler cemented her spot atop the standings. Fresh off her U19 Lead title at the World Climbing Youth Championship in Arco, Deubler took senior gold with a 50+, falling just shy of the final hold.[1]

Deubler's victory in Slovakia caps a remarkable year that included her first 9a outdoor send on Omen Nomen. She successfully held off Germany's Annika Müller and Ukraine's Rafael Kazbekova, establishing herself as the heavy favorite for the overall Europe Series Lead title.[1][4]

Meanwhile, the Speed discipline saw Switzerland's Gilles Meili tighten his grip on the men's championship. After taking silver at the previous stop in St. Pölten, the 18-year-old clocked a blistering 5.01 seconds in Žilina to secure gold over France's Jérôme Morel.[2][3]

Meili's consistency—featuring back-to-back podiums—makes him the man to beat as the series heads toward its conclusion. His technical pacing has proven more reliable than the raw explosiveness of his rivals.[2][5]

In the Women's Speed standings, the Ukrainian team is monopolizing the leaderboard. Polina Khalkevych clocked a 6.67 to take gold in Žilina, while teammate Mariia Shymkova took silver, solidifying Ukraine's overwhelming depth and grip on the team rankings.[2]

With the series now moving to Ostermundigen, Switzerland, and Laval, France, for the final championship pushes, the established veterans face a closing window to reclaim their standing from a historic surge of teenage talent.[1][2]