Climber Adam Ondra returned to the World Cup after a break of more than a year by winning the difficulty race in Chamonix.
In the final, he finished the same as the Japanese Taisei Homma just below the top, but he had a faster time.
The three-time world champion in difficulty Ondra last raced in the WC last June in Innsbruck, where he took the last eighth place after slipping in the final.
He then finished sixth in the Olympic premiere of sport climbing in Tokyo, where the competition was unusual in a combination of all three disciplines.
Twenty-nine-year-old Ondra, whose wife gave birth to a son in the spring, was one of four climbers in the semi-finals in France.
He was aiming for the top in the final as well, but just below it, he slipped on the illuminated wall. He was originally behind Homma in the order, but after a review of his performance, he moved to the front.
Eliška Adamovská took 24th place in the semi-finals in Chamonix. Martin Stráník, Šimon Potůček and Štěpán Potůček did not advance from the qualification.
SP in sport climbing in Chamonix (France):
Difficulty:
Men: 1. Ondra (Czech Republic), 2. Homma (Japan), 3. Bailey (USA), … in qualification 30. Partisan60. Šimon Potůček78. Štěpán Potůček (all Czech Republic).
Women: 1. Garnbretová (Slovenia), 2. Rogoraová (It.), 3. So Che-hyeon (Korea), … in the semi-finals on the 24th. Adamovska (Czech Republic).
Speed:
Men: 1. Lung Jin-Pao (China), 2. Noya (Sp.), 3. Aspar (Indon.), … in qualification 46. Cross (Czech Republic).
Women: 1. Teng Li-Ťüan (China), 2. A. Kalucká (Poland), 3. Dewiová (Indon.)
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