Erwan Legrand, 17, FA’s Le Bombé Bleu - barefoot

Erwan Legrand has claimed the first ascent of Le Bombé Bleu at Buoux, a route bolted by Marc Le Menestrel back in 1991. Despite attempts from many of the world’s top climbers over the years, the crux move, a long diagonal dyno from a one-finger pocket to a shallow two-finger pocket, wasn’t completed until 2021 by Nico Pelorson. Erwan spent around 15 sessions on the climb, remarkably sending it without wearing climbing shoes.

The route is also notorious for a 1992 French magazine report claiming Juraj Rečka, one of the best climbers at that time with two 8c’s under his belt, had made the first ascent—a claim now widely considered incorrect. At just 17, Erwan is the son of François Legrand, the dominant competition climber from 1990 to 1995, who won all three World Championships and 15 of 27 World Cup events. More details on Erwan’s ascent are expected soon.