In reply to Calvi:
Well at hard 9b this is one of the hardest routes in the world. There are only 3 routes with a higher grade. So this is a very significant ascent, something any climber would be very proud of.
Secondly people want to push themselves when they climb, climb as close to their limit as possible. Since this is grade harder than either of the routes it links together I'm sure it's a more satisfying ascent for Ondra - and and anyone else who does it in the future.
Finally link up routes are pretty common nowadays. If you go to somewhere like Raven Tor there's hardly a single route that isn't linked with something else. People are even linking boulder problems into routes in order to create harder challenges. It may seem pointless when viewed from a distance but once you know the routes and the challenges these link ups offer you can see the logic to it: more choice and a wider range of difficulty levels.
