Seb Bouin has made the first ascent of Ariégeois Cœur Loyal at his home crag of Pic Saint-Loup, and has graded the route 9b. 

The route is an extension of Seb's 2017 route Legend, a 9a that had been a project for twenty years before he climbed it. After making the first ascent, Seb described it as a 'beautiful powerful line ... For sure one of the more beautiful on this crag'.

Even before making the ascent, however, Seb had bolted Ariégeois Cœur Loyal, which he identified - at the time - as 'the next level ... where "Legend" is just a way to arrive at the crux'.

In the six years since climbing Legend, Seb has gone well beyond the 'next level' of 9b, establishing the world's second 9c route with DNA, as well as establishing two further 9b+ routes, and making a further two 9b+ repeats.

Sharing news of the ascent on instagram, Seb said:

'I am happy to send this mega line in my home crag Pic Saint Loup. After falling once in this last hard move, I could finally control it in the send last Friday. The move is not hard, but somehow it was hard to stick the left hand in the send'.

'I bolted this route 5 years ago when my grandpa passed ... His wood worker name was Ariégeois Cœur Loyal (Loyal ariégeois heart). It was a great opportunity to keep him close to me all these years'.

'I was close to send it last fall season, falling on the previous move just before the Jumbo Love trip. This spring was a great opportunity to finish the job. This route is a huge effort, combining two hard twenty metre sections. About the grade, 9b (5.15b) should be appropriate'.

Ariégeois Cœur Loyal is Seb's ninth 9b route, and his fifth FA at the grade.

More info to follow.