Swiss climber Cédric Lachat (38) has made the first ascent of Fantasia (L2) at X in the Vercors, France and has suggested 9b. If confirmed, the line is his first of the grade.

In April, Cédric described the line - an extension to an 8b+ - on Instagram:

'Finally I've stopped taking the easy way out and and am getting truly involved in a route by working a 9b. A magnificent 40 metre route of pure strength. The route starts with an 8b+ before attacking the difficult section.'

The location of the climb is not disclosed, although the project is said to be close to his home in the Vercors.

Cédric had given up on the project last year, finding it impossible. Wet conditions slowed his progress, but he slowly ticked-off all of the other routes at the crag and built up the necessary strength for Fantasia L2, aligning his fitness with recent dry conditions before the height of summer.

Writing on Instagram after his ascent, Cédric explained:

'I'm curious and open about other people's opinions on the route, and the grade.'

Cédric is one of the worlds best all-round climbers.

A former competition climber, he won the IFSC European Boulder Championships in 2010 and two IFSC Lead World Cups in the early 2000s, in addition to two bronze medals in both Lead and Boulder at the 2007 IFSC World Championships.

On rock, he is best known for his hard multi-pitch ascents in the Alps, including WoGü 8c, Silbergeier 8b+ and Fly 8c. In recent years, he consolidated his sport redpointing at 9a+, ticking testpieces such as La Rambla and Supercrackinette. 

Watch a video of Cédric on a recent 9a+ first ascent, At Home Cornus, also in the Vercors.