Yannick Flohé Makes History on Germany’s First 5.15a

German powerhouse Yannick Flohé has successfully repeated Corona (5.15a / 9a+), marking Germany’s first-ever route of this grade. The climb, located in the legendary Frankenjura area, was first ascended by Markus Bock in 2006 and has since become one of the country’s most iconic hard lines.

The steep route follows a series of small, painful pockets typical of Frankenjura. Over the years, it’s seen only a handful of repeats by some of the world’s best climbers: Adam Ondra, Alex Megos, Felix Neumärker, Dai Koyamada, Daniel Jung, and Moritz Welt. Ondra called the line “soft for the grade,” while Megos impressively sent it on his second attempt. Flohé described the difficulty as between 5.14d and 5.15a.

This ascent crowns an incredible year for the 26-year-old climber. In July, Flohé became the first person to flash a V15 boulder with Foundation’s Edge in Switzerland. His recent sends also include Story of 3 Worlds (V16), Return of the Dreamtime (V16), and Off the Wagon Sit (V16). Earlier this year, he completed his first 5.15a with Lazarus in Frankejura.

Flohé is also a successful competition climber, having placed 9th overall at the 2024 Paris Olympics, won gold at the 2022 Brixen Boulder World Cup, and bronze at the Koper Lead World Cup. He continues to bridge elite outdoor climbing and world-class competition results – making him one of the sport’s most versatile modern athletes.