Rabenstein in Italy is set to host the latest round of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation World Cup season this weekend ©UIAA

Rabenstein in Italy is set to host the latest round of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) World Cup season this weekend.

The event will be held on the impressive ice tower located in the Italian part of Südtirol.

Speed competition is due to take centre stage tomorrow and will be followed by lead action on Sunday (February 3).

Switzerland’s Yannick Glatthard made a conquering return to action last weekend, taking the men’s lead gold medal in his home event in Saas-Fee.

The previous two UIAA World Cups were claimed by Russia’s Nikolai Kuzovlev, who leads the overall rankings from South Koreans Lee Younggeon and Park Heeyong, the reigning world champion.

France’s Nathan Clair, currently occupying fourth place, continues to impress and will be staking a claim for a podium finish for the second time this season

An ill-timed slip from Russia’s Maria Tolokonina cost her a chance of a women’s lead podium place last weekend.

She heads the standings ahead of South Koreans Shin Woonseon, the gold medallist in Saas-Fee, and Ireland’s Eimir McSwiggan, who failed to make the finals last weekend but sits in third spot having performed excellently in the Asian events.

Young Swiss athlete Sina Goetz claimed the silver medal in Saas-Fee and will also be in contention for a top-three finish. 

In men’s speed, Russia’s Anton Nemov and Vladislav Iurlov have claimed the three gold medals to date and have stolen a march on the opposition.

Kuzovlev, meanwhile, sits in third place which demonstrates his outstanding versatility.

World champion Vladimir Kartashev of Russia, the runner-up in Beijing, will seek to end his run without a gold medal which stretches back to Saas-Fee in 2017.

Russia’s Ekaterina Koshcheeva leads the way in women’s speed having never finished lower than second spot.

Tolokonina is the world champion’s nearest rival and still in contention to win both the lead and speed competitions.

Russia’s Natalia Savitskaia and Maryam Filippova are also in close pursuit.

A livestream of all the action in Rabenstein can be followed on the UIAA Facebook channel as well as on EXTREME and the Olympic Channel.