Ice Climbing World Championships returns in Saas-Fee after three-year hiatus

France's Louna Ladevant will one of the main contenders in the men's UIAA Ice Climbing in Saas-Fee as the event returns after a three-year absence ©Getty Images

Saas-Fee is set to host the return of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) Ice Climbing World Championships following a three-year absence caused by COVID-19.

The Championships were last held in the Russian city of Kirov in 2019, following on from the 2017 edition in Champagny-en-Vanoise in France.

In 2015, the Championships were split - with lead categories taking place in Rabenstein in Italy and speed categories in Kirov.

The speed and lead competitions will both take place in the Swiss resort situated on a high mountain plateau at 1,800 meters and which is surrounded by a total of 13 peaks above 4,000 metres, forming the basis for its nickname the "Pearl of the Alps".

Russia are the defending champions in three of the four categories from 2019, with Vladislav Iurlov and Maria Tolokonina claiming the men's and women's speed crowns.

Nikolai Kuzovlev also won on home soil in the men's lead, with the only other non-Russian champion being South Korea's Shin Woon-seon in the women's lead.

Shin is undefeated at the World Championships in the women's lead, having won all three titles so far since the Championships' inaugural year in 2015.

In the women's events, the hosts Switzerland will be represented by Sina Goetz and Petra Klingler, who were first and second last week at the UIAA Ice Climbing European Cup in Malbun.

Profiling women in climbing and mountaineering ahead of International Women's Day on 8 March.

Part 1 - The imperious competition ice climber Maria Tolokonina https://t.co/hwQVStyEeZ
— UIAA (@UIAAmountains) March 3, 2020

Finland has four athletes, including European Tour leader Enni Bertling, while World Cup regular Eimir McSwiggan of Ireland will be in contention too.

The United States has a team of six in Saas-Fee, while Poland, The Netherlands, France, Britain, Japan, Liechtenstein and Slovakia are all set to compete too.

A group of 18 nations are on the entry list in the men's events, with the hosts having eight athletes, including World Cup regular Yannick Glatthard.

The favourites Russia boast a team of six for an event due to conclude on Saturday (January 29) spearheaded by Kuzovlev and Anton Nemov.

Other World Cup athletes include American Kevin Lindlau and France's defending World Tour winner Louna Ladevant, winner in Saas-Fee during the 2019-2020 World Cup season.

Ladevant's team-mate Virgile Devin is also set to compete, currently holding the position of European Tour leader.

Azerbaijan, Canada, Finland, Britain, Hungary, Iran, Japan, Lichtenstein, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden are all set to participate too.