Abstract: Winch with a grip pulley for moving along a lifting strand, in particular a rope or cable, including a frame; a drive pulley with a single groove mounted on said frame; a guide means capable of guiding the lifting strand under tension from the upper region of said frame towards the lower region thereof, the guide means comprising on the lower region side of said frame a guide pulley close to the drive pulley and transferring the taut lifting strand onto the drive pulley; a clamping pulley, close to said guide pulley, exerting pressure on the lifting strand towards said drive pulley and acting on the wrapped end of the lifting strand on said pulley on the free strand side.