No, it's not a re-run of the popular Christmas movie, but a provocation to assign the trail throne (pardon those with a soft R) between two rising stars of off-road running: Lorenzo Beltrami and Luca Del Pero. What do the two champions of the Rock Experience team have in common? Let's find out in the following article.
Looking at them, they seem tailor-made for running: slender frames, toned muscles, lean but not overly lean, because trail running isn't just about lightness, but also strength and agility. Lorenzo Beltrami and Luca del Pero know this well, having joined the Rock Experience galaxy since the start of this season, bringing trophies and successes that make us proud of these "two good guys." Born in 1995, the former two years younger, Lorenzo and Luca share a relatively recent start in trail running.
" As a kid, I didn't have a favorite sport: just going out was enough for me ," Lorenzo Beltrami comments . "I never stopped: bike rides, church activities, mountain escapes..." Looking at him, you wouldn't think he was a hyperactive child: " The fact is, we didn't have a television at home ." And that explains a lot. And then?
« And then in middle school I tried rowing, and for three years I rowed in Mandello, but with never any impressive results».
Luca De Pero smiles as he listens to these words, because there seems to be a parallel with his own story: " I started out with minibasketball. Who knows, maybe I dreamed of becoming Michael Jordan... " A discipline he later replaced with track and field: " And it was during my second year that I discovered my specialty, middle-distance running, where I also achieved my first results ." And then? " I'm attracted to mountain biking, and with a group of friends, we participate in various cross-country races ."
But you never forget your first love, and four years ago she returned to running. " Yes, a bit by chance: in 2018, I took part in a vertical and finished just off the podium, and from there I knew that mountain running was my calling ." It was the same year as Lorenzo's debut: the two knew each other because they were both members of the Falchi di Lecco, and as we'll see, their paths would cross often.
The two also share a degree in Sports Science and a clear desire to work in the world of sports: " I've also taken courses to become a coach, but above all I'm a massage physiotherapist with a clear goal of deepening my knowledge of rehabilitation, " Lorenzo tells us, while Luca is still waiting: " Yes, I graduate in February 2023 and in the meantime I'm doing some work at the gym ." We told you they're good guys.
But are they also good athletes? Their 2022 list speaks for itself.
" Well, I can say I've had a super season thanks in part to my victory at Resegup, my favorite race! " Lorenzo puffs out his chest as he says this. " But certainly my success at Pierra Menta is a star that shines in a special way ." And why? " Because we won it together, " adds Luca Del Pero. Yes, and no small victory: a pairs race (a skyrunning version of the more famous ski mountaineering race) over three days of racing, 70 kilometers and 7,000 meters of elevation gain. " A race as beautiful as it is difficult to interpret: you race in pairs, your speed has to match your partner's, and his crisis is inevitably yours too ," continues Luca. " And then we're a little different: he's a formidable climber, I'm more of a downhiller ," emphasizes Lorenzo Beltrami. " And that's what I envy him a little: he jumps like an ibex ."
But then Luca, when asked what the best race he's ever participated in was, has no doubts: " So far it's been the one in Zermatt, on the Matterhorn, the surrounding environment and the course are fantastic ." For his part, Lorenzo doesn't want to forget the team gold he won at the Skysnow World Championships in Sierra Nevada: " We contributed with my ninth place overall, and Luca's fourth ," where they practically proved to be the two strongest Italians on the national team, and Luca Del Pero made a splash in this challenging World Championships, also winning three individual world titles.
But that's not all: Luca reels off some super performances: " Tricolor jersey at the Italian Skyrunning Championships in Cima d'Asta, victory at Dario and Willy with a race record, sixth at the Skyrunning World Championships in Val Bognanco ," says the 25-year-old from Lecco, who perhaps regrets missing out on the Golden Trail final in Madeira: " But on the other hand, I'll go so I can tell him what it's like and he'll be prepared for it next year, " replies Lorenzo, smiling. The final of the skyrunning world circuit includes five days of racing starting October 26th: " I'm a little excited, a little worried, but totally confident that I'll give it my all, " specifies Lorenzo, who, speaking of his teammate Luca Del Pero, acknowledges his " incredible consistency, he never rests and is very calm (apparently) in the pre-race ." Luca is a little surprised, but not overly so, and says of Lorenzo: " He's really methodical and precise, while I... I go a bit by feeling ."
A seat for two, as the title suggests, for the two strongest Italian skyrunners around. Their personalities are somewhat different, but they complement each other when running together (Pierra Menta is a prime example). But they have no doubts about the technical requirements of their clothing: " I ask for comfort, lightness, and functionality, " says Luca. " For example, in terms of functionality, shorts must have a belt for holding items, like a gel or car keys ." Lorenzo is even more explicit about lightness: " The less I feel it on me, the better ." Lapidary. Useful advice for the development of future Rock Experience trail running garments: " The contribution of elite athletes is the foundation of the growth of our collections ," emphasizes Michele Frigerio, founder of the brand, " and this rule applies from mountaineering to running ."
So, what can we expect from these two young champions in the near future? Here's their secret dream: " I don't have time to dream ," Lorenzo laughs, " but I'd like to extend my distances ," while Luca's goal is pretty clear: " A medal at the Skyrunning World Championships ."
We can say that they are both on the right track.
