Running from one mountain peak to the next: Roberto Delorenzi

Ascona-Locarno trail running ambassador, 27-year-old Roberto Delorenzi, 2022 + 2024 SkyMarathon world champion and 2024 mountain running European champion, participated in the grand finale of the Golden Trail Series in his home region, accompanied by the breath-taking views offered by our region.

“Running in nature makes me feel alive”
It’s no coincidence that Roberto is achieving success in a sporting discipline that can only be practised outdoors. The close connection to nature plays a crucial role in his training, giving him the motivation he needs to overcome fatigue.

Since an early age, Roberto has been an active person, spending large chunks of his time surrounded by nature with his childhood friends, playing in the woods and hiking in the mountains with his family. It was here, in the heart of Ticino, that he discovered his passion for sport and running. At the age of 12, he decided to take part in a race on the slopes of the Nara with his father. The speed some of the participants could keep up while climbing really left an impression on him and gave him the desire to get better. Over the days that followed, Roberto began exploring more of the woods and surrounding mountains, gradually increasing his kilometres and changes in altitude, firing the starting gun on a promising career as an athlete and now achieving considerable success.

“The Valle Verzasca is one of my favourite places to run”
The skyrunner from Ticino is fond of running in his home canton. With its mountainous landscape, Ticino offers a myriad of training opportunities. One of Roberto’s favourite places is the Valle Verzasca and its mountain ridges. Here, among lush nature and breath-taking landscapes, Roberto can relax after training with a dive into emerald waters. The area’s white and blue Alpine trails are ideal for honing his technique, a fundamental aspect of mountain running.

What makes Roberto Delorenzi special is his independent approach to training, without the use of a coach. He prefers to work alone or with friends, taking inspiration from tips found on digital channels and chatting with other athletes. From an early age, Roberto trained less frequently than most and without a precise structure. Year on year, he gradually increased both the volume and intensity of his training. Since turning 17, he almost always trains twice a day, alternating various outdoor disciplines such as cycling, mountain biking, ski mountaineering and cross-country skiing, with running representing 90% of his activity. Twice a week, Roberto schedules more intense training sessions, with variations and repetitions. In 2023, he notched up 7,000 km of running, demonstrating his unwavering commitment and determination to pursuing his goals as an athlete. The Lake Maggiore region is Roberto’s favourite playground and he spends a great deal of time here, mainly for work but also for fun. With friends, he likes to relax in Ascona-Locarno’s picturesque lidos and attend the region’s summer events.

“The final of the Golden Trail Series at my place”
“Knowing the route and being able to train on it ahead of the race is a big advantage”, confirms Roberto.

The Golden Trail Series represents the most prestigious series in the world of trail running – Roberto is delighted that Ascona-Locarno has worked hard to become a part of the competition, as the region’s morphology is perfect for trail running and skyrunning.

Roberto’s advice for anyone keen to get started in trail running is to try not to tackle things that are too challenging straight away. Starting with walking in the mountains and consistently loving what you’re doing is the ideal mix for finding a way into the sport.