The Transgrancanaria - February 2019

The first huge challenge of the beginning of the year: run the Transgrancanaria 360° (264 km) and the Transgrancanaria "classic" (128 km), and this, in only one weekend. He had been trying this crazy challenge for 2 years, without succeeding in it... But for the third year, he didn't give up the idea, he prepared again, and this time, he did it!

After travelling to the island of Gran Canaria two weeks before the start to recognize the race, he won his first race of the weekend, after 50h14. A second title for him and a 3rd podium in three participations in this race, after his victory in 2017 and his 3rd place in 2018.

After the arrival of the TGC "360°", he had 12 hours to rest a little, change his Ultra Carrier Shirt and take the start of the TGC "classic". Obviously, the challenge here was to finish the race, not to win it (let's not overdo it...). He therefore managed to cross the finish line on time and accomplished the feat of running 392 km with a positive altitude difference of 20,000 m in less than 4 days. A triumphant arrival.

Following this feat, he ran about ten races, always in the four corners of the world, sometimes reaching 280 km... All this to get to his second feat of the year with his huge summer program!

His amazing summer - 800 km and 54,000 mt+

How to summarize his summer challenge? Run about 4 races for about 800 km and 54 000 mt+, in 21 days.

On August 23rd he took the start of the Échappée Belle, a 144 km and 11 100 mt+ race in the Belledonne massif. After 34h40min05s, Luca won the duet category with his teammate Philippe Verdier, both equipped with their Ultra Short 3in1 and their blue Light T-shirt!

Only 84 hours later, Luca took the start of the famous TDS® in Chamonix. This year's route was widened with a passage through the Beaufortain, for a total of 145 km and 9,100 mt+. Despite the not so much sleep he had, he crossed the finish line after 29h22min17s.

Two days later, he head for Alsace for the Ultra-Trail of Haut-Koenigsbourg. Originally, he had to cover 56 km, "just to keep his legs moving" before the big race a week later (the Tor des Glaciers). But a small alarm clock failure prevented him from starting it. No worries for Luca who still wanted to stretch his legs: he took the start of the 13 km, a good training before the week that awaits him.

The first edition of the Tor des Glaciers took place on September 6. This was Luca's summer challenge: 450 km for 32,000 mt+. Well, UltraBag Pro 5L on his back, he led the race from start to finish, finishing in just under 135 hours, in first place! A well-deserved performance after this huge summer!

In the end, Luca will have covered no less than 752 km in 21 days, counting only the races... Moreover, he didn't just participate, he won 2 of the 3 Ultra!

The preparation and management of the 2019 year

But how did he manage a year like this? What was his training routine? 

Well, nothing unusual according to him: his little 25 km a day to go to work, that's his only training. Supported by his companion and with a slightly arranged schedule to be able to go on the different trails. "Other than that, it was pretty simple," he says.

Luca spent an exceptional year with his family and loved ones, who accompanied him as much as they could to support him and wait for him on the finish lines. "What surprised me the most was the fact that I didn’t know that I was getting closer to the 10,000 km and 410,000 mt+, I thought much less," he didn't expect it and didn't plan to cover so many kilometers in this 2019 year. But he did, and that's what's beautiful.

Which projects for 2020?

By the end of the year, Luca will have reached almost 10,000 km and 410,000 mt+, a few people can say it. But what will he do for 2020? Here is an overview of his program, which we know will be completed as the year progresses:

January: SP1 (Italy), Ronda Ghibellina (Italy)

February: Maxicross de Bouffemont (France)

March: Transgrancanaria 360° followed by the "classic" Transgrancanaria (island of Gran Canaria) + Trail des Piqueurs (France)

April: Trans Aubrac (France)

May: Lozère Trail (France)

June: UTPMA (France)

July: Portugal 281 Ultramarathon + UTTJ (France) + Ultra Di Corsica (Corsica)

September: Tor des Glaciers (Italy) + HMDS Fuerteventura (Canary Islands)

October: Diagonale des fous (La Réunion) + Trail des Glières (France)

December: HMDS Peru (Peru)

So yes, a very busy schedule for next year! Maybe he'll pass the 10,000 km?

Anyway, congratulations Luca for this extraordinary year, you gave the best of yourself and we are proud to be able to accompany you on your adventures!

We wish you all the best for the 2020 year, and see you soon for new adventures!

You will find the list of races in which Luca participated this year below, to "try" to imagine his rhythm:

January 12: Artenara Trail - 51.2km

February 20: Transgrancanaria 360° - 263.3km

February 22: Transgrancanaria “classique” - 127.4km

March 16: EcoTrail Paris - 80.1km

March 24: Trail des piqueurs - 52km

April 27: Trail de la brie des morin - 100km

May 12: Le Vernoli’trail - 58.6km

June 15:Trail de la vallée des lacs - le grand trail - 90.6km

June 16: Trail de la vallée des lacs - la géromée - 18.5km

June 29: Traiña Trail Gran Canaria 2019 - 43.7km

July 06: La Montagn’hard - 62.7km

July 13: Un tour en terre du jura - intégrale - 122.1km

July 26: Ultramarathon Beira Baixa - 284.7km

August 23: Echappée Belle - catégorie duo - 148.9km

August 28: TDS® - 145.5km

September 1: Ultra Trail du Haut-Koenigsbourg - 13km
September 6: Tor des Glaciers - 452.6km

September 21: Eolo Campo Dei Fiori Trail - 95.2km

October 6: Trail du viaduc des fauvettes - 102.4km

October 25: Festival des Hospitaliers - XXtreme Larzac Cévennes - 199.1km

November 9: Vendée Trail - 39.8km

November 16-24: No Finish Line Monaco - 465.94km

Find the range that accompanied Luca on his races, just here.