Team Robinson Trentino joined its Pro Tour and Talent teams for their first summer training camp together. ProXCskiing talked to the Pro Team’s Director, Bruno Debertolis, to know how the physical and mental shape of the team is, and we found out that, just like Anders Aukland, the Italian squad is finding new training inspiration.
Where is the training camp, and what are the goals?
“Training camp is in Trentino as usual. In my opinion, it is one of the best places to train not only in the wintertime but also during summer. Trentino offers a lot of different possibilities. For rollerskiing, there are a lot of choices, flat sessions along cycling roads, quite easy or steep long climbs. It also offers incredible hiking, many mountain biking tracks and gravel roads, running tours, etc. We love Trentino, and the foreign athletes here also love it. Our main goal is to work, work, work and still work. Long sessions focused on building aerobic capacity and, of course, to build a great team spirit.”
What is the physical and mental shape of your team?
“It’s difficult to say, but it seems that Thomas Gifstad is in excellent shape and has recovered 100% after Covid-19. It also seems that Patrick Kristoffersen’s motivation is very high, he has trained more than 35 hours in a week, and Tereza Hujerová is on the road to final maturation. Despite her young age, she is not afraid of working very hard. The three of them were at the training camp, and Didi (Dietmar) Nöckler was there one day only for a long session on a road bike – more than seven hours up and down the Dolomite passes. It was probably around 175 km with almost 4500m of elevation gain. He is still like when he was 20 years old, which is great.”
The Talent Team has also been there. Can you describe how you find and what kind of help you give these younger athletes?
“During the last weekend of the camp, the Pro Team trained together with Team Talent. They were happy and motivated to have the possibility to do some hours of training with Pro athletes. I believe giving them this opportunity is the best way to inspire them. Sharing the same training with athletes with international experience would be great for everyone, so you can imagine that for young and passionate guys. Being part of the most international team in the Ski Classics circuit gives these young athletes incredible motivation and makes them proud.”
We hear that, just like Anders Aukland, you are finding inspiration in Nils Van der Poel’s training. Could you explain to us why you are following this training methodology?
“You know, we could continue our path without risk, but if you want to dream, you don’t have to be afraid to follow new ways. Our coaches like to dream, and they are teaching our athletes to follow their dreams, sharing new points of view, and breaking the new frontiers of training. Clearly, we have to consider many aspects related to different sports, but taking inspiration from great champions, it stimulates the boys who want to emulate them. I am convinced that with due proportions, following the best is the only way to try to reach them.”
How many summer camps will you have? And summer races?
“We will have two main camps, one just finished on last Sunday, and the other one will be in Passo Rolle, last two weeks of September. We’ll also have some weekends with the Italian athletes in the next 40 days, again in Trentino.”
“Pro Tour athletes will compete in some Ski Classics Challengers rollerski events in Scandinavia, and the whole team, Pro and Talent, will compete together in La Venosta Skiroll. After that, we will meet again in November, still in altitude but on skis.”
