Cortina is lit up by a yellow flash — a current that runs through the town, sets it ablaze, and electrifies the air. Some races are run with your legs. Others pull you in completely — as if every fiber in your body is responding to something deeper. The Lavaredo Ultra Trail belongs to this second kind.

It’s not just about distance, elevation gain, or effort. It’s a journey across the Dolomites — and into yourself. The hours stretch on, night falls, breath becomes short. But inside, something grows. A force beyond the physical. Because what you gain up there — among the ridgelines lit only by your headlamp, and the silence of the valleys — stays with you long after the finish line. The clock, the medals — they don’t matter. What matters is the mark the trail leaves behind. An invisible imprint that stays, transforms, and keeps pushing you even after you’ve stopped running.

It’s no coincidence that an event with such an epic yet familiar tone is connected to a partner like La Sportiva — a brand synonymous not only with trail running, mountains, and terrain, but also with a grounded, far-reaching passion that spans both emotional and cultural dimensions. This spirit was perfectly embodied by the top two finishers at LUT 2025: both La Sportiva athletes, both racing in a space that felt like home.

Andrea Rostan and Nadir Maguet aren’t just competitors — they’re mirrors of each other. They train together. They know the textures of each other’s fatigue. And they understand each other in the quiet moments before a race begins. In competition, these La Sportiva athletes chase without clashing, challenge without conflict. They’re friends before they’re rivals — and it’s this connection that makes them dangerous. That pushes them both further.

Andrea won the 20K this year, improving on his second-place finish from last season. He knew he was in good shape — he could feel it in his legs, which never asked for mercy, and in his breath, in sync with the rhythm of the trail. Every now and then he looked back — not out of fear, but awareness. He knew Nadir was there — a silent pressure that kept him sharp, alert, alive.

Nadir came in second, but with a better time. He doesn’t race for the stopwatch — he races for an idea, a feeling, something that stirs within. If it’s not there, he won’t even start. But when it is there — like it was in this race — he turns it into something that can be shared. For him, a performance is only truly complete when it connects with those watching, those experiencing it from the outside.

Both were raised in the forest, with the mountains as their first language. Andrea arrived there through legacy — from track, to cross-country, to discovering that his nature was vertical: uneven, full of gradients and gravel. Nadir was born into it — following his grandfather along trails and through silences, learning early that the mountain is a refuge before it is ever a challenge. And maybe that’s what really unites them: the understanding that running isn’t a duty — it’s a form of expression. Nadir runs with heart. Andrea runs with a kind of mental lightness. Together they create perfect tension. A clean, honest rivalry that makes them both better. They chase each other. Respect each other. Improve together. One pulls the other forward — and together, they climb. 

What follows is their ongoing dialogue — inspired by the trail, spoken in the language of effort, and shaped by the mountain itself.

What did you feel during — and after — the Lavaredo Ultra Trail, especially finishing first and second?

Andrea Rostan: “Everything clicked. Honestly, it couldn’t have gone better. I really cared about this one — last year I finished second, and I loved the course, the terrain, the energy. This year I felt fit, sharper than the season before, and I came into the race believing I could win. I pushed hard from the very first climb, and already on the ridge up top, I found myself alone. That’s when I thought: “This is it. If I don’t go for it now, I’ll never have a shot like this again.” My only concern was the downhill. I knew Nadir might catch me — descents have always been more of a struggle for me. I come from vertical races, where it’s all about the uphill grind. But I had built about a minute of lead, and I managed to hold on. The last part of the course was less technical, and that helped me open up the stride and finish strong. I’m happy — I gave everything I had.”

Nadir Maguet: “I’m satisfied — especially because I improved my time from last year. I’d just wrapped up three solid weeks of training, so this race was more of a checkpoint than a main target. My focus is on next week’s Val d’Aran 50K — that’s the big goal. Still, I came into this race looking for feedback: to check how my body felt, what kind of form I was in. And I’m pleased with what I found. There’s also a cool symmetry to it — last year I won and Andrea came second; this time, we flipped places. We’re close friends, and I think a rivalry like ours is healthy — it pushes us both. It forces you to level up. Because in smaller races, without serious competition, you can trick yourself into thinking you’re fast. But when you line up against true athletes, that’s when you really find out where you stand.”

What’s your relationship with the mountains? How did that passion evolve alongside your running?

AR: “It started with my parents — they brought me into the mountains when I was a kid. I got into track and field at ten, partly because of my grandfather, who was a FIDAL race official. He passed away right around then, and a week later I ran my first race, in a way, for him. That’s when I fell in love with running. Growing up in the hills, I was always training in the woods — up and down trails, never flat. Once I started racing — cross-country, road, mountain — I realized mountain running suited me best. So at eighteen, I dropped everything else and focused solely on that. Then I really got into it: watching skyrunning videos, reading books, studying the sport. It became a lifestyle. Today, I can’t imagine living without it. Sure, I train more intentionally now — I want to compete at a high level — but the passion? That hasn’t changed at all.”

NM: “For me, it’s a very pure relationship — not just about performance. I’m drawn to simple things in life. My grandfather was a hunter, and he used to take me with him into the mountains. I still remember the moments we’d share a can of meat for lunch — small things, but they stay with you. The mountains taught me to find beauty in simplicity. That’s a value I carry with me still. Thanks to the military, I was able to turn sport into a career — I joined as an athlete and served for years before transitioning out. Last year, I also stepped away from the national ski mountaineering team. At a certain point, you feel the need to follow your own path — to chase something that really feels like you. It’s a risk, of course. But I think it’s always worth it to pursue what makes you feel alive.”

What are you chasing now — in this sport, in the race circuit?

AR: “It’s not so much about chasing, but about staying motivated. Even when I’m not racing, I don’t lose that drive. But competition adds a different kind of fire. This year, though, I’ve learned to approach races with more calm. I’m not as nervous, I enjoy them more. I tell myself: “Whatever happens, happens.” If it doesn’t go well, I figure out why and work from there. Ironically, this lighter mindset is paying off. It’s been one of my best seasons so far.”

NM: “I’m after emotion. A big performance that stays locked inside you — that’s fine, sure, but a little empty. What moves me is when you can share that feeling with others, when it becomes a story, an experience that resonates. That’s where I think the true beauty of running lies.”