Some riders chase speed, others love long flat stretches, and then there are those who find their essence in the climbs.

Luca Cavallo, born in 1999 and originally from Dronero, belongs to this last category. He has been riding since he was seven years old and has never stopped chasing steeper slopes and tougher goals.

Today, Luca is an athlete for Officine Mattio Cycling Club, as well as a graduate in Exercise Science, athletic trainer, and sports masseur — a double perspective that allows him to live cycling not only with passion but also with scientific awareness.

On the eve of the Gran Fondo Il Lombardia, he told us about his approach to training, nutrition, and recovery, offering an authentic look at his relationship with the bike.

Who is Luca Cavallo today, on and off the saddle?

Luca: “I’ve been riding since I was seven, and ever since I was a kid, I believed it would become my job. I’ve made a lot of sacrifices — until 2024, cycling was everything for me, culminating in a few months as a professional with the VF Group Bardiani-CSF Faizanè team.

Over the years, though, I always had a kind of plan B in mind: even if cycling took up my whole life, after high school I enrolled in university and earned a degree in Exercise Science. That way, today I combine my passion for cycling with my work as a trainer and sports masseur.”

Do you remember your first memory on the bike, and what made you fall in love with climbing?

Luca: “The passion started in my family — my father raced amateur competitions, and my brother was already competing in higher categories. So, I started too.

I quickly realized I was good at climbing, thanks to my weight and light build. I love facing long ascents, also because of where I was born. Those who ride bikes love the suffering — the feeling of pushing your body beyond its limits. It’s both a challenge and a motivation. Every time I beat one of my records, I want to go even further.”

How are you preparing your body and mind for the Gran Fondo Il Lombardia?

Luca: “Preparation is both physical and mental. From a nutritional point of view, I’ve always followed a strict diet, though, as someone with a sweet tooth, I never say no to a slice of cake when I’m away from competition.

It’s essential to find your balance and listen to your body; excessive restriction increases stress and cortisol levels, which can worsen performance.

In the days before the race, though, I’m very precise — from Thursday to Saturday night I eat plenty of carbs at lunch and dinner, around 150–200 grams of rice or pasta. During the race, I stick to the standard 100 grams of carbs per hour.”

As a trainer and sports masseur, you know how crucial recovery is. What’s your approach?

Luca: “I don’t race in stage events — usually it’s one race on Sunday, then another the following weekend. Sometimes two or three weeks go by between races.

After competing, I’m not overly strict about recovery routines — if there’s a chance to go out for pizza and a beer with friends or teammates, I go. That’s part of the reward for all the effort.

But if I’ve done a particularly intense training or feel the need, then I focus on recovery through stretching, massages, and supplementation.

During races, I use gels, bars, and carbs in my water bottle; after training, I mainly recover through proper nutrition, giving my body what it needs to regenerate.”

If you had to summarize cycling in one rule that also applies to life, what would it be?

Luca: “Never take anything for granted! There are times when you feel physically or mentally drained and think you can’t make it. It’s happened to me — in a moment you forget the work of weeks or months and lose focus.

In those moments, I’ve found strength in the people close to me — my family and my girlfriend — and that’s when unexpected victories have come.

Just like in life: never think something is owed to you; you have to earn it every single day.”

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Conclusions

For Luca Cavallo, cycling is much more than a sport: it’s a test of endurance, discipline, and passion. The climbs he loves so much are a mirror of life — tough, demanding, but capable of delivering the greatest rewards to those who have the courage to face them.

With his balanced approach to training, nutrition, and recovery, Luca reminds us that cycling is not just about legs, but also about mind and heart. Every ride, like every challenge in life, deserves to be lived to the fullest