ASICS FUJI TRAIL TEAM REPORT #2/2025

 As the new year begins, our group is finalising its set-up, with so many new talents and so many races to come, it's a tough task! 

The arrival of Benjamin, our young and talented world champion, is a founding act. 

But we are all looking forward to the big events and we are all working to make the group progress and become stronger. The athletes are already on the starting line:  the first two UTMB races and already three victories; another big race with the Transgrancanaria and another victory... already 12 in total out of 18 races! And on the road Sara, Ben, Xavier and Miguel are pushing the clock... There's no doubt that the performances will be there, but our project goes further, with this rich and diverse group (54 athletes from 14 countries) and in such a brutal and competitive world, it's about staying true to our values based on respect for diversity, physical and moral integrity and solidarity. Our staff, which is being enriched with new coaches, will always place SMSB as the founding principle. Roll on tomorrow ....

With this new arrival, we close our wonderful mercato and welcome .... the world champion... nothing less! 

Welcome Benjamin! We've been talking for many months now, and we've been keen to build an effective and natural partnership. 

We're on the threshold of a long and successful career for this very young athlete, who is already a long-distance world champion, even though his career has barely begun. 

There are athletes for whom mountain running is a powerful act, one that gives meaning to a life and who can only conceive of performance as a thoughtful and serene act. It is this balance in life that we are going to strive to bring to this exceptional athlete. 

We are honoured by your trust, Benj!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DFpZjcCtb-6/?hl=fr&img_index=2

Well done for Diego for this home win, which shows that this winter's work on speed has been effective. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DFkxqkMMIix/?hl=fr&img_index=1

This was Marie's first race on the fast and difficult Trail Givré. 

After only a few weeks back, she's still lacking in strength and speed .... but her good form means she's in good shape enough to go out in front. 

A season that looks set to be exciting !  https://www.instagram.com/p/DFlD5eHKFRo/?hl=fr&img_index=2

"I got beaten in the sprint, sorry! " That's the message Ben sent to the staff after that great fight in the 10K. This mockery clearly shows Ben's serenity at the end of this winter, happy with his training, full of energy and ready to do battle!

A quick transition after a trip to Kenya on the technical paths of the Chemin des Anglais, in Reunion Island . Sissi had a good homecoming race.https://www.instagram.com/p/DGd5Ni1xHvO/?hl=fr&img_index=4

For a few months on Reunion Island, Tibère continued to make progress and acquire new technical skills, on the incredible trails of the Intense Island.... and for his debut, he won with authority the very difficult Reunion Island Championship, contested in extreme conditions!!! Well done to Tibère, and we can't wait to see him in Europe in a few weeks' time! 

A member of the hopefuls group, Manon, our young Doctor of Astrophysics, is rebuilding her health and enjoying a string of good national races... a smile that's a pleasure to see again! 

What are her limits? 

After a good winter, free from injury and devoted to developing her speed, Sara wanted to do a test .... to find out if 2H13 was realistic? 

Well, no, she went even faster, 1H1.50, and with this performance she came close to the times of the best road European athletes. 

Now it's off to the mountains and the trails... we'll just have to slow down a bit to take the bends !!!!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DGIXP9AsVSH/?hl=fr

Xavier has a passion for racing ... as long as he goes fast, (with PB 28:35 in the 10K ) and shows incredible steadiness here with 61.56 in Barcelona.

He says that the road stride helps him to go fast in the mountains and the strength of the mountains helps him to go fast on the road... why not !

Well done for this consistency and see you soon on the trails, Xavi! https://www.instagram.com/p/DGUBKxbNjJS/?hl=fr&img_index=8 

Miguel is courageous. 

What could be riskier for a young athlete than to embark on a marathon project? He embarked on a long preparation, documented it regularly, announced a time objective... and achieved it. Well done, with 2 hours 14 minutes 49 , Miguel has become the fastest of our trail athletes over the distance and shows that he is one of the greatest talents of tomorrow! Special thanks to Diego, who, two days after a difficult Transgrancanaria with bad legs, stood by his friend and paced a semi-marathon in 1 hour 6 minutes to put his team-mate on track. A fine display of team spirit....

https://www.instagram.com/p/DGtPBSKoY_H/?hl=fr&img_index=4

https://www.instagram.com/p/DGnhTtLI4e0/?hl=fr

We often joke about the consistency of Antonio's performances... "a Japanese train", but this back-to-school race showed it once again. 

A start with the leaders, a moment to wait, then, in the last third of the race, a decisive and unique attack... for a solo finish. Simple... efficient. Well done!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DGckWMLt8sj/?hl=fr&img_index=1

 After getting back into the swing of things in local races, it was time for Greta to make her mark on the international scene - remember that she finished 2nd in the Marathon distance here last year. 

With this good 4th place, she shows that she is on the right track!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DGckWMLt8sj/?hl=fr&img_index=1

Marcos has once again shown that he always meets the targets he sets himself. Just 15 seconds from the podium in this always very difficult marathon, he has shown that he is in great shape at the start of this year. https://www.instagram.com/p/DGV7eIxoH5z/?hl=fr&img_index=1

After her 3rd place in the Italian national championship, Axelle took 2nd place in the world championships  WINTER TRIATHLON in this demanding discipline  comprising mountain biking on snow, trail running on snow and cross-country skiing.

 A total effort that shows all the qualities and ambition of this young athlete!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DGbdrakMoVv/?hl=fr

With this 2nd world place in the vertical race, the most physical, the most brutal .... Max is one step closer, one year away from the Olympics, to his Olympic dream. 7th then in the sprint, he still has the individual race to confirm. With the form of his life, we can't wait to see Max on the trails again in the spring. https://www.instagram.com/p/DGyrMlMMojj/?hl=fr&img_index=1

Provisional results 2025

##12 VICTORIES

Coming soon: Chianti by utmb, Ecotrail Paris, Tenerife by utmb, Kick off week Menorca ....