No Matter the Age – The story of two brothers who have shaped the Italian MTB scene

Peo (73) and Roberto Vernassa (67) are not just mountain bikers – they are trail builders, community creators, and true pioneers. For over 25 years, the brothers have been carving legendary single trails into the wild hills above Molini di Triora in Italy’s Valle Argentina.

Long before Finale Ligure became one of the world’s most famous mountain biking destinations, riders from Finale were already making pilgrimages to Molini to experience what Peo and Roberto had created there. Inspired by these trails, the very first trail in Finale Ligure was created – Isallo Extasy. The spark from Molini ignited a biking revolution that continues to burn today.

But the brothers didn’t stop there: they founded “Argentina Bike,” most likely the first MTB shuttle service in Italy, which helped bikers reach the high alpine starting points of their routes. And they are still going strong – digging new lines, maintaining old classics, and riding with the same passion they had decades ago.

“No Matter the Age” is more than just a documentary – it is a tribute to the people who invest countless hard, unassuming hours so that we can experience perfect moments on the trail. It’s about legacy, passion, and the dirt that connects us all.

Ride bikes. Have fun. Feel good.

Location: Molini di Triora, Valle Argentina.
Featuring: Peo Vernassa & Roberto Vernassa,
Idea & Story: TANNE 9 / @tanne_neun, Harald Philipp, Trek Bicycle
Videography: Litschi Films

[Music] H for sure without Roberto and Po wasn’t the same riding. Bal Argentina became so good for mountain biking because there were people with vision that saw the potential of this valet for mountain biking. [Music] [Applause] When we first came here, I didn’t know who built the trails. Hello, my name is uh Po. I’m 73 years old. My name is Roberto Verasa and I am the browser of PO and I start to build track here in in Molini 25 years ago. [Music] I think the history of Val Argentina is due to people and Robert and Po are for sure the main characters behind it. [Music] All times that I come here, I I am surprised because uh this valley is so beautiful, so nice and uh yeah, I love it. [Music] The Val Argentina is a secret paradise for for mountain biking. There’s a lot of potential, lots of trails, special trails. After finally coming to explore this valley and and riding here, we’re pretty blown away. So much so that we bought a house here. Molina is just a community really being as a family here. Everybody’s talking, sharing. The MTV is quite a big impact in this area. So without that it’s yeah I don’t think it would exist really. PO and his brother played a massive role in keeping Molini alive. I think a lot of people maybe from the village don’t even notice that because without the mountain biking and without people like them the valley would be kind of dead now. They’re like parents of the trails here. We learn riding from them. We learn digging. We learn to stay outside. Love the nature because luckily I spend so much time with them. I love the building. Uh first thing because uh you stay in the nature in open space and always very very nice. When you finish the work, you look back and you say, “Oh, nice work today. It’s beautiful to look what you have done. Well, I think Roberto and Po are not common men’s. We’ve seen Po digging like crazy. I don’t think he he minds. He doesn’t want to give him a H cuz age doesn’t really stop him. So they start uh not very young because they were already like 40 45 years old and they build so much and they still building so much uh with the passion you can do whatever you want. I love going riding with tail. They actually still guiding us. It was very hard to keep up with them especially on the up here. [Music] And they also very quick down. [Music] Yeah, I think it’s it’s important to know the the history and and how we we got where we got. Um, do you want to know the story? Yeah. Oh, God. I know that they start in the early 2000, even a little bit earlier. Po and Roberto founded a sort of a the first shuttle company in Molini. Argentina bike. That was the name of the shuttle company that they that they had was running only like in the weekend and for friends. The vibe back then it was about exploring it. It was about getting you know your friends out for the weekend. We started for shuttle service. I think uh probably the first in in Italy. I think this idea of riding all year long in Liura in the inland of Liora in the mountain of Liora actually started in Val Argentina with Argentina bike with Roberto and Poe. What I know that the guys from Finale came riding with them and they say ah we have an amazing playground in finale as well. We should build something for the bicycle too and that’s how they start and they build trails there. I remember around 2003 2004 we had 100 kilometer of trail with with dirty road for our group was uh never a job was always a pleasure to work for other people and so when I saw so much people that come I am happy because maybe we work [Music] How much longer I will keep on? Uh I must find somebody to help me to go on and then that’s the limit. That’s I don’t know. Now my my fear is to to crash because I think if I crash could be very difficult to start again. But in the same time I understand that I must try because if I if I make one step back every time I will stop [Music] maybe for the moment I am good. So I have fun, I have pleasure and uh of course we need to to change your your riding know because uh 67 years old is not only a number but uh for the moment it’s very fun and so I hope to to go on a lot. I love mountain biking because uh is freedom in the natural with a good guys, good places, good bikes, everything nice. [Music] Crap. [Music] So that’s that’s why the the interview was short because everybody [Music]