Ludovico Fossali is in great shape ©Getty Images

Italian Ludovico Fossali will look to build on his speed climbing senior world title when the International Federation of Sport Climbing Youth World Championships get underway in Arco in Trentino.

Fossali, ranked fifth in the senior rankings, defeated Austria's Jan Kriz to claim senior World Championship glory in Japan last week.

He will bid to make it a world double when the speed qualification begins on Monday (August 26) at the RockMaster Climbing Stadium.

More than 1,300 athletes will gather in Italy for the World Championships, with the 10-day competition starting tomorrow.

Entrants will complete in bouldering, lead and speed disciplines.

Three age categories – under-16, under-18 and under-20 – will be contested, with national federations able to select three athletes for each of the disciplines.

Organisers have prepared six routes of lead, 12 indoor boulders and two walls of speed for the championships.

Adam Ondra from the Czech Republic is expected to compete in the Rock Master Duel in Arco ©Getty Images
Adam Ondra from the Czech Republic is expected to compete in the Rock Master Duel in Arco ©Getty Images

The two-day lead qualification will get an action-packed schedule started in Arco tomorrow, before the semi-finals and finals follow at the weekend.

Bouldering and speed climbing qualification is set to begin from Monday.

On Saturday, August 31, the Rock Master Duel concludes the championships, with world lead champion Adam Ondra from the Czech Republic and Austrian Jakob Schubert expected to compete.

The Rock Master Duel sees a combination of lead and speed climbing athletes in a direct elimination battle.