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Long distance triathlete and writer Jenny Lucas-Hill brings you all the details about this stunning end of season race on the beautiful island of Sardinia.
Breath-taking scenery, a thrilling race course including one of the world’s best coastal roads, and a luxurious resort setting where pre-race training and post-race recovery are all taken care of. If you’re looking for the ultimate way to finish up your triathlon race season, you’ll be hard pushed to find a more idyllic option than Challenge Forte Village Sardinia.
If escaping the onset of autumn in favour of crystal clear waters, long stretches of golden sandy beaches and the unbeatable feeling of the warm Mediterranean sun on your face as you bask in the glory of your race effort sounds like your thing. Read on to find out everything you need to know about this incredible late season race from Challenge Family.
Location - The ultimate island escape where blissful luxury meets stunning scenery
Sardinia is the 2nd largest Mediterranean Island, so expect vast expanses of golden sandy beaches, glittering blue waters and the balmy sort of late season weather that makes you want to tear up your passport and stay forever. Classic (read: beautiful) Mediterranean vibes aside, away from the beaches Sardinia offers up incredible rugged mountain scenery and a playground of hiking trails. With the race falling at the end of October, the timing is perfect to turn your race into a family getaway. Or just to escape the chill of autumn as it swoops in back home!
Forte Village itself is a luxury, but family-friendly, resort and sets the stage for race HQ and both transitions. Stretching along the southern coastline, it’s surrounded by acres of lush gardens, with a private beach and multiple pools. There’s a range of hotels and villas to choose from, plus your pick of 21 restaurants served by the resort’s own organic garden. That includes fine dining, authentic local cuisine and even a children’s restaurant to keep little tastebuds happy. Just a stone’s throw away from the race start and transition zones, and with a spa and Thalassotherapy pool to help your post-race recovery. This is stress-free racing at its finest.
Why race... Challenge Forte Village Sardinia
Escaping the cold weather at home for an epic race in a stunning, sunny, location – surely you don’t need much more convincing than that!? Here’s why clicking ‘book now’ on Challenge Sardinia is a no-brainer.
Course - A beautiful middle distance triathlon course to push your limits
Incredible location aside, the race course at Challenge Forte Village Sardinia makes a late season trip worth it in its own right. Starting with a sea swim, you’ll then head out onto a technical bike course with winding climbs and plenty of beautiful scenery to take your mind off the effort. Finishing up with a rolling run course along the Cala d’Ostia coastal road, if you’re looking for the perfect challenge to really make the most of your summer of training and see what you’re capable of. Challenge Sardinia needs to be top of your to-do list!
If the full middle distance sounds too much like hard work, you’ve also got the option of a sprint distance race. And like most Challenge Family races, inspired youngsters aren’t left out of the action – with a kids duathlon taking place on the Saturday before the main middle distance triathlon on Sunday.
It’s worth knowing that while you have got a split transition at this race, they’re super close together so there’s no drama on the race day logistics front. T1 is on the beach meanwhile T2 is only around 1km away, next to the finish line. Both transitions are in the Forte Village resort so access is easy for athletes and spectators to get around.
Swim - 1.9km
Race day gets underway on the beach just a few strides away from Forte Village resort. A quick stroll down the fine, golden sand and you'll be ready to line up for the rolling start. The course is a 1-lap affair, with only a few turns to navigate. The buoys will be out on the Saturday so you'll have opportunity to complete a quick recce.
BIke - 90km
We're happiest on two wheels here at TRI247, so maybe we're a little bias. But we'd say this bike course is really what makes Challenge Sardinia a must-do race. The 1-lap course takes you through the municipalities of Pula, Domus De Maria, Teulada and Sant’Anna Arresi. Expect breath-taking scenery as you head out of transition and make your way up the first climb of the day - you'll be going up until around kilometre 14. The good news is, you've then got a super fun 7km descent to recover. This is winding, but not steep. Manage your speed and enjoy the ride! Once you reach the 52km mark, you've got over 20km to experience one of the world's most stunning coastal roads. Enjoy the rollers here - this section makes up ~400m of this course's total 1000m elevation. This is certainly a course where you'll have plenty of opportunity to benefit from being on a TT bike, but if you're not so confident at descending it could be worth considering using a road bike and adding aero bars for the sections where you feel confident. With the race being coastal, keep in mind that you may get some blustery coastal winds too so you might want to ditch the disc wheel (if you've got one) and potentially opt for a narrower front rim if you've got a choice of different wheels. Don't let the climbing and the technicality put you off, this bike course will be seriously fun and the scenery is an ample reward for all that hard work!
Run - 21.1km
The run course is 2 laps along the Cala d’Ostia coastal road. It's definitely a pretty rolling course with some hills to contend with, so pacing yourself well on the bike and making sure you get plenty of fuel and fluids on board will be key. You'll head up hill out of T2 so take it steady and settle into your race pace. The course stays close to Forte Village, and the 2-lap format means there'll be plenty of atmosphere and opportunities for your support crew to cheer you on all the way to the finish line.
Race training & prep
During training, it’s worth trying to get some sea swimming practice ticked off. The water is mild and the course layout means you’re staying pretty close to shore, but as ever with a sea swim you might have currents and waves to manage on race day so any experience you can get will help you to feel confident. Practice being able to breathe to either side so you can adapt depending on the direction of the waves.
The bike course has quite a lot of climbing – 1000m of ascent in 90km is definitely going to get the legs working. Add some hill work into your training rides and practice pacing so you don’t red line too soon into the ride. There’s nothing majorly steep, but the better your handling skills the easier you’ll find the descents. Be prepared for some blustery coastal winds too and consider wheel choice depending on your confidence levels. As we’ve already mentioned, if you do struggle with descents or technicality it could be worth bringing your road bike to have the most enjoyable experience.
The run course is rolling too, so it’s worth adding in some hill repeats into your run workouts to build some strength and resilience in the legs. This will help you to run strong all the way to the finish line on race day.
Once you arrive in Sardinia, Forte Village resort has opportunities to join some group recon rides and get familiar with the race venue. And with the beach/swim course right on your doorstep you’ll have plenty of opportunities to fine-tune your sea swimming skills.
Travel & accommodation
Cagliari is the closest airport, around a 45 minute drive away from the Forte Village resort. For the most stress-free experience, it’s recommended to stay at Forte Village – everything for the race is in walking distance, including the pasta party and awards ceremony. The village of Pula is about 10 minutes away if you want to look at alternative accommodation options. Though the race organisers note that taxis aren’t that common in the area, so if you do decide to stay further out you’ll need to get a rental car.
Spectators - Sun, sea and spectating - this race is a cheer squad's dream
Let’s face it, not ALL triathlons are made equal and sometimes support crews can find themselves traipsing around in the cold and wet waiting for their athlete to make an appearance. But at Challenge Forte Village Sardinia, spectators have pretty much got the best end of the deal! A beautiful late season race-cation, with plenty of opportunities to unwind and destress in the sun between cheer squad duties? Count us in!
The race is based within the Forte Village resort, which makes for easy spectating. The roads are closed, so your best bet is to see your athlete as they exit the swim and head off on the bike before enjoying the atmosphere in the race village and then heading over to T2 where you’ll get to see them come in from the bike and head out on the run – passing by multiple times as they tick off those final kilometres.
There’s a sprint triathlon and kids duathlon to get involved with if you’re feeling inspired. And if you want to leave your athlete to all their pre-race logistics, you can join a group tour or excursion to explore the surrounding area.
Race-cation - Make the most of your time in beautiful Sardinia
Forte Village itself offers plenty to keep the whole family occupied. This is a place where luxurious relaxation, nature and activity are brought together in perfect harmony. Kickback and relax by one of the pools or on the private beach. Head to the sport village where you can get involved with everything from padel to watersports. Rest weary legs in the sea water Thalassotherapy pool, or go all in and enjoy a personalised spa programme in the Acquaforte Thalasso&Spa – located in the tropical gardens.
Tucked away at the foot of the hill overlooking Forte Village, you’ll find the haven of the Nature Park. An expanse of flora and fauna, this environmental enhancement project has created a realm of biodiversity. Alongside the vegetable garden, where you can take cooking classes and other workshops. You can also take a tour and meet the wildlife, including Sardinian donkeys, Giara horses, Shetland ponies and fallow deer. There’s also the Grand Aviary, a 1,800 sq. metre sanctuary for rare birds.
Once you’ve recovered from your race effort, you’ve got a whole range of hiking trails on your doorstep to explore Sardinia at a slower pace. For a spot of history, take a visit to the Roman Ruins at the Nora Archeological Park near Pula. If city sights are your thing, the capital city of Cagliari is only a short journey away. Climb atop the Bastion Saint Remy for panoramic views, and head to the Castello Quarter to take in the impressive medieval architecture and explore the winding streets.
There’s something for everyone – action packed adventure to peaceful relaxation and everything in between. So if you can, it’s definitely worth giving yourself at least a few days after the race to make the most of your time in Sardinia.
The race is not just about a course featuring crystal-clear waters and breathtaking scenery; it is an extraordinary experience that grants access to the world's most awarded resort, Forte Village. This magical setting will provide an exclusive backdrop for an unparalleled event, creating unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime.
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