Search
shop

Another new European IRONMAN 70.3 for 2020: Sardinia, Italy

Italy to get another M-Dot event from 2020 with the announcement of IRONMAN 70.3 Sardegna, based at Forte Village, Sardinia
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

The IRONMAN expansion continues with another event for Italy

Are you struggling to keep up? I know I am.

Whatever you may think about the current status of the triathlon market worldwide, one things is sure – IRONMAN have been, and continue, to be following what appears to be a significant expansion policy within Europe, with the addition of many new events for 2020. The latest of those is in Sardinia, Italy, for IRONMAN 70.3 Sardegna, to be held on Sunday 25th October 2020.

Based at the Forte Village Resort (HERE), the event would appear to be a revival of what was previously Challenge Forte Village (last held in 2018 – check out our gallery from that race HERE), with the promotional video (below), certainly including several shots from that race.

This announcement follows several recent additions, which include – and it’s quite possible I’ve missed some – the following additions:

It’s not all been one way of course, with confirmation of the end of IRONMAN 70.3 Dun Laoghaire and Graz being a replacement for the previous IRONMAN St. Pölten, but the overall strategy in Europe would appear to be a push for significant growth.

Here are the full details on today’s announcement.


IRONMAN ANNOUNCES SARDEGNA, ITALY AS NEW HOST REGION FOR IRONMAN 70.3 TRIATHLON

Inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Sardegna to be held on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020

The IRONMAN Group, a Wanda Sports Group company (Nasdaq: WSG), today announced that it will add a third race in Italy beginning in 2020 – the IRONMAN® 70.3® Sardegna triathlon. The inaugural event will be held on Oct. 25, 2020 and joins IRONMAN Italy, Emilia-Romagna (Sept. 19, 2020 – Registration open) and IRONMAN 70.3 Italy, Emilia-Romagna (September 20, 2020 – Registration open) in the event calendar.

Sardegna (Italian for Sardinia) is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and home to 1.7 million inhabitants. The island has become famous for its coastline that runs for 1,849 kilometres (1,149 miles), its beautiful towns, cities, and luxurious resorts that play host to over three million tourists each year. The event’s start and finish line will be located at Forte Village in Santa Margherita di Pula, near Sardegna’s capital of Cagliari in the South of the island.

“We are excited that IRONMAN has selected Sardegna as a new destination. For us, IRONMAN 70.3 Sardegna offers a great opportunity to show the beauty of our region to athletes from all over the world. This event will be a celebration of sport and the values it teaches to all of us. We are also looking forward to positioning Sardegna as a sports destination outside of the touristic high season,” said Gianni Chessa, Assessor of the Regione Autonoma della Sardegna.

“For a long time, Sardegna has been a household name among European travellers. Now it will become a household name amongst European athletes,” said Stefan Petschnig, Managing Director of Europe, Middle East and Africa for The IRONMAN Group. “This is a perfect late-season event for first-timers and accomplished triathletes. I am convinced that the beauty of the course, its great accessibility through the nearby international airport and the unique sense of hospitality will quickly make this a bucket-list event for all international athletes.”

Athletes will start their race with a 1.9-km (1.2 mile) swim at Forte Village beach and complete a single clockwise lap in the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean sea. After the first transition, the bike course leads athletes along some of the most stunning sights of southern Sardegna, including the famous red rocks of the hinterland and the white cliffs of the coast line. The event concludes with a two-loop run course that connects Forte Village with the coastline of Santa Margherita di Pula and its landmark, Sarancen tower of Cala d’Ostia. Athletes will finish their journey back at Forte Village.

IRONMAN 70.3 Sardegna
Forte Village

“We would like to thank IRONMAN for choosing Sardegna. We are excited to provide a home and base for the athletes,” said Lorenzo Giannuzzi, General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of Forte Village. “Hosting this event is an extraordinary opportunity for Sardegna which has long been known for its beautiful landscape and wonderful hospitality.”

“I am very much looking forward to organising an IRONMAN 70.3 race here in Sardegna. I have managed quite some races and it always takes knowledge, passion and many, many helping hands to offer the athletes a unique experience and sense of hospitality. We are ready to welcome them in 2020,” added Andrea Mentasi, Race Director of IRONMAN 70.3 Sardegna.

The 2020 IRONMAN 70.3 Sardegna triathlon will offer age-group qualifying slots to the 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in St. George, Utah, USA. General registration for IRONMAN 70.3 Sardegna will open on 12 December 2019.

For more information please visit https://www.ironman.com/im703-sardegna or direct inquiries to sardegna70.3@ironman.com.

For more information on the IRONMAN brand and global event series, visit www.ironman.com.

IRONMAN 70.3 Sardegna
Photo Credit: Activ Images
John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumTriathlon’s mid-season report card: Tim Don on who’s raising the bar this triathlon race season
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
Hayden Wilde bike supertri Boston 2024 photo credit supertri
Premium10 ways to make your road bike faster and more aero for triathlons
Kristian Blummenfelt photo credit: PTO Canadian Open
PremiumIs your gut health impacting your performance? The untapped potential of good gut health for triathletes
Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews on the run at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship
PremiumHas triathlon reached peak performance? Tri experts and legends on how much faster triathletes could get
latest News
Georgia Taylor Brown Santa Vall gravel race 2025 photo credit Santa Vall and Gravel Earth Series
Kate Waugh and Georgia Taylor-Brown among strong British line-up at T100 London
Triathlon superstar Hayden Wilde to make shock comeback at London T100
Lionel Sanders wins 70.3 St George 2025 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
‘Intimidating’ to go into Worlds after four months off – but Lionel Sanders up for the challenge
Georgia Taylor-Brown Alex Yee Super League Triathlon Malibu 2021
Triathlon’s most decorated Olympic duo now honoured by their former University
Olav Aleksander Bu Photo credit: Roj Ferman | Surpas
Top triathlon coach Olav Aleksander Bu says it’s all about the team after Uno-X bag first Tour de France win
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...