A total of 41 professional athletes, including Olympians Lasse Lührs and Bianca Seregni, will line up this weekend for middle and sprint distance races in southern Sardinia.
Originally the Forte Village Triathlon, which had its first outing in 2013, the first Challenge Forte Village Sardinia took place in 2014. It was subsequently dropped from Challenge Family’s international event roster before being reintroduced in 2025.
Challenge Forte Village Sardinia will return this weekend with top-level triathlon racing to southern Sardinia, Italy, on October 25–26, 2025. Featuring both middle and sprint distance races, the event is one of the final stops on the 2025 Challenge Family European Racing Calendar, drawing a total of 41 professional athletes.
The men’s professional field features a strong and diverse line-up. Will Draper (GBR) enters following a strong season with three wins and a second-place finish from six Challenge Family races, including a recent victory at Challenge Almere-Amsterdam. Jannik Schaufler (GER), winner of Challenge St Pölten, brings consistency and experience from seven races this year.
They will be challenged by James Teagle (GBR), who continues his strong form after finishing third at Challenge Peguera-Mallorca last weekend, and home favourite Michele Sarzilla (ITA), who arrives after taking a win in Mallorca and finishing second at Challenge Sanremo.
Making his Challenge Family middle distance debut is short-course specialist and Olympian Lasse Lührs (GER). He is joined by young South African triathlete Matt Kaminer (RSA), who has already gained experience this season at Challenge Cesenatico and Challenge Mogán-Gran Canaria, marking him as one to watch.
The women’s field also promises close racing, notably featuring two Olympians making the transition to middle-distance racing:
- Bianca Seregni (ITA): An Olympian at Paris 2024 and recent silver medallist at the World Triathlon Championship Finals in Australia, Seregni makes her middle-distance debut on home soil.
- Nicole Van Der Kaay (NZL): Another Olympian, Van Der Kaay enters the race having won her first middle distance event earlier this year.
They face competition from regulars such as Nikita Paskiewiez (FRA), Lilli Gelmini (ITA) (fourth at Challenge Samarkand), and fellow Italian Sara Sandrini (eighth at Challenge Sanremo).
Challenge Forte Village Sardinia is noted for combining technical racing with Sardinia’s distinctive coastal scenery.
- Swim: Athletes begin with a 1.9km swim in the clear waters off Forte Village Resort beach.
- Bike: The 90km single-lap bike leg takes place on fully closed roads through towns including Pula, Domus de Maria, and Teulada. The route features a 7km descent and a striking coastal section along one of the island’s most renowned roads.
- Run: The event concludes with a 21km two-lap run along Santa Margherita di Pula beach to the Cala d’Ostia tower, finishing within the Forte Village Resort.
The professional race start at Challenge Forte Village Sardinia is scheduled for 08:00 CET.
www.challenge-fortevillage.com
