The crystal clear sea and the impervious paths, the sand and the rock, the light and the mystery. To be discovered quickly, as per tradition. From Friday 10th to Sunday 12th May the Sardinia Traila running event now in its 11th edition, which this year attracted runners from 8 countries.
“Running in paradise” is the confirmed claim of the event, which proposes the format in three stages between Ogliastra and Gennargentu, starting from Marina di Tertenia and arrival in Ulassai. Organized by Wild Trackthe event has the support of the Sports Department of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia and the Municipality of Ulassai and makes use, for the routes, of the collaboration of the Forestas regional agency and the other Municipalities affected by the race (Arzana, Cardedu, Desulo , Gairo, Osini and Tertenia).
The “factory” trademark of the Sardinia Trail are the breathtaking routes that enhance the embrace between sea and mountains, nature and history, uncontaminated places full of mystery. The three stages, 100.2 km long and 4272 meters in total of positive difference in altitude, this year start from the crystal clear waters of the Ogliastra coves, climb the peaks of Gennargentu with passage from the roof of the island, Punta La Marmora in municipality of Arzana, to reach the spectacular natural landscapes of Ulassai.
Eight nationalities at the start: Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Poland, United Kingdom (among women), Slovakia and Ukraine. Italians aside, the largest representation this year is the French one with 6 athletes at the start. The lot of contenders for the baton was nourished by the Frenchman Yves Heloury, who won last year. Bib number 2 for Giorgio Calcaterra, winner of the Cagliari Urban Trail in Sardinia twice. A name known to cinema enthusiasts is that of Marco Palvetti, born in 1988, who played the champion Marco Pantani in the film “the Pantani case – the murder of a champion”, as well as being among the protagonists of various international series including Unwanted and Gomorrah.
In the women’s race, Ewa Majer, twice winner of the Sardinia Trail (2019 and 2023) and runner-up in 2022, will be the favorite. The French Marie-Line Hamon and Marion Le Moine, the British Amandine Chieux, the Ukrainian Hanna Rassokha, the Ukrainian the Belgians Laurie Duchesne, Anne-Catherine Van den Heuve and Marina Hiernaux, the Austrian Antonia Winkler, the Slovakian Katarina Sulikova, the Polish Patrycja Mokrzycka (already at the Sardinia Trail two years ago), as well as the home athletes Manuela Musu, Federica Frongia , Tamara Loi and Barbara Pettinao.
On Friday 10 May the sea will be the protagonist of the first stage, 26.23 km and 1347 meters of positive altitude difference from the Foxi beach of Tertenia to that of Museddu in the Cardedu area. Don’t let the sea deceive you: it will be a selective fraction, right from the first rough edges of the Gairo area which lead to the panoramic peak of Monte Ferru. After the final descent towards Cardedu, in front of the crystal clear waters of the Ogliastra sea, you will meet the first leader of the Sardinia Trail 2024.
The second stage is a great classic, namely the “lunar” ring on the Gennargentu: the hamlet that from Nuraghe Ruinas to Arzana leads to the territory of Desulo, to the passage to Punta La Marmora and to a subsequent descent from the Arzanese side which falls on the nuragic complex of Ruinas, one of the highest in Sardinia. There are 42 km to tackle, for 1652 meters of positive altitude difference.
The third and final stage is an ups and downs of 32 km, with a total difference in altitude of 1173 metres, with departure and arrival in Ulassai, in Piazza Barigau. The hamlet offers points of great interest including the Su Marmuri cave, extended for over 850 meters visible with peaks of 70 meters in height on the slopes of the Tacco di Ulassai, and the Gola Sa Tappara canyon.
