The revenge of Pavol. Saturday May 11th Slovak Porubcan he “signed” revenge and overtaking the Sardinia Trail, taking both the second fraction – 42 km with 1652 meters of altitude difference, on Gennargentu – and first place in the general classification. To the Nuraghe Ruinaswhere the stage started, Porubcan completed his race in 4 hours 17 minutes and 16 seconds, with an advantage of 6’04” over the Sardinian pair formed by John Ambu And Roberto Usai. The latter gives up the record achieved 24 hours earlier, thanks to the success of the inaugural stage with arrival in Cardedu.
In the women’s race, the Pole’s dominance continues Ewa Mayer, on a day which – like the previous one – saw five foreign athletes (there are eight countries competing at the Sardinia Trail) in the top five positions. Grand finale tomorrow Ulassaiculminating over 100 km of fun effort.
THE STAGE
Porubcan led the race from the first kilometres, together with the other protagonists of the first stage including Usai and Calcaterra. Salento towards Punta La Marmora, the leading group fell apart, leaving Polubac and Usai in front, who broke away before the hardest ramps. The winner of the first stage then shared a race with Ambu, already sixth in the inaugural stage: the two Sardinians in fact continued together until the finish line. “The route was nice, really ideal, faster than yesterday with fewer technical parts and more dirt roads. For most of the race I stayed with Usai and Hamon, then along the last climb towards the ‘roof’ of Sardinia I managed to break away from them. I’m really satisfied” Porubcan said after the test.
“I was very keen on this stage – Giovanni Ambu’s comment – after two years ago I was forced to skip it. From a landscape perspective, a wonderful route, on a day blessed with ideal climatic conditions. I had a regular race, it was my first trail over 36 kilometers, I managed it well and the placement was beyond my expectations“.
Confirmations for Alessandro Massaro and for the Belgian David DeDobbeleerfourth and fifth at the finish line, as in the inaugural stage.
Among Women Ewa Mayer is approaching with great strides towards the third title at the Sardinia Trail, after those of 2019 and 2023. Behind her the French Marie-Line Hamonwhich leapfrogs into second place Katarina Sulikova, fourth at the finish line. Podium of the day for another transalpine, Marion Giroudthe Austrian fifth Antonia Winkler.
TOMORROW’S STAGE: 32 KM IN THE NATURAL SHOW OF ULASSAI
The third and final stage is an up and down 32km, with a total height difference of 1173 meterswith departure and arrival at Ulassai, in Barigau square. The hamlet offers points of great interest including the cave On Marmuriextended for over 850 meters visible with peaks of 70 meters high on the slopes of the Ulassai’s heeland the canyon of Sa Tappara Gorge. A natural spectacle that will crown the winner of the Sardinia Trail 2024.
ORGANIZATION AND PARTNERSHIP
The Sardinia Trail 2024 is organized by Wild Track with the support of the Sports Department of Autonomous region of Sardinia he was born in Municipality of Ulassai and makes use of the collaboration of the regional Agency for the routes Forestas and the other municipalities affected by the race (Arzana, Cardedu, Desulo, Gairo, Osini and Tertenia). The event is also supported by Use, Playcar, Birra Doppio Malto, by the technical partners Scott and Deriu Sport and by Grimaldi Lines.
