The 11th edition of the iconic triathlon, part again of the prestigious Challenge Family, took place on October 25–26, 2025 at the award-winning Forte Village Resort in South Sardinia. Organized by Ajoha Sardinia A.S.D. with the support of the Sardinia Region, the event brought together athletes from across the world for two exceptional days of racing, friendship and Sardinian hospitality.
26 nationalities took part in this outstanding edition, with athletes travelling from as far as New Zealand, Canada, and Costa Rica.
Sunday’s program featured the Middle Distance race, with 250 athletes at the start line.
The course, one of the most scenic and captivating in the Challenge Family circuit, included 1.9 km of swimming with a rolling start in front of the resort, 90 km of cycling through Santa Margherita di Pula and the near villages of Domus de Maria, Teulada and Sant’Anna Arresi, and 21 km of running along the coast and Cala d’Ostia beach, with the finish line set in the vibrant Piazzetta Enzo within the Resort.
Germany’s Lasse Nygaard Priester took the overall win, crossing the line in 3:37:43, followed by fellow German Lasse Lührs in 3:40:20 and Great Britain’s Louis Buttrick in 3:40:46.
In the women’s field, Italy’s Sara Sandrini (Team Venus) claimed a brilliant victory in 4:16:47, marking her first-ever Pro podium. New Zealander Nicole van der Kaay finished second in 4:19:12, and France’s Nikita Paskiewiez was third in 4:23:51.
Alongside the professional athletes, many Age Group competitors took to the course — amateur triathletes divided by age category who faced the same distances as the Pros with passion and true sporting spirit. Among them, Fabio Giancristofaro and Carla Dahan stood out as the first male and female.
In the Sprint Distance race, which took place on Saturday 25 October, the event opened with. 150athletes tackled 750 meters of swimming in the crystal-clear Mediterranean, 20 km of cycling towards the Torre di Cala d’Ostia, and 5 km of running inside the Forte Village Resort, finishing in the picturesque Piazzetta Enzo, in the Resort. The men’s victory went to Niccolò Sancisi (Dinamo Triathlon) in 0:53:39, followed by Alessandro Degasperi (Doloteam) in 0:54:12 and Manuel Cossu (Fuel Triathlon) in 0:54:36. In the women’s race, Sardinian triathlete Chiara Porta (Villacidro Triathlon) claimed first place in 1:02:35, ahead of Giorgia Pieraccini (Tri Team Sassari) in 1:06:35 and Maria Doloretta Lai (Tri Team Sassari) in 1:11:31. Adding even more excitement to the day was the presence of Bianca Seregni, fresh from her silver medal at the World Triathlon Championship Finals 2025 in Wollongong, Australia. Initially registered for the Middle Distance, she chose to race the Sprint, highlighting once again her special bond with the event. She also took part in the awards ceremony for the women’s podium, adding prestige and emotion to a memorable day.
The Duathlon Kids event, held on Saturday afternoon, was another highlight, bringing together 80 young athletes aged 6 to 15. After gathering in Piazzetta Enzo with Fabio Aru, they took on running segments on the grass football field and a bike course on the go-kart track, with extra off-road sections for the older categories.
Strong community participation also marked “A Walk for Colours”, the solidarity walk held on sunday morning. Many participants joined the initiative, while others contributed through donations supporting the local non profit association IVI and artist Sally Gallotti, who are leading the art and humanization project at the Microcitemico Hospital of Cagliari, the main pediatric reference center in Sardinia.. The initiative helped raise €3,270, once again confirming the strong bond between sport and community that defines Challenge Forte Village Sardinia and Forte Village.
Special thanks go to Challenge Family, Ajoha Sardinia, Forte Village Resort, and all the sponsors: CRAI, Toscano Forme, Tecnit, Arborea, Under Armour, Enervit, Akron, Sibilla, Heineken 0.0, Ferrari Trento, Waterdrop, Callipo, Pompadour, Promoideas, SafariSardegna, Fattorie Gennargentu, Villa d’Orri, Terrantiga Apicoltori Sardi, Gramm, Sendas DOC Gioie di Sardegna, Anna P Dolcissima Sardegna, and DMT. A heartfelt thank you also goes to FITRI – Federazione Italiana Triathlon, the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, the Municipalities of Cagliari, Pula, Teulada, Sant’Anna Arresi and Domus de Maria, as well as the Police Forces, 118 Emergency Service, and the Coast Guard for their invaluable operational support. Crucial, too, was the dedication of around 300 volunteers from across Southern Sardinia, whose enthusiasm and commitment ensured the flawless success of the event.
The next date for this great celebration of sport is already set for October 24 and 25, 2026, when Forte Village will once again welcome athletes, enthusiasts, and families for two new days of sport, fun, and celebrations.
