Top International Triathletes Head to Sardinia for Challenge Forte Village 2025

October 21, 2025

Challenge Forte Village will return this weekend with top-level triathlon racing to southern Sardinia on 25–26 October 2025. A total of 41 professional athletes will line up to compete, promising an exciting weekend of racing. The event will feature both middle and sprint distance races and is one of the final stops on the 2025 Challenge Family European Racing Calendar.

October 21, 2025 /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Challenge Forte Village will return this weekend with top-level triathlon racing to southern Sardinia on 25–26 October 2025. A total of 41 professional athletes will line up to compete, promising an exciting weekend of racing. The event will feature both middle and sprint distance races and is one of the final stops on the 2025 Challenge Family European Racing Calendar.

The men’s professional field features a strong and diverse line-up. Will Draper (GBR) enters following an exceptional 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. James Teagle (GBR) continues his strong form after finishing third at Challenge Peguera-Mallorca last weekend, while Michele Sarzilla (ITA) arrives on home soil after finishing second at Challenge Sanremo and taking the win in Mallorca. Making his Challenge Family debut is Lasse Lührs (GER), an Olympian and short-course specialist racing middle distance for the first time. Joining them is Matt Kaminer (RSA), a young South African triathlete who has already gained valuable experience this season at Challenge Cesenatico and Challenge Mogán-Gran Canaria, marking him as one to watch for the future.

The women’s field also promises close racing. Nikita Paskiewiez (FRA), eighth at Challenge Vieux Boucau, will look to move further up the standings. Lilli Gelmini (ITA), fourth at Challenge Samarkand and a regular on the Challenge Family circuit, joins fellow Italian Sara Sandrini, who placed eighth at Challenge Sanremo. Margaréta Bičanová (SVK) returns after four Challenge Family races this season, while Bianca Seregni (ITA), an Olympian at Paris 2024 and silver medallist at the World Triathlon Championship Finals in Australia earlier this week, makes her middle-distance debut. Also joining is another Olympian, Nicole Van Der Kaay (NZL), after winning her first middle distance this year.

The Challenge Forte Village course combines technical racing with Sardinia’s distinctive coastal scenery. Athletes begin with a 1.9km swim in the clear waters off Forte Village Resort beach before a 90km single-lap bike leg on fully closed roads through Pula, Domus de Maria, Teulada, and Sant’Anna Arresi. The route features a 7km descent and a striking coastal section along one of the island’s most renowned roads. 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.

Challenge Forte Village remains one of the standout events of the Challenge Family season, combining high-level international competition with a welcoming atmosphere and a deep connection to its host region. Sardinia’s mild Mediterranean climate, varied terrain, and strong sporting infrastructure make it an ideal location for late-season competition. The island also offers athletes and supporters the opportunity to experience its history, culture, and coastal landscapes, underlining its appeal as a destination that combines sport and tourism

Challenge Forte Village takes place on Sunday, 26 October, with the professional start at 8:00 am local time. Live updates will be available at www.challenge-family.live, and further information can be found at www.challenge-fortevillage.com.