Challenge Forte Village Sardinia will feature over 50 pro athletes from 12 nations on the starting line this weekend. The race takes place this Sunday, 25 October, at Forte Village Resort in Santa Margherita di Pula, southern Sardinia.

In the men’s field, Lasse Nygaard Priester (GER) returns as the 2025 winner. Tom Hug (GER) is also on the start list. He won Challenge Peguera-Mallorca 2024, where he set the run course record, and added a podium finish at Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee 2026. Also joining are Joshua Lewis (GBR), who took a podium finish at Challenge Almere-Amsterdam 2024, and Ruben Zepuntke (GER), who finished fourth at Challenge Barcelona 2025. Gábor Faldum (HUN), Florent Lefebvre (FRA), Joran Driesen (BEL), Andrea Figini (ITA) and many more will also be on the start line.

In the women’s field, Sara Sandrini (ITA) returns as the 2025 winner and the athlete to watch. She added podium finishes at Challenge Cesenatico 2026 and Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee 2026. She will be accompanied by strong contenders: Justine Guerard (FRA), who won Challenge Sanremo 2025 and took a podium finish at Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee 2026; Gabriella Zelinka (HUN), who won Challenge Cesenatico 2025 and added a podium finish at Challenge Sanremo 2025; and Nikki Bartlett (GBR), who finished on the podium at Challenge Mogán-Gran Canaria 2026. Lilli Gelmini (ITA), Denise Cavallini (ITA) and Margaréta Bičanová (SVK) will also be among the athletes to watch.

The middle-distance race covers a 1.9 km swim, a 90 km bike and a 21.1 km run. The swim is one lap off the Forte Village Resort beach. The bike is one lap on roads closed to traffic through Pula, Domus de Maria, Teulada and Sant’Anna Arresi, with 1,075 m of elevation gain, a 7 km descent and a coastal section. The run covers two laps along the coast, passes Cala d’Ostia beach and finishes in the resort grounds.

Live timing will be available at www.challenge-family.live. For more information, visit www.challenge-fortevillage.com.