30° GiroSardegna

Yes, we’ve reached the 30th year of the “GiroSardegna“: I started organizing it almost as a joke, and I can say, with a little rhetoric, that the thirtieth anniversary has arrived almost without me realizing it!

I must also recognize that, over the years, the event has grown in quality and participation, which is why I’m preparing a memorable 2026 edition, one that leaves its mark!

I chose to return for this occasion to where it all began way back in 1997: the southeast of the island with the Villasimius coastal road, the Rio Cannas Gorges, and the Muravera and Costa Rei area.

In truth, the first “Giro delle Coste della Sardegna” was an itinerant event, and only the first stage (the “GF del Parco dei 7 Fratelli”) started from the Setar Hotel in Quartu. But the years have passed, and it would be impossible to replicate that event now, because many things have changed: the Setar has closed; there are no longer 190km stages, and my hair is all white… but the routes we’ll ride in the race are always beautiful, and the atmosphere within the event is always amazing!

We’ll start with:

• “GiroSardegna-Classic”: this is our “classic” road event, scheduled for April 25th to 30th, which for many years has maintained the same structure of 6 stages with two routes (GranGiro and MedioGiro). You can register for these routes, and, as usual, every day: either the first three men and the first three women to the finish line are awarded prizes or the top finishers in the general classifications wear the Maglia Yellow (GranGiro) and Pink (MedioGiro)
• “GiroSardegna-Gravel”’: is the May 1st race. You can decide to participate ONLY in this race, confirmed in the UCI Gravel World Series, which selects athletes for the World Championship with rules and rankings dictated by the international regulations (Elites and Amateurs compete; all the UCI age categories are awarded).
• “GiroSardegna-Gold”: this is the super-event from 25 April to 1st May: it brings together Gravel and Classic, and those who choose it know that at the May 1st awards ceremony, the final Gold Jersey will be awarded to the first overall time in the seven stages, in all age category.

Great attention will be given to the “Tour”, and cyclists can choose between:

o “Muscular” – you set off in a group with the muscle bike to do short and relaxing routes

o “E-Bike” – the group of those who, with an assisted bike, want/can go further

… but, obviously, the “Tour“, maintaining its philosophy of pedaling in freedom without competing, DOES NOT consider these “diversities” as fences that divide, but as the possibility of “mixing”!

But the most significant changes for 2026 are:

1) Borrowing from the UCI Gravel rules, and given the significant increase in “age” athletes and female racers, the time has come to “separate” the starts; no longer separate starts only for the MedioGiro and GranGiro, but in 2026 the Classic starts will be as follows:

1. 8:45 AM Men 19-59 for the MedioGiro
2. 8:50 AM Men 60 and over for the MedioGiro
3. 8:55 AM Women registered for the MedioGiro
4. 9:00 AM Women registered for the GranGiro
5. 9:05 AM Men 60 and over for the GranGiro
6. 9:10 AM Men’s 19/59 of the GranGiro

2) But for the 30th anniversary, we want to share the occasion with as many Sardinian athletes as possible, which is why registration for the 2026 race (Classic, Gold, Tour, or Gravel) will be free for members of a Sardinian club who are resident in Sardinia.

In short, once again I repeat loudly that the GiroSardegna is an event not to be missed! 

The program will be online in early September: register soon if you want to be there!!

Tonino Scarpitti

President of Mare e Monti