The Giro Sardegna Gravel is part of the existing Giro Sardegna road racing week with daily events on the island of Sardinia. The gravel event will be added for the second time on Friday April 25.
Course
The start and finish of the course will relocate to the cosy small beach town of Santa Lucida di Siniscola with a new start and finish loop. The local lap as used during the first edition will remain the same with some small adjustments.
After the start in Siniscola, riders quickly enter a 3.5km gravel section on the beach, followed by a 3.1km paved section around the protected dunes of Capo Comino to go back on gravel to enter the local lap after 17.7km. The local lap counts 36km and needs to be done twice for elites and younger age groups totalling 122km. Men 60+ and women 50+ do one lap for a total distance of 72km.
The return section towards the finish line is slightly different than the course used during the start but follows mainly the same route with a last kilometer making a lap around Santa Lucia before reaching the finish line.
Profile
The start and finish sections are flat along the beach. The local lap has a lot of elevation going from sea level towards a maximum height of 225m which needs to be done twice for most categories.
Total elevation for the two laps is 1183m while the riders doing one lap have 626m of elevation.
GIRO SARDEGNA
GiroSardegna is an event crafted for both racing enthusiasts and those seeking an enjoyable cycling experience amidst nature. The prerequisites for this event include the breathtaking beauty of specific locations at a particular time of the year, such as the vibrant colors and scents of spring in Sardinia. The chosen hotels are of high quality, and a unique camaraderie is fostered among participants. With convenient schedules, impeccable roads, and picturesque natural surroundings, the Giro has become an unparalleled global event, characterized by the right philosophy and well-executed organization.
This stage race follows the model of iconic cycling events like the Giro d’Italia or Tour de France, with a notable difference – at the end of the week, every participant feels victorious. The key to the Giro’s success lies in the personal connection riders establish with their opponents from the first stage, making them the focus of competition throughout the week. Even those finishing an hour behind the leaders meticulously study the rankings.
The race offers two routes: the Blue Route for MedioGiro participants, featuring stages of medium difficulty and distance, and the Red Route for GranGiro participants, comprising longer stages with additional climbs. Participants exhibit varying skill levels, with cycling averages ranging from 40 to 20 hours.
Race departures maintain an ancient tradition, with two grids for all cyclists (men and women) and two starts for the five road stages. In the time trial, starts are in reverse order to the general classification. A notable addition in 2024 is the Gravel race in the fifth stage, encompassing a mountainous section and a marine part through Berchida Beach and the Bidderosa Natural Oasis.
The GiroSardegna attracts over 500 athletes annually, with 70% being Italians and 30% representing other European and global nations. In 2024, all GiroSardegna participants will join the UCI Gravel World Series, providing an opportunity for a cycling week in Sardinia and a chance to qualify for the Gravel World Championship.
Discover your perfect stay in Sardinia at Marina Beach Resort in Sardinia
If you are planning a trip to the beautiful island of Sardinia and are looking for the perfect accommodation to complete your experience, look no further than https://www.itimarina.it/destinazioni-sardegna/#Golfo-di-orosei . The hotel hosts the event and all registrations and race formalities take place there… We have reserved 330 rooms in the hotel so please mail us at girosardegna@gmail.com in Italian, English or French.