Pierre Dupuy and Nikki Bartlett won Challenge Forte Village Sardinia on Sunday 25 October. The Frenchman led from the swim and finished in 3:37:56, while the British athlete completed her comeback on the run to win in 4:09:50.
Sardinia produced two different routes to victory. Dupuy built his advantage from the opening discipline and protected it to the finish; Bartlett worked her way forward before taking control on the run. Joran Driesen and Daniela Kleiser finished second.
Dupuy sets the pace from the swim
Dupuy left the water first in 22:31, around a minute clear of a 16-strong chasing group, according to Challenge Family’s race report. It was the first decisive move on a course comprising a 1.9-kilometre swim, 90 kilometres of cycling and a 21-kilometre run.
The Frenchman remained in control on the bike. Germany’s Ruben Zepuntke tried to close the gap during the opening half, but Dupuy recorded a 2:03:31 split and reached the final discipline roughly four minutes ahead, the organiser reported.
The gap narrowed on the run without changing the winner. Dupuy finished 1:51 ahead of Belgium’s Joran Driesen, who clocked 3:39:47. Germany’s Tom Hug completed the podium in 3:40:14.
Challenge Family describes the result as Dupuy’s third victory in October, following his recent success at Challenge Vieux Boucau. Speaking to the organiser, he explained that he had committed fully on the bike, controlled the opening run lap and then pushed to the finish.
Bartlett completes her comeback on the run
The women’s race began with Ellie White leading the swim in 25:43 alongside Italy’s Ilaria Zane, Denise Cavallini and Lilli Gelmini. Justine Guérard then took the initiative on the bike, building a gap over her rivals.
Bartlett moved closer to the front during the 90-kilometre ride and changed the race on the first of the two run laps, when she took the lead. She finished in 4:09:50. Daniela Kleiser, whose strong run was highlighted in the press release, placed second in 4:11:33, 1:43 behind the winner.
Guérard completed the women’s podium in 4:16:32. The organiser describes Bartlett’s victory as her third of the year. At the finish, the British athlete praised the scenery and the experience of racing on this type of course.
A Mediterranean finish and a 2027 date announced
The bike course passed through Santa Margherita di Pula, Domus de Maria, Teulada and Sant’Anna Arresi. The run followed the coast towards Cala d’Ostia beach before finishing in Forte Village’s new piazza. Age-group athletes raced over the same distances as the professionals.
The organiser has announced that Challenge Forte Village Sardinia will return on 23–24 October 2027. Those dates cover the event weekend; the release does not yet set out the individual race schedule for that edition.
Professional podiums
Men
| Pos. | Athlete | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pierre Dupuy | FRA | 3:37:56 |
| 2 | Joran Driesen | BEL | 3:39:47 |
| 3 | Tom Hug | GER | 3:40:14 |
Women
| Pos. | Athlete | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nikki Bartlett | GBR | 4:09:50 |
| 2 | Daniela Kleiser | GER | 4:11:33 |
| 3 | Justine Guérard | FRA | 4:16:32 |
Podiums and times reported by Challenge Family.
Sources and interviews
- Challenge Family: official race report
- TDS: event results
- Challenge Forte Village: event website
- Pierre Dupuy · Nikki Bartlett
Image: original TriSpain infographic using Challenge Family data. The illustrative silhouette does not depict a participant in this race.