"In Sardinia, the figure of the Shardana represents the strong warrior who defends his land against invasions and remains a mythological figure for the Sardinians." The opening text on the website for the newly launched Shardana Bikeventure event, which is going to be held from the 4th to the 18th May 2025 gives some insight into where the name came from. But if you want to find out more about this event, you'll need to read the story....

Shardana Bikeventure is "the biggest unsupported bikepacking adventure in Sardinia." Participants will have a choice of two routes - 700 km (with 10,000m of climbing) or 900 km (with 15,000 of climbing). The organisers are promising "Picturesque beaches, vast landscapes, great people and, above all, good food." The event is described as an "unforgettable unsupported bikepacking adventure." Riders will set off from Olbia in the north-east of Sardinia on the 4th May. 

The organisers say that the event "has everything to make your bikepacking heart beat faster, and you will discover the most beautiful places in Sardinia from Olbia on lots of gravel. You will pass through small coastal towns, climb the Sardinian mountains and ride across the island's vast plains. You can expect varied terrain, perhaps the odd pushing passage and breathtaking views, and about halfway through the route you will have the opportunity to take a deep breath in Villacidro. There you will be able to decide whether you still have the legs to ride the 900km route or whether you want to skip a loop and ride 700km in total."

The route has been cleverly designed to allow participants to decide which distance they would prefer to tackle at the 300 km point in Villacidro. Riders will be provided with GPX files for both the Classic (900 km) and the Short (700 km) versions of the route before they start.

The organisers say this about the route "It is designed to be tackled with gravel bikes. The course is varied, including bike paths, dirt roads, secondary paved roads, and trails. However, Shardana Bikeventure can be tackled with any type of bicycle: MTB, cyclocross, enduro—so if you don’t have a gravel bike, that’s not a problem!"

Entry fees are €130 for women and €140 for men and numbers are restricted to minimise the impact of the event. You can find out more details and sign up here.

Images courtesy of Dan Zoubek