COMMUNITY
SHARDANA DIARY
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Every journey leaves behind more than kilometers.
The SHARDANA Diary is a collection of stories, memories and experiences shared by the people who have explored Sardinia through SHARDANA. From unexpected encounters to unforgettable landscapes, these are the moments that make every adventure unique.
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One island. Countless stories.
AJÒ SHARDANA THEN!
When a friend suggested that I join SHARDANA, I said yes without hesitation. Five days of cycling across Sardinia, 580 kilometers and 7,500 meters of climbing sounded like an adventure I simply couldn't miss.
As the start date approached, however, doubts began to creep in. I wondered whether I would be strong enough, whether I had the fitness and determination needed to complete such a challenge. The kind of questions that often accompany every great journey before it begins.
Then the day of departure arrived, and everything changed.
The roads, the landscapes, the atmosphere and the people I met along the way quickly transformed every uncertainty into excitement. Of course, there were difficult moments. Long climbs, intense heat and endless hours in the saddle tested both body and mind. Yet it was often during those challenging moments that the experience became most meaningful.
Each day brought something new. Places I had never seen before, breathtaking views, unexpected encounters and memories that will stay with me forever. SHARDANA was no longer just a route to complete, but a journey to truly experience.
One of my strongest memories is arriving in Villacidro. In that moment, all the fatigue seemed to disappear, replaced by a feeling of happiness that is difficult to describe. It was the realization that I was part of something special, sharing an authentic adventure with people who had been complete strangers only a few days earlier.
What I brought home was far more than kilometers. I carried back emotions, friendships and the feeling of having discovered a deeper, more authentic side of Sardinia.
SHARDANA was much more than a bikepacking event.
It was an experience I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Alfeo, Italy, SHARDANA 2026
THE LAND THAT STEALS YOUR HEART
Forget the bicycle. Forget the training. Forget even what you're wearing.
In the end, you will become nothing more than moving shadows, souls crossing a wild and seductive land, a place ready to enchant you first and then steal your heart forever.
SHARDANA is the Cupid of wanderers: it does not shoot arrows, but emotions. And when it strikes, you fall in love forever
Mirco, Italy, SHARDANA 2026
THE GRAVEL THAT ENRICHED MY SOUL
It is difficult to explain SHARDANA with words.
Everything flows so quickly: scents, colors, emotions, sensations. Every handful of kilometers changes your perception, as if you were suddenly transported into a different world. And that is what makes this adventure so exciting to ride.
This is much more than a route. It is a journey that has been carefully designed to introduce riders to gravel cycling while allowing them to experience Sardinia the way you experience it yourselves: from the saddle of a bicycle.
As far as I am concerned, you have done an incredible job. I have never ridden a route as beautiful as this one. Honestly, I have no suggestions on how to improve something so unique. I trust your instinct completely. If changes are ever needed, I am sure you will create something equally extraordinary for future editions.
What I experienced while riding your route was a whirlwind of emotions. You enriched my soul.
I will never forget it, and I will return to ride with you and among your beautiful landscapes again.
Thank you so much.
Emanuel, Italy, SHARDANA 2025
SHARDANA ISN'T RIDDEN. IT'S LIVED.
The Miners' Trail, part of the Santa Barbara Way, will remain forever etched in my heart. As I told you in person, everything was beautiful, but that road left me speechless.
Whenever someone asks me about SHARDANA, before launching into a long story, I always say the same thing:
"An incredible experience, a beautiful Sardinia, amazing routes, but above all, extraordinary people."
As I scroll through the 328 photos from the journey, vivid memories come flooding back. I remember the conversations shared with each person I met along the way. They made me feel at home, welcomed and cared for, offering advice not only on what to bring, but especially on what not to bring.
I would like to thank everyone, starting with Cristina and Massimiliano, then Cinzia, Fabio, Mirko, the two Elisas, Gaetano, Andrea, Giuseppe, Roberto, Francesca, Davide (the local), Elena and Samuele, as well as at least four other wonderful people whose faces I remember perfectly, even if their names have escaped me.
So when people ask me about SHARDANA, I always add one more thing:
"At least once in your life, you should experience it."
Because SHARDANA is not something you simply ride.
It is something you live.
And that's coming from someone who spent more than five of the eight days riding alone.
Diego, Italy, SHARDANA 2026
COMING SOON
