Tag Archives: ITRA

Photos Of The New Route

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In December and at the beginning of the year we have often been on the new paths that will characterize the 2020 edition of the Marganai Trail.

The first kilometers after the start and the last ones before the arrival are characterized by the sea, the real novelty of this edition. The sea in any weather reveals its beauty and charm.But as we move away from the sea and the influence of the saltiness, the low vegetation is replaced by the forest. Holm oaks, oak and strawberry trees embrace the paths.

This gallery is used to get an idea of what awaits you in Buggerru and in this corner of Sardinia.

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ITRA Certification and UTMB Qualifying Race 2019

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Also this year we obtained the certification of our routes from ITRA (International Trail Running Association), the international association that collects the organizers of Trail Running competitions.

It is a necessary step for two reasons: the first because it guarantees the quality of the tracks that are submitted and their qualification; athletes who need to register for competitions that require previous participation in qualifying competitions may use ours, provided they have arrived and have been included in the ranking among the finishers.

The second reason why ITRA certification allows you to request the organization of UTMB (Ultra Trail of Mont Blanc) to be included in their own competitions used as qualifiers.

As with previous editions, our request has been accepted so we can proudly display the “UTMB Course Qualifications 2019” stamp.

If there was any doubt, now you just have to sign up!

A Wall Of Beautiful Photos

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After three editions our album of memories is full of beautiful images.

Images of concentrated and often smiling athletes who give us the energy to organize a new edition, the 2019 edition!

 

Only on our trails: the San Giovanni Cave

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Lucky you, athletes: in the first part of the race, you cross the Cave of San Giovanni, a very few km from the starting line…in this way you can get immediately an idea of the natural beauty of this corner of southwest Sardinia. Located in the territory of Domusnovas, nearby Iglesias, the natural cave is a fine example of a karst phenomenon generated by the flow of an underground river and is excavated in the oldest limestone rocks of the island, dated millions of years. The cave was already used in ancient times, as evidenced by the last remains of a megalithic wall, that probably closed the southern entrance during the pre-nuraghic age.

Its uniqueness is due to the presence within its tortuous and sinuous tunnel, of a paved road that extends for all its length of 850 m, making it the longest road-crossed natural cavity in the world! Only two other similar caves exist on the entire planet: one in France (the Grotte du Mas-d’Azil, in the Pyrenees) and one in Australia (in the Grand Arch of the Jenolan Caves, in Oberon).

The road was created in the 19th century in order to facilitate the transport of material from the nearby Sa Duchessa mine. Today it is no longer suitable for vehicles, since it was recognized as a natural monument and subject to restrictions.

Currently the road is used by visitors to admire the beauty of the cave, in which flows a stream, originating from the Oridda valley. Stalactites and stalagmites decorate it remarkably. Large calcareous basins overlapping each other form real rock falls.
Both the North and the South entrances are well-known among the climbers, who chose these walls all year round as an challenging training option!

 

 

 

 

Good to know:
– entering from the south side on the left opens a cavity called “Su stampu de Pireddu” (Pireddu’s cavity), which is the most interesting active branch, consisting of a series of galleries and narrow tunnels for a total development of 2 km, characterized by the presence of underground lakes. The name is due to an ancient bandit (Pireddu is a Sardinian family name) who, it seems, found shelter there.

– The name of the cave of San Giovanni derives from a cavity in the interior used in the past as a rock chapel dedicated to Saint John and demolished when the construction of the road began. Thus the small church of San Giovanni was built in the immediate proximity of the south entrance.

For information:

Consorzio Natura Viva Sardegna: 0039.3480553309; Email: consorzionaturaviva@gmail.com

Many news for the edition 2019 Trail del Marganai

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Nuraghe Sa Dommu ‘e s’Orcu

The event is scheduled for March 10th, 2019 in Domusnovas, the heart of south-west Sardinia.

Many news for the 2019 edition of the Trail del Marganai.

First of all, the three distances for the competitive races are going to change: the 55 km replaces the 52 km, the 30 km replaces the 27 km and the 20 km replaces the 17 km.

The non-competitive 10 km route remains unchanged on the distance, but the itinerary could be different.

The reference point of the whole event remains “La Cartiera di Domusnovas”, run by the Consorzio Natura Viva, but the races will start from the ‘Nuraghe Sa Dommu’ and s’Orcu ‘, about 10 minutes from the Cartiera.

For the long race there part of the itineray changes before and after the refreshment stand of the abandoned mining village of Arenas. In addition there will be small changes crossing the abandoned facilities of Malacalzetta.

Finally, for all the races, the last descent changes, the one that from Punta San Michele leads to the arrival, and there will be a passing on the path that crosses the small rocky tunnel of ‘ Su passu ‘e su vagoni’.

The route for the Punic-Roman Temple of Antas will not change.

For the new intermediate race of 30 km, after the eighth kilometer, reached the mines of Sa Duchessa, you will abandon the dirt road to take an internal path, that in the last part turns into single track, to rejoin the path that leads to Punta Campu Spina, the highest point of all races.

The shorter competitive distance of 20 km shares with the other two races the departure from the ‘Nuraghe Sa Dommu’ e s’Orcu‘ and the new descent from Punta San Michele and the passage through ‘ Su passu ‘e su vagoni’.

As for the other editions, the gem of our trail remains the passage through the Cave of San Giovanni, a natural tunnel excavated from the water through the limestone rock of the mountain.

 

We are doing everything to confirm the trust you have placed in us the past editions, you just have to sign up.