Oualid Abdelkader and Benedetta Ferri are the winners of the 11th Cagliari Urban Trail Run, a 10 km competitive nighttime race held through the neighborhoods of the city of Cagliari on Saturday, September 13th. The Moroccan-born athlete picked his four-of-a-kind in Cagliari after the victories in 2018, 2019 and 2022. The men´s podium mirrors exactly the one captured three years ago: 1 minute and 15 seconds behind, Maurizio Cocco finished second overall, while Pierfrancesco Aru came in third, having reached second place in 2024. The runner-up spot among Women went to Federica Frongia, who finished third last year, while Enrica Pintor, the outgoing champion and bronze medalist in 2023, also made it to the podium. 480 athletes took in the Race, about 700 in the Walk.
“I really didn’t expect it,” says 43-year-old Oualid Abdelkader. “Lately I’ve been training for triathlon and going through an intense workload. I just wanted to return to racing after a three-month break. In this kind of race, there’s always an element of uncertainty”. But Abdelkader quickly realized a third victory was within reach: “I found myself in the lead early on and set a strong pace uphill,” he continues. “Gradually, my advantage grew, and I managed to hold onto it. I just tried not to take a wrong turn, since that’s happened to me before. But the organization was flawless in that regard as well". Winning the Urban Trail is Always something special for pastry-chef Oualid : “For me, Cagliari is a paradise, and taking part in this race is always a source of pride”.
It was a battle of familiar faces in the women’s race as well. Over the challenging course — marked by steep climbs and over 800 steps — the reigning champion Enrica Pintor was ultimately forced to surrender her crown, though not her trademark smile.
Stronger on the day were Federica Frongia and, above all, Benedetta Ferri, who redeemed her second-place finish from 2019, when she was edged out by just four seconds by Ariana Perdisci. The pharmacist from Pisa, born in 1990 and now an adopted "Cagliaritana", once againexperienced the event as a celebration. "More than a competition, for me these events are reunions with friends — hours of funfilled with laughter, huge smiles, and warmhugs," sheexplained.
She was among the most anticipated participants, though not feeling ather best: she’spreparing for a mission to Angola with Medici per l´Africa (Doctors for Africa) association."The vaccines left me feeling weak and very tired, but I still wanted to take part — even with an early morning flight from Pisa and a pharmacy shift later in the afternoon," Benedetta shared.
After six kilometers of pursuit, Ferri caught up with Frongia on the staircase above Piazza Yenne, near the Santa Caterina market."But instinctively, I felt like encouraging her to stay with me and not give up. It would have been nice to cross the finish line together — I felt bad overtaking her in the second half of the race when she was keeping a strong pace".
Ferri alsohadkind words for the crowd and the organizers: "I didn’t expect such a big turnoutalong the route — it was really motivating, wonderful! I want to thank the organizers for doing such a great job, and for the generous and diverse race pack, which really stood out from many others."
Organized by GLEsport, the Urban Trail originated in Lisbon and has gained popularity across Europe. The Cagliari edition is Italy’s only official Urban Trail event, held under the auspices of UISP Cagliari APS and with the support and sponsorship of the Municipality of Cagliari.
The Cagliari Urban Trail is more than just a race – it´s a celebration of sport, culture, and tourism, open to all ages and competitive levels. Whether seasoned runner or outdoor enthusiast, participants can challenge themselves along a scenic urban course and enjoy an evening of fun and socializing.
“My heartfelt thanks go to all the athletes, the staff, and the volunteers along the course, led by Priamo Casula,” said Gian Domenico Nieddu, head of the organizing committee. “They are what make this event truly unique and special. Thanks also to the citizens of Cagliari for their patience in the face of a few minor inconveniences, which we aim to reduce more and more in the coming years. And a sincere thank to the Cagliari city administration for its support, and to the Municipal Police force for their impeccable work.”
This year, once again, the Urban Trail serves as a platform for the campaign “A City Without Barriers,” promoting accessibility and the elimination of architectural obstacles in Cagliari. Among the participants there was a delegation of paralympic athletes from RunChallenge, led by Gabi Oliveira.
TOP 5 MEN - RACE
1) Oualid Abdelkader (Cagliari Marathon Club) in 39:04
2) Maurizio Cocco (Cagliari Atletica Leggera) + 1:15
3) Pierfancesco Aru (idem) + 1:27
4) Riccardo Pilloni (Gpd Assemini) + 1:57
5) Marcos Lamas (Runcard) + 2:01
TOP 5 WOMEN - RACE
1) Benedetta Ferri (Cagliari Atletica Leggera) in 47:02
2) Federica Frongia (idem) + 14
3) Enrica Pintor (Isolarun) + 2:23
4) Jessica Corona (Pol. Libertas Campidano) + 3:48
5) Laura Gulleri (Gp Atletica Molinella) + 3:53
