The empty island

Follow Cyclist ’s Sardinian ride

To download this route go to cyclist.co.uk/58sardinia. By all means start in Cala Gonone itself, although if you can get a lift up to the top of the first climb – which is one of the busiest stretches of road on the island and not particularly scenic – it will save you a good chunk of time.

At the top, follow the main coast road, the SS125, in the direction of Núoro. After 5km take a left turn for Oliena. Continue through Oliena until you come to a left turn signposted for Orgosolo and the SP22. Once through Orgosolo, leave the SP22, bearing left uphill on the SP48. After approximately 6km, look out for an unmarked right turn (easily missed in this thickly wooded area). Take this turning and follow downhill. After passing under a flyover, turn left. After 8km look out for a left turn signposted for Lanusei. Follow over the pass and downhill until you arrive at a riverbed. There is a barrier across the road (most traffic uses the new main road on the flyover above you to your right) but plenty of room for cyclists. Continue from here for 3km and then take a left turn (uphill) signposted for Talána. After a 10km climb, you will reach the mountain pass. From here, it’s all downhill to Talána. After Talána look out for a left turn signposted ‘Campo Deportivo’ (easily missed). Take this road, which goes uphill for a short distance before continuing downhill to Urzulei. After Urzulei, the road starts climbing again. Keep on it until you join the main coastal road, the SS125, and turn left. This road climbs for 8km before offering a final, downhill stretch all the way back to the turn off for the road you climbed up from Cala Gonone.