Year 2026, the return of the Giro di Sardegna is being celebrated. The Sardegna star shines again thanks to the determined will of Professional Cycling League and Emilia Sports Group (technical organization) supported by the island's authorities. In the glorious roll of honor of the Giro di Sardegna there is also Daniele Bennati, from Castiglion Fiorentino (Arezzo), first place finisher in the 2009 edition. That Giro di Sardegna took place from February 24 to 28, in 5 stages, and the then 28-year-old Bennati was captain of the Liquigas team. In the team, the fast paced rider "Benna" had Roberto Amadio as his manager, current coach of the Italian national professional road cycling team.

"I have a wonderful memory of that Giro di Sardegna – says Daniele Bennati, winner in his career of stages at the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, Vuelta a España, among many others – for the beauty of the roads and landscapes. In many cases we riders don't have the opportunity to appreciate what surrounds us. In that Giro di Sardegna the scenic aspect played a significant role".

Bennati proved to be a resistant sprinter in stage races: "Indeed, in the 2009 Giro di Sardegna the scene was dominated by fast paced riders like me, Gatto and Petacchi, yet the elevation profiles were not simple".

Alessandro Ballan also participated in the 2009 "Sardegna" wearing the World Champion jersey conquered 5 months earlier in Varese. Ballan was riding for Lampre. The Giro di Sardegna started with the Olbia stage (184 km) in which Treviso native Mirko Lorenzetto won. "He was a rider who flew at the beginning of the season," Bennati assures. Lorenzetto was also very good at winning on the 2nd day in Porto Torres-San Leonardo de Siete Fuentes (164 km).

In the third stage from Oristano to Tortolì (173 km) the situation changed: the other Treviso native Oscar Gatto of ISD-Neri claimed it and jumped to the lead of the general classification. "It had been the altimetrically most demanding stage – Bennati points out – and besides making mistakes with my sprint timing I didn't have my best legs since numerous climbing sections had taken their toll. Despite being the toughest stage, about 30 of us arrived to contest the victory in the sprint".

By virtue of his stage win Gatto gained the leader's jersey with 4" over Bennati. Treviso native Ballan was 3rd tied on time with Bennati. February 27 was the perfect day for Daniele: victory in the Arbatax-Cagliari stage (147.500 km) and conquest of the overall lead. In the crowded sprint the Tuscan rider overcame Lorenzetto's ambitions and 3rd place went to Ukrainian Yuri Metlushenko, someone who wasn't afraid to throw himself into the mix. Bennati put on the symbol of the overall lead with 6" over the relentless Gatto, 10" back was Ballan. "It wasn't enough, I wasn't sure of the final victory – "Benna" continues – so I concentrated a lot on the final stage from Carbonia to Cagliari".

Alessandro Petacchi (LPR) won it in a sprint and at the end of the 144 kilometers Bennati secured the time bonus with 2nd place. Third on the stage was Romagnolo Manuel Belletti from Sant'Angelo di Gatteo a Mare. "That 2nd place obtained behind a sprint prince like Petacchi became like a liberation for me," reveals Daniele who triumphed in the general classification with 14" over Gatto, 3rd the world champion Ballan at 16". And "Benna" also conquered the points classification jersey. "The 2009 Sardegna was the first stage race I won as a professional". His other success in a stage race came at the 2016 Giro della Toscana. That was the last victory of his career for the athlete from Castiglion Fiorentino, later Italian national coach.

The new Giro di Sardegna (February 25-March 1, 2026) will pass through various locations that characterized the 2009 edition. "It's a return that does good for cycling," guarantees the first place finisher of 2009. "I wish the best to riders, organizers, and sponsors of the event".