Elbaman73 (Elba Island half)
Marina di Campo, Elba, Italy · September · Independent (Elbaman)
Why people love it
- Swim in the sheltered bay at Marina di Campo
- Coastal cliff bike with views over the Tuscan Archipelago
- Beachfront run loops with locals cheering
- All 400 places sold out in 2013
Watch out for
- Hilly, technical island bike; the full has 2,400 to 3,000 m (7,900 to 9,800 ft) of climbing
- Hot run with little shade in some years
- The 2017 full was cancelled after the swim because of storms
- Half bike is 90 km (56 mi) or 94 km (58 mi) depending on source
- No first-person half-distance report found; island travel needs a ferry or small airport
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.9
Sold out 400 places in 2013 and travel press praises it, but sources are promotional and no first-person half report was found. · Low confidence
- OrganizationAdequate3.4
Long-running independent event that sells out, but the full race was cancelled after the swim in 2017 because of storms. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.6
Hilly, technical island bike and a hot run; better suited to athletes with some half experience. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.5
The island bike is hilly, with likely 1,000 m (3,300 ft) or more of climbing, and the run can be hot with little shade. · Low confidence
- Course easeVery tough2.2
Hilly bike and a potentially hot run; the full is the tougher race. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually3.8
Late-September sea is about 22 to 24 °C (72 to 75 °F), below the usual limit; wetsuit rules were not found. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable4.4
Late-September sea is about 22 to 24 °C (72 to 75 °F); no race-day reading was recorded. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.8
A sheltered bay, called extremely calm in 2015, though 2013 was choppy and storms stopped the 2017 full. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.0
Sheltered bay at Marina di Campo with a simple lap layout. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.2
Clear Mediterranean bay setting and a calm swim in good years. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.3
No surface reports were found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.4
Closures are not documented, though the event is long established on the island. · Low confidence
- Bike scenerySpectacular4.5
Magazine pieces describe sweeping coastal views along seaside cliffs; the sources are promotional. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind2.9
Coastal wind was noted in 2015; no other wind data found. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedSlow2.4
Hilly west-island loop with climbs and technical sections; coastal wind and heat were noted in 2015. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessHilly2.1
The 60 km (37 mi) loop has three serious climbs; a 90 km (56 mi) half likely exceeds 1,250 m (4,100 ft). Not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts2.5
Organisers call the bike hard and technical, with cliff-top coastal descents. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong4.0
Beachfront run loops with locals cheering; one travel piece compares the atmosphere to Roth, which is generous for a 400-athlete field. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.4
Aid detail was not documented. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.2
Seafront loops through Marina di Campo. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsModerate2.7
Hot run with little shade in 2015. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.2
Flat beachfront loops of about 7 km (4.3 mi). · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.3
Late-September highs are typically 20 to 28 °C (68 to 82 °F), and 2015 was hot. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.8
The 2017 full was cancelled after the swim for storms and 2013 had a choppy swim. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyStunning4.5
Elba coastline and the bay at Marina di Campo. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.9
Swim in the bay and beachfront run are easy to watch; the bike is spread around the island. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.0
The race sold out in 2013 and it is a shoulder-season resort; no hotel data found. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
Late September is after the Italian summer peak; no price data found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.9
Beachfront run and bay swim at Marina di Campo, with many hotels close by. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.5
Ferry from Piombino or the small seasonal Marina di Campo airport; Pisa is about 130 km (81 mi) plus ferry. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.8
Start, transition and finish are all in Marina di Campo. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.2
Italian island resort town with restaurants and a beach. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Marina di Campo, Elba, Tuscany, Italy
- Typical month
- September
- Organiser
- Independent (Elbaman)
- Field size
- About 400 athletes
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Bay of Marina di Campo (sea)
- Water temperature
- 22–24 °C (72–75 °F)
- Swim start
- mass
- Swim laps
- 1
- Run laps
- 3
- Run shade
- Little shade in 2015 heat
- Air temperature
- 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
- Altitude
- 5 m (16 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Marina di Campo (LCV, seasonal) / Pisa (PSA), 3 km (2 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Marina di Campo
- Booking
- Ferry from Piombino; shoulder-season tourist town.
What racers and reviewers say
- Elbaman official siteRaced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
Shows the 20th edition on 28 September 2025 with Elbaman 73 listed as 1.9 / 90 / 21.1 km (13.1 mi), plus aquathlon and kids races. No elevation, cutoffs or field size.
- Finishers: Elbaman listingRaced 2027 · aggregator · Positive
Lists the next edition for end of September 2027 in Marina di Campo with Triathlon L at 1.9 km (1.2 mi) / 90 km (55.9 mi) / 21.1 km (13.1 mi), full at 3.8 / 180 / 42.2. No reviews.
- Active.com: best long-distance triathlons you've never heard ofarticle · Positive
Calls the swim in the bay extremely calm, the bike a coastal ride past seaside cliffs, and the run a multi-loop out-and-back with locals cheering all day. Says it has the excitement of Challenge Roth or Kona.
“extremely calm swim in the bay”
- Evesham Observer: Worcester athletes at Elbaman 2015Raced 2015 · article · Mixed
Race account of full-distance and half athletes: swim calmer than 2013's chop, bike with high temperatures and coastal wind, hot run with little shade. Half ran same day and course; organisers described as sold out.
- Endurance.biz: Elbaman 2013 sold outRaced 2013 · article · Positive
News piece: organising committee sold all 400 places four months ahead of race day in 2013.
Show 2 more
- 220 Triathlon / Tri247: Elbaman 2017 cancelled, 2018 returnRaced 2017 · article · Mixed
Search summaries report the 2017 race was cancelled after the swim because of storms and returned in 2018. Pages themselves were not retrievable (HTTP 403).
- Serpentine RC / athlete race report summary (2016)Raced 2016 · blog · Positive
Search summary of a 2016 finisher report: two swim laps in the bay, three 60 km (37 mi) bike loops with three serious climbs per loop and about 2,500 m (8,200 ft) ascent in the full, run of six 7 km (4.3 mi) beachfront loops. Page itself unretrievable (HTTP 410).
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
Training for Elbaman73 (Elba Island half)? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.