EagleXman
Lake Campotosto to Campo Imperatore (Gran Sasso, finish area Fonte Cerreto awards), Italy · July · Independent (Flipper Triathlon / Sport For You)
Why people love it
- Sunrise swim in a clean mountain lake at about 1,200 m (3,940 ft).
- Finish on the Campo Imperatore plateau, about 2,200 m (7,200 ft) beneath the Gran Sasso, praised as emotional.
- Tiny, committed field of about 22 finishers in one edition.
- Also offers a 113 and an X-Olympic distance.
Watch out for
- Support person mandatory for the last 6 km (3.7 mi), plus a survival kit check.
- The final 6 km (3.7 mi) climbs about 1,000 m (3,300 ft).
- Cold start and mountain weather.
- About 4,344 m (14,250 ft) of bike climbing; the organiser quotes about 6,000 m (19,700 ft) overall.
- Review evidence is very thin: two firsthand accounts. Water temperature, run elevation and entry fee are not published.
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
Two firsthand accounts, both warm; one finisher calls it the most heartfelt finish line he has seen. Tiny field of about 22 finishers. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.6
A finisher reported nothing unexpected beyond awkward transitions. Formal permits and kit checks. Very small operation with little track record. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyExperts only1.0
Mandatory accompanied final 6 km (3.7 mi), survival kit, 24 h cutoff and about 22 finishers in an edition. Experienced mountain athletes only. · High confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialVery slow1.0
About 4,344 m (14,250 ft) of bike gain and a trail summit finish. Finishers took 15:43 to 18:05, so PRs are beside the point. · High confidence
- Course easeExtreme1.0
226 km (140 mi) with 4,300-6,000 m (14,100-19,700 ft) of climbing, ending with about 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in the last 6 km (3.7 mi). · High confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.8
A July dawn lake at 1,200 m (3,940 ft) is almost certainly under the 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) limit. A 2025 finisher wore a wetsuit. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.2
Temperature is unpublished. Estimated 16-20 °C (61-68 °F) for a high-altitude lake on a July dawn; a wetsuit was worn. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.2
Inland reservoir at dawn. No chop reports, though mountain lakes can get afternoon wind. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.8
Two-lap lake swim, a tiny field so little contact, and sunrise sighting. A cool start. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.3
Dawn two-lap swim in a clean mountain lake at about 1,200 m (3,940 ft). A 2025 finisher called the sunrise unforgettable. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.2
Public mountain roads through Castel del Monte, Ofena and Calascio. No surface reports. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly open2.3
Roads reportedly not fully closed (unconfirmed), with a small field spread over 180 km (112 mi). · Low confidence
- Bike scenerySpectacular4.6
Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, with hill towns Castel del Monte and Calascio. Finisher and press praise. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind3.2
Mountain exposure. No wind reports. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedVery slow1.3
4,344 m (14,250 ft) of gain in 180 km (112 mi) and a cold first 20 km (12 mi). A 3rd-place finisher rode 7:30. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessMountainous1.0
4,344 m (14,250 ft) of gain, well above the 2,500 m (8,200 ft) mark for a mountainous course. · High confidence
- Bike simplicityTechnical2.4
Mountain roads and descents, with a cold first 20 km (12 mi). Few reports. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportSparse1.8
Remote mountain run with about 22 finishers. The Campo Imperatore finish is described as very emotional, but crowds are small. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsThin2.4
Athletes are largely self-supported, with a mandatory support person from the final 6 km (3.7 mi). No aid-station data. · Low confidence
- Run scenerySpectacular4.8
Final climb to the Campo Imperatore plateau at about 2,200 m (7,200 ft) beneath the Gran Sasso. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsBrutal1.0
A finisher called the run the hardest part. A 3rd-place finisher ran a 7:12 marathon over trail, altitude and mandatory kit. · High confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessBig climbs1.0
About 600 m (1,970 ft) in the first 18 km (11 mi), then about 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in the last 6 km (3.7 mi). · High confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.6
Cold mountain start (a cape is needed for the first 20 km (12.4 mi) / 12 mi) and cool at altitude on the run. July highs unpublished. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.8
High mountain weather at 1,200-2,200 m (3,940-7,200 ft), a cold start and mandatory bad-weather kit. No cancellations found. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyStunning4.7
Lake Campotosto to Campo Imperatore inside a national park. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyTricky1.8
Point-to-point across about 226 km (140 mi) of remote terrain. Only crews can follow. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeHigh altitude1.4
Swim at about 1,200 m (3,940 ft) and finish at about 2,200 m (7,200 ft), with most of the run above 1,500 m (4,900 ft). · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.9
A tiny field of about 25 athletes should not strain L'Aquila and Campotosto lodging. No data found. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.7
Rural Abruzzo is generally inexpensive. No race-specific data. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityMostly driving1.8
Swim start at Campotosto and finish at Campo Imperatore are about 60 km (37 mi) apart, so transfers are needed. · Low confidence
- Travel easeAwkward2.4
Pescara or Rome Fiumicino airports are roughly 100-170 km (60-105 mi) away by road. Not confirmed by the organiser. · Low confidence
- LogisticsFiddly1.8
Point-to-point with a mandatory support person, gear checks and awkward transitions reported. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.6
Abruzzo hill-town food culture. No race-specific data. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Lake Campotosto to Campo Imperatore (Gran Sasso, finish area Fonte Cerreto awards), Abruzzo, Italy
- Typical month
- July
- Latest or next date
- 17 July 2027
- Organiser
- Independent (Flipper Triathlon / Sport For You)
- Field size
- About 25 athletes
- First held
- 2021
- Distances
- 3.8 km (2.4 mi) swim, 180 km (112 mi) bike, 42.2 km (26.2 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Swim 2:00, Bike 14:00 (cumulative), Finish 24:00
- Swim venue
- Lake Campotosto (about 1,200 m altitude), Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park (reservoir)
- Swim start
- mass (dawn start, about 5-6 am)
- Swim laps
- 2
- Bike climbing
- 4,344 m (14,250 ft)
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Castel del Monte; Calascio; Gran Sasso foothill roads
- Run laps
- 1
- Altitude
- 2,200 m (7,220 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Pescara (PSR) or Rome Fiumicino (FCO); not confirmed by organiser
- Where to stay
- L'Aquila, Fonte Cerreto, Campotosto
- Booking
- Point-to-point from lake to Gran Sasso; no athlete accommodation reviews found.
What racers and reviewers say
- SportsShoes.com (athlete interview)Raced 2025 · article · Positive
First-time finisher Tommaso Boffi (raced 19 July 2025) describes the sunrise lake swim as unforgettable, a cold first 20 km (12 mi) on the bike needing a cape, and the run as the hardest part with a climb of about 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in the last 6 km (3.7 mi). Nothing unexpected happened apart from awkward transitions. He calls the finish line the most heartfelt he has seen and says a coach/support person is essential.
“most powerful and heartfelt finish line I've ever seen”
- 220 Triathlon (launch preview)article · Positive
Preview of the inaugural 2021 event: two-lap swim at Campotosto (1,200 m (3,940 ft) / 3,940 ft altitude), 180 km (112 mi) bike past Castel del Monte, Ofena and Calascio with 4,344 m (14,250 ft) of gain, then a run ending at Campo Imperatore with the last 6 km (3.7 mi) accompanied. Cutoffs 2h swim, 14h bike, 24h total. Not a firsthand review; page was 403-blocked and read via search summary only.
- Reggionline (local news, finisher report)article · Positive
Local Italian news on Fabia Maramotti, third overall of 22 finishers (3 women, 19 men) in 15:43:55 with splits of 1:00 swim, 7:30 bike and 7:12 run. Race is staged around Fonte Cerreto in the L'Aquila province. Gives sizing of field and pace but no opinion on the course.
- MaltaCEOs (finisher news, 113 distance)Raced 2024 · article · Positive
Brief congratulation piece on a Malta executive finishing the shorter eagleXman 113 (1.9/90/21) in July 2024; calls the terrain breathtaking yet challenging. Confirms the 2024 edition ran. Short and not about the full distance.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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