Elbaman

Marina di Campo, Italy · September · Independent

Elbaman: marina di campo bay and townPhoto is not from race dayIngo Mehling, CC BY-SA 4.0
Marina di Campo bay and town. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Why people love it

  • Long-running island full (since 2005) with a turquoise bay swim.
  • Bike with Corsica and Montecristo views.
  • Strong local crowd support, per a 2025 poster.
  • Compact single base: swim, transition and run all in Marina di Campo.

Watch out for

  • About 2,500 m (8,200 ft) of bike climbing, up to 3,000 m (9,800 ft) by some sources.
  • 2017 edition stopped after the swim in storms, with about 50 mm (2 in) of rain in ten minutes.
  • Ferry or small-airport travel.
  • Very few firsthand modern race reports found.
  • Not a PB course, according to organisers.

Race

3.5Good

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 satisfactionLoved4.1

    Few modern firsthand reports. A 2025 Slowtwitch poster calls it beautiful, demanding and a favourite, and 20 editions with repeated sell-outs back that up. · Low confidence

  • OrganizationAdequate3.4

    The 2017 swim and race were stopped for thunderstorms, a defensible safety call. Otherwise a 20-edition record with no complaints found. · Low confidence

  • First timer friendlyDemanding1.9

    About 2,500 m (8,200 ft) of climbing on a technical bike, but sea level, a warm sea and a flat run soften it. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • PR potentialSlow1.6

    2,400-3,000 m (7,900-9,800 ft) of climbing. Organisers say it is not a PB course, and the fastest bike is about 6 h. · Medium confidence

  • Course easeVery tough1.9

    About 2,500 m (8,200 ft) over 3 x 60 km (37 mi) technical loops, plus a warm run. Easier than Embrun or Norseman. · Medium confidence

Swim

4.2Very good

Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

  • Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.5

    Late-September sea is about 20-23 °C (68-73 °F) per an older preview, under the 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) limit. Wetsuit rule unconfirmed. · Low confidence

  • Water temperatureIdeal4.7

    Typical water is 20-23 °C (68-73 °F), against a comfortable range of 19-23 °C (66-73 °F). · Medium confidence

  • Calm waterSome chop3.4

    The bay is normally sheltered, but the 2017 swim was very choppy in a storm. · Low confidence

  • Swim easeModerate3.4

    Two bay laps with a beach exit and a beach start of about 800 athletes. No contact data. · Low confidence

  • Swim experienceGreat4.2

    Warm turquoise bay and golden sand per press, with two Australian-exit 1.9 km (1.2 mi) laps. No contact or visibility data. · Low confidence

Bike

3.8Very good

Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.

  • Road surfaceMixed3.0

    No source found. · Low confidence

  • Road closuresPartly closed3.4

    Not documented, though community support is noted. · Low confidence

  • Bike scenerySpectacular4.6

    Coastal cliffs with Corsica and Montecristo in view. Strong, though not alpine. · Medium confidence

  • WindSome wind2.9

    No direct source. The island coast is exposed, and wind was reported in 2021. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Bike speedSlow1.7

    About 2,500 m (8,200 ft) of gain with almost no flat. The best riders take around 6 h. · Medium confidence

  • Bike flatnessMountainous1.3

    2,400-3,000+ m (7,900-9,800+ ft) depending on source, which at the high end makes it mountainous. · Medium confidence

  • Bike simplicityTechnical2.2

    Described as hilly and technical by 220 Triathlon. · Low confidence

Run

3.8Very good

Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

  • Crowd supportStrong3.8

    A 2025 poster praised the local crowd. The run loops through the beachfront town. · Low confidence

  • Aid stationsGood3.7

    An older preview praised aid, including hot lemon tea. No modern athlete data. · Low confidence

  • Run sceneryBeautiful3.8

    Six loops of roughly 7 km (4.3 mi) along the Marina di Campo seafront. · Low confidence

  • Run conditionsModerate2.8

    Flat surface, but heat in the mid-to-upper 20s °C (low-to-mid 80s °F) after a hard bike and six repetitive laps. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Run flatnessFlat4.6

    Flat beachfront loops, six of about 7 km (4.3 mi). · Medium confidence

Conditions

4.1Very good

Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

  • Air temperaturePleasant4.1

    Typical race-day air is 18-27 °C (64-81 °F). The top end is warmer than the comfortable 18-25 °C (64-77 °F). · Medium confidence

  • Weather reliabilityVariable2.6

    Late-September Mediterranean: storms in 2017 with about 50 mm (2 in) of rain in ten minutes, and wind and rain in 2021. · Medium confidence

  • Venue beautyStunning4.6

    Island bay, turquoise water and Corsica views. · Medium confidence

  • Spectator friendlyEasy3.5

    Compact beachfront run loops, but the bike is 3 x 60 km (37 mi) across the west of the island. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Low altitudeSea level5.0

    Sea level. · High confidence

Stay and travel

3.7Very good

Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.

  • Hotel availabilityGood3.6

    Many seafront hotels and low late-season demand, but race weekend fills a small resort town. · Low confidence

  • Hotel valueNormal3.3

    Expedia ratings are 8 to 9 out of 10. No pricing data. · Low confidence

  • WalkabilityWalkable4.4

    Reviews describe 5-minute walks to the beach and main street, with swim, T1 and run in the same town. · Low confidence

  • Travel easeAwkward2.1

    Island travel: small Marina di Campo airport, or Pisa about 130 km (80 mi) away plus a Piombino ferry. · Medium confidence

  • LogisticsSimple4.2

    Single base at Marina di Campo, with swim, transition and run in the same town. · Low confidence

  • Town and foodGood4.1

    Resort town with Italian seafood and Elban wine. Limited direct data. · Low confidence

Key facts

Location
Marina di Campo, Elba, Tuscany, Italy
Typical month
September
Latest or next date
28 September 2025
Organiser
Independent
Field size
About 815 athletes
First held
2005
Distances
3.8 km (2.4 mi) swim, 180 km (112 mi) bike, 42.2 km (26.2 mi) run
Swim venue
Bay of Marina di Campo (ocean)
Water temperature
20–23 °C (68–73 °F)
Swim start
beach
Swim laps
2
Bike climbing
2,500 m (8,200 ft)
Bike laps
3
Key climbs
3 serious climbs per 60 km loop (per results-listing description)
Run laps
6
Air temperature
18–27 °C (64–81 °F)
Altitude
0 m (0 ft)
Nearest airport
Marina di Campo Airport (LIC, small) / Pisa (PSA) plus ferry from Piombino
Where to stay
Marina di Campo seafront / Lungomare Nomellini
Booking
Race historically sold out months ahead (Feb in 2016); island lodging in late Sept is plentiful but ferry crossing needed.

Official race website (elbaman.it)

What racers and reviewers say

  • Slowtwitch forumRaced 2024 · forum · Positive

    Poster discovered it while travelling from Nice to Elba after the world championships and raced on a milestone birthday. Called the course beautiful and demanding, praised the local crowd, and ranks it among favourite triathlon experiences.

  • Tri247Raced 2017 · article · Mixed

    Report on the 2017 full and half being stopped after the swim. Thunderstorms and lightning made the swim very choppy, then about 50 mm (2 in) of rain in ten minutes turned the mountain roads into streams; stopping was judged correct.

  • 220 Triathlon (2016 results coverage)Raced 2016 · article · Positive

    Report on the 11th edition: two 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim laps in the bay then three 60 km (37 mi) loops, about 2,500 m (8,200 ft) of gain, a tough hilly technical bike. British athletes placed well; one debutant finished 6:22 in a shorter race.

  • Evesham Observerarticle · Positive

    Local piece on two Worcester club athletes at Elbaman, which it calls one of the toughest iron-distance events. One placed second woman, the other 24th overall, with a 11:48:52 combined time listed. Year not shown in the snippet.

  • Il Giunco (Italian)Raced 2021 · article · Mixed

    Italian local-news account of an Orbetello athlete finishing 22nd overall and second in his age group in about 12h03 on the full distance. Wind and rain affected parts of the day.

Show 3 more
  • Endurance.bizRaced 2013 · article · Positive

    Industry news noting the long race sold out for the first time in 2013, with over 700 entrants across individuals and relays. Organisers put the interest down partly to the 2,400 m (7,900 ft) bike climbing, reflecting a reputation as a hard race.

  • 220 Triathlon (31 best triathlons)article · Positive

    Course profile: warm turquoise bay swim, rolling-to-hilly bike with about 2,500 m (8,200 ft) of gain and almost no flat, then a marathon through Marina di Campo with a heat factor. Presented as a long-standing jewel of Italian triathlon.

  • Expedia guest reviews (Marina di Campo hotels)hotel-review · Positive

    Guests rate seafront hotels such as Riva del Sole around 8-8.8/10 and Mistral about 9/10. The town centre and beach are a short walk, but the closest public beach is not a private hotel beach.

Sources

Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.

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