Capoliveri Legend Cup
The 2026 HERO UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup heads to the island of Elba on 9 May, with the Capoliveri Legend Cup hosting round two of the series after the opening race in Spain. Riders can choose between a demanding 74km marathon course and a shorter 45km classic route, both set against one of the most striking backdrops in European mountain biking.
Capoliveri has long been a fixture on the Italian off-road calendar, and its World Cup status only adds to the sense that this is a race with real weight. The event has been bringing riders to the south eastern corner of Elba since 2009, building a reputation for rugged trails, spectacular sea views and a style of racing that rewards both technical skill and staying power. On race weekend, the small hillside town will once again become the centre of attention for marathon mountain biking.
What makes Capoliveri stand out is the terrain. This is not simply a scenic Mediterranean spin with a race number pinned on. Riders will face a route that moves from the red, mineral rich soil around the old mines to tighter, more compact singletrack cut through dense Mediterranean vegetation. There are exposed sections on the mule tracks of Monte Calamita, sharp rocky passages hidden among rosemary and lentisk, and repeated steep climbs that can punish poor pacing as quickly as they punish poor line choice.
For the elite field and Master licence holders, the main event is the marathon course, stretching to 74km with 2,600 metres of climbing. It is described as a route that never truly lets up, circling the entire promontory and demanding concentration from start to finish. Amateur riders can opt for the 45km classic course, which still packs in 1,600 metres of ascent and plenty of the same visual drama. It may be the shorter option, but there is nothing soft about it.
That mix of beauty and brutality is likely to be a major part of the event’s appeal. Elba offers the kind of setting that can make riders pause for a glance at the coastline, even when the clock is ticking and the legs are beginning to sting. The organisers lean into that contrast, presenting the race as both a fierce sporting test and a journey through an island landscape shaped by both nature and industry.
From a sporting point of view, the second round of a World Cup always matters. By the time the riders reach Italy, the first clues from the season opener will already be on the table, but the standings are still fluid and every point carries extra significance. According to the event information, the World Cup leader jerseys will be worn by Belgium’s Wout Alleman and Switzerland’s Anna Weinbeer of KTM SPADA Powered by Brenta Brakes, following their wins at the HERO Costa Blanca on 21 February in the opening round of the 2026 series.
That gives Capoliveri an added layer of intrigue. Marathon racing is rarely won on power alone, and this course looks built to expose any weakness in rhythm, judgement or bike handling. Riders who can stay calm on the rockier sectors, manage their effort on the climbs and still find speed on the flowing sections should come to the fore. On a course like this, the strongest rider is not always just the one with the biggest engine, but the one who can best read the ground beneath them.
There is also a broader story here about place. The Capoliveri Legend Cup is presented not just as a race but as a showcase for an island that has transformed part of its mining heritage into a destination for outdoor sport. In that sense, the event does more than host a World Cup round. It reinforces Italy’s standing on the international mountain bike map and gives riders a course that promises to stay in the memory long after the finish line has been crossed.
If the season opener set the tone, Elba could sharpen the picture. Expect a race that is hard, technical and visually unforgettable, with a field of world class marathon specialists taking on one of the most distinctive venues in the discipline. For spectators and riders alike, Capoliveri looks ready to deliver the kind of day that reminds you exactly why marathon mountain biking can be so compelling.
