Capoliveri set for World Cup test as marathon specialists tackle Elba’s toughest trails
The HERO UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup heads to the island of Elba on Saturday 9 May for its second round, with the Capoliveri Legend Cup once again promising a demanding examination of endurance, technical skill and race craft. Set against the backdrop of the Tuscan coast, the Italian fixture has become one of the defining events of the European marathon calendar and will see many of the discipline’s leading names line up over a brutal 73km course with 2,600 metres of climbing.
Capoliveri’s reputation rests not only on its scenery but on the character of the course. The route loops around the Capoliveri promontory and mixes long efforts with repeated technical sections, forcing riders to constantly adapt their rhythm. Competitors will move from the distinctive red, iron-rich dirt of the old mining areas, where grip can be unpredictable, to tighter singletrack running through Mediterranean scrub, where precision and concentration are likely to prove just as important as raw power.
The women’s race is headed by Anna Weinbeer, who arrives on Elba as the World Cup leader after victory at the opening round in Costa Blanca. The Swiss rider, who also finished as runner-up at the 2025 UCI XCM World Championships, has the form and the pedigree to start as favourite, but the depth of the field means she is unlikely to get an easy ride. Among those expected to challenge are Adelheid Morath and Sandra Mairhofer of Leecougan Basso Factory Racing, along with Paula Gorycka-Kürmann, Lejla Njemčević, Claudia Peretti and Natalia Fischer of the Extremadura Ecopilas Team.
The men’s contest looks just as compelling. Belgium’s Wout Alleman comes in as leader of the overall World Cup standings after taking the first round, but there is no shortage of rivals capable of overturning that order on Capoliveri’s unforgiving terrain. Andres Seewald starts as one of the key threats from second in the UCI ranking, while Samuele Porro, Gioele De Cosmo and the evergreen Leonardo Páez add further weight to a stacked field. With the climbs severe and the technical sections capable of creating gaps at any moment, this is a race that should reward both patience and boldness.
Race day begins early, with the Elite Men scheduled to start from Viale Italia at 8.30am, followed by the Elite Women, Masters and amateur categories. While the elite field will tackle the full marathon distance for World Cup points, organisers are also offering a shorter but still demanding 45km route with 1,600 metres of elevation gain. The first elite men are expected at the finish at around 11.45am, with the leading women and Masters due roughly 45 minutes later before the prize ceremony at 12.45pm.
The weekend programme also includes the HERO Race Talk on Friday 8 May at 4.00pm, an open event designed to bring fans closer to the riders. Weinbeer and Porro are due to appear, alongside Maria Zarantonello and Dario Cherchi, offering insight into training, racing and the demands of a season built around the biggest marathon events on the calendar. It is a fitting curtain-raiser for a round that has established itself as one of the sport’s showcase occasions.
For those following from home, the organisers are giving the event broad international exposure. Live coverage is scheduled from 10.30am to 1.00pm CEST on RaiPlay, the official UCI YouTube channel and the HERO UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup website, which will also host live timing and rider tracking for the leading elite contenders. That reach underlines the growing status of marathon mountain biking and the importance of Capoliveri within it.
As the series begins to take shape, Saturday’s racing on Elba should offer an early indication of who can combine climbing strength, technical poise and staying power over one of the calendar’s most distinctive courses. On paper, Weinbeer and Alleman arrive with the numbers and momentum, but Capoliveri rarely rewards reputation alone. On these trails, the favourites still have to earn it.
