Sport Elba Ovest: Cycling club based in Marina di Campo
The West Elbe Cycling Society is well known and appreciated for the “West Elbe Bike Marathon” event, in which many cyclists participate every year.
Also for 2009 the MARATHON BIKE ELBA OVEST is divided into two paths surrounded by greenery and blue that can only be defined as such on the Island of Elba: Excursionist and Marathon, non-competitive with prize draws, and the other, competitive of 60 Km with rankings according to the categories listed above. In some places the path will be open to traffic, even if controlled. In any case, the utmost caution and compliance with the highway code are recommended. The use of a hard helmet is mandatory: competitors found during the race without a helmet will be automatically disqualified. The organizers decline any responsibility for damage to persons or things occurring before, during or after the event.
West Elba Cycling Company
Marina di Campo
57034 Campo Nell’Elba
(LI) Elba Island
Website: www.granfondoelbaovest.com
The departure will take place at 9:00 from the seafront of Marina di Campo towards La Pila. From there, the dirt road will start in the direction of Sant’Ilario, but after a while, the first change, you will pass through the Acqua Calda locality and from here the track will climb to Poggio (fraction of Marciana). Immediately after, the slopes will increase on the San Cerbone forest track. You will touch the Madonna del Monte and descend to Marciana where a fun passage on the steps and in the narrow streets of the medieval center will be waiting for you. Now we climb the most difficult climb on the west side of Elba , Monte Perone, partly on asphalt and partly on dirt, and then even higher on Monte Maolo with almost prohibitive slopes. And then head straight down to the San Piero quarries. Passage on asphalt and arrival in Sant ‘Ilario and again descent to La Pila airport (we are 35 km away and 1,300 m in altitude). Here the two paths will divide, with the short one returning to Marina di Campo and the long one continuing up from Literno. Halfway up, another detour will take you to the top of the road to the Monument. From here descent almost to Laconella, ascent to Monte Tambone and the last adrenaline-pumping descent of this tour on the west side of Elba, which will bring you back to the finish line of Marina di Campo .
It is a “tough” race, 60 km long with 1,700 m of elevation gain, challenging climbs and descents that make the difference.