The Race
| Next Race Date | Sunday 9 May 2027 |
|---|---|
| Course type | Loop (out to a Chiessi turnaround and back; start and finish in Marina di Campo) |
| Registration | Open entry via the organiser and ENDU, from €45 |
| Ballot opens | Not applicable |
| Start | Lungomare Mibelli, Marina di Campo, 08:45 |
| Finish | Piazza del Comune, Marina di Campo |
| Total finishers | About 325 (2026) |
| Avg race-day temp | Not confirmed |
| Cutoff time | 6 hours 30 minutes |
| Free race-day transport | Not needed: start and finish are both in Marina di Campo; retired runners are collected at km 12 and km 20 |
| Course certification | Described by the organiser as homologated. No FIDAL certificate or World Athletics Label located |
History
The Maratona dell'Isola d'Elba was founded in 2017 by Damiano Di Cicco and is organised by ASD Elba Runners. It is one of the youngest marathons on the site, and the 2026 race was its tenth edition. The marathon runs alongside a half marathon, a 10 km race and non-competitive events, including Nordic walking and trekking.
The event has grown quickly. The 2024 edition, the eighth, drew about 1,300 runners from around 20 nations across all distances, and the 2026 race was reported sold out at about 2,000 runners from 23 nations, again across all distances. The marathon itself is the smallest of the three races. In 2026 there were 325 marathon finishers, 664 in the half marathon and 177 in the 10 km.
The route was altered in 2025, when the organiser's archive records a change that added Sant'Ilario and San Piero to the opening of the course, so anyone comparing times with earlier editions or using an older course file should allow for it.
The 2026 race was run in heavy rain and strong wind on the exposed stretches. Julien Gueydon of France won the men's race in 2:27:25, his third consecutive victory, and Sarah Giomi of Atletica Castello won the women's race in 2:53:50. No course-record holders were found.
The course
The marathon starts on the Lungomare Mibelli seafront at Marina di Campo at 08:45 and finishes in Piazza del Comune in the same town. The organiser describes the road as asphalt, rolling and scenic, with about 675 m of climbing.
The first 2.5 km are flat along the seafront. A steep climb then rises from 2.5 km to 6 km to Sant'Ilario, 175 m in 3 km, to the highest ground of the course at 219 m at about 8 km. The road drops 152 m over 4 km to Colle Palombaia at about 13 km and joins the Costa del Sole, passing Cavoli, Seccheto, Fetovaia and Pomonte before the turnaround at Chiessi at about 24 km. The return avoids Sant'Ilario and San Piero, passes Colle Palombaia again at about 35 km and ends on the seafront.
The Costa del Sole between Colle Palombaia and Chiessi is closed to traffic until about 11:40, which matches a 7:00 per kilometre pace. After that runners must follow the road code.
Kilometre by kilometre
Kilometre positions come from the organiser's course page. Treat every position as approximate.
Km 0 to 6: the seafront and the climb to Sant'Ilario. The gun is at 08:45 on the Lungomare Mibelli. The first 2.5 km are flat, along the seafront and Viale degli Etruschi, the last easy running of the day. The road then turns inland at Via dell'Acquedotto and climbs steeply by Via Pian di Mezzo and Via Madonnina: 12 m at 3 km, 70 m at 4 km, 121 m at 5 km and 187 m at 6 km, with a steepest kilometre near 6.6%. The organiser advises taking the first 35 km steadily. A runner who treats this climb as part of a flat marathon pays for it on the return.
Km 6 to 13: San Piero and the descent. The route passes Sant'Ilario on the SP29 and reaches its highest ground of 219 m at about 8 km, near San Piero. The road then falls 152 m in 4 km, more than 4% a kilometre at its steepest, to Colle Palombaia at about 13 km. The descent is fast and comes with a long way still to run, so keep the stride controlled. There is a short 18 m rise to the crest at Colle Palombaia.
Km 13 to 24: the Costa del Sole. The road folds along the coast through Cavoli at 13 and 14 km, Seccheto at 15 and 16 km, Fetovaia at 17 to 19 km and Pomonte at 22 km, with rolling gradients throughout. A 72 m rise over 4.4 km (1.6%) from 15.6 km to 20 km takes the road to about 88 m past Fetovaia, and a 64 m fall brings it back to the sea at Pomonte. Expect the sea on one side and granite slopes on the other. Exposure is highest near Pomonte and Chiessi, and the 2026 race was run in heavy rain and strong wind here. The turnaround is at Chiessi at about 24 km.
Km 24 to 35: the return along the coast. Runners retrace the coast, climbing out of each village again: Pomonte at 26 km, then a 61 m rise over 2 km (3.0%) from 26 km, Fetovaia at 29 to 31 km and Seccheto at 32 and 33 km, where the climb to Cavoli is the steepest kilometre of the return at about 4%. The road is closed to traffic until about 11:40, which favours runners at or ahead of 7:00 per kilometre. Slower runners must obey the road code from that time, with traffic on the road.
Km 35 to 42.2: Colle Palombaia to Marina di Campo. The last real climb comes at Colle Palombaia at about 35 km, 78 m, and then the course drops 76 m over 7 km towards the sea, through Località Alzi at 37 km and Via della Piastraia at 38 km. The final kilometres run along flat streets in Marina di Campo to Piazza del Comune. The return omits the opening villages, so the finish is flat and quick if legs allow.
Follow the black direction signs the organiser uses for the marathon route. Chip timing applies, and the chip must be handed back straight after the finish.
Flat for 2.5 km, then 175 m of climbing in 3 km to Sant'Ilario. Take the first 35 km steadily, as the organiser advises.
Highest ground of 219 m at about 8 km, then a fast 152 m descent to Colle Palombaia. Keep the stride short to save the quads.
Coastal road through Cavoli, Seccheto, Fetovaia and Pomonte, with rolling gradients and wind exposure near the Chiessi turnaround.
The same coast in reverse, Colle Palombaia again at about 35 km, then a flat finish in Marina di Campo.
Course Map
Tap a marker for the start, finish and the places on the route, and scrub the slider or press play to move the orange marker along the course with the elevation profile beneath it.
Every runner receives one sponge with the bib, and aid stations provide water tubs to wet it. The system cuts disposable sponge waste. Runners who lose the sponge cannot expect a replacement at the stations.
Runners must hand the chip back straight after the finish or pay a €20 penalty. The race pack and medal are given out after the chip is returned, so plan to queue at the finish before changing.
The gun goes at 08:45 in early May on a Mediterranean island, but conditions in 2026 were heavy rain and strong wind along the exposed coast. No sourced average temperature is available, so dress for the forecast in the week before the race.
Start with a throwaway layer, because runners assemble at Piazza del Comune from 07:30. Numbered organiser bag sacks can carry a dry top to the finish, and outdoor showers at the finish are at ambient temperature, so a change of clothes helps in a cool year. Bring a light waterproof for wet forecasts, since the course has almost no shelter on the Costa del Sole.
Sun protection counts later in the day. A cap and sunscreen help slower runners, because the coast road is open to the sky and the cutoff is 6h30. Road shoes with good grip suit the asphalt climbs and any wet descents.
Every runner receives a personal sponge with the bib. Carry it: aid stations provide water tubs for wetting it.
Entry
Entry is open, with no ballot, through the organiser's site and ENDU. Competitive marathon fees rise in bands through the registration year (table below), before processing fees. A non-competitive 42 km entry is fixed at €45 until race day. Sterling figures use the ECB reference rate of €1 to £0.858 (28 September 2026).
The organiser sells custom ferry-and-hotel packages through Agenzia Margherita (booking@maratonadellisoladelba.it). Race registration is excluded from the package price. Partner restaurants, shops and accommodation give a 10% discount from 1 March to mid-May on showing a registration number.
Competitive entrants need one of the following: FIDAL membership; a RunCard with a valid athletics-specific competitive medical certificate; an EPS membership with a certificate; or, for foreign runners, a club card from a federation affiliated to World Athletics or an equivalent health form to obtain a RunCard or temporary Elba Runners membership. Other sports' federations do not count. Italian certificate holders without a federation card can request UISP membership for €10.
A foreign runner with no federation card and no medical certificate can choose a tourist-sporting non-competitive entry with a liability waiver. It carries no prize eligibility. The regulations say participants must be at least 16, but the competitive marathon age limit may be 20 under FIDAL rules, so ask the organiser in writing before entering.
No refunds are offered. After force majeure a runner may use a free place in one of the next five editions on the same distance; ferry and hotel costs are not refunded. No ballot, guaranteed-entry or charity routes were found.
| Registration window | Competitive marathon fee |
|---|---|
| Early in the registration year | €45 (about £39) |
| September to December | €50 (about £43) |
| January and February | €55 (about £47) |
| March | €60 (about £51) |
| April | €63 and €66 (about £54 and £57) |
| Week before the race | €70 (about £60) |
| On site, Saturday and Sunday | €75 (about £64) |
Fast runner standards
There is no guaranteed-entry or qualifying standard.
Maratona dell'Isola d'Elba: official site →Race Weekend
Bib collection and Marathon Village
Bibs are collected in Piazza del Comune, Marina di Campo. In the latest published schedule collection ran on the Saturday from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 15:00 to 18:30, and on race morning from 07:00 to 08:15. A third-party listing shows Friday collection too, but the organiser's rules do not, so do not promise it.
Bring ID and any medical certificate or federation document, because competitive entry is checked at collection. Runners receive a bib and a chip at the desk. The race pack is handed over after the finish, in exchange for the returned chip.
The organiser runs a Marathon Village with information on tourist packages. Saturday afternoon is the natural time to collect, since race-morning collection closes 30 minutes before the start.
Getting to the start
Runners assemble in Piazza del Comune from 07:30 and the gun is at 08:45 on the Lungomare Mibelli, beside the Coop supermarket. Race-day bib pickup runs from 07:00 to 08:15. Start and finish are both in Marina di Campo, so a hotel in town makes the morning a walk.
Bags go in numbered organiser sacks, collected at Piazza del Comune; the organiser accepts no liability for loss. Public toilets are near the port and Piazza Granatieri, with portable toilets near the start and finish. Free outdoor showers at ambient temperature are near the beach and Club del Mare, so bring a swimsuit. Retired runners are collected at km 12 and km 20, and medical posts are at km 14 (Seccheto), km 19 (the Pomonte junction) and the finish.
Return the chip straight after the finish; a chip not returned costs €20. The marathon awards ceremony is at 13:30 and a pasta party for runners and companions starts at 13:00, both free.
Free parking is available near the middle schools, according to the organiser's news page. Bus line 116 runs between Portoferraio and Marina di Campo, with timetables at livorno.cttnord.it. A Sunday-morning bus is not confirmed, so a runner staying in Portoferraio should check the timetable or arrange a taxi.
Nutrition on course
The organiser lists eleven aid stations. Each runner carries a personal sponge issued with the bib, wetted from water tubs at the stations. Drink brand, gels and the type of solid food are not published.
Carry your own gels. The stretch from 6.5 km to 16 km is long and includes the big climb, and the stations at 13 and 18 km give water only.
| Approx. km | Location | Provision |
|---|---|---|
| 6.5 | Sant'Ilario | Water, sponge |
| 13 | Colle Palombaia | Water |
| 16 | Seccheto | Water, salts, solids, sponge |
| 18 | Fetovaia | Water |
| 22.5 | Pomonte | Water, salts, solids, sponge |
| 24.5 | Chiessi | Water, salts, sponge |
| 26 | Pomonte | Water, salts, solids, sponge |
| 30.5 | Fetovaia | Water |
| 32.5 | Seccheto | Water, salts, solids, sponge |
| 35.5 | Colle Palombaia | Water |
| 38 | Piastraia | Water, salts, solids, sponge |
Spectating
The lowest-risk sighting is Piazza del Comune and the Lungomare Mibelli in Marina di Campo, where the race starts and finishes. The Costa del Sole between Colle Palombaia and Chiessi is closed to traffic until about 11:40, so supporters who want to see runners at Seccheto, Fetovaia or Pomonte need to be in place before the closure starts. The same villages see runners twice, on the way out and on the return.
A Chiessi sighting followed by a return to the finish is difficult, because the coast road is closed. No public-transport intercept can be promised, and no live tracking was found.
- Start at Piazza del Comune for the 08:45 gun
- Walk to the Lungomare Mibelli before the start and back to the square for the finish
- The organiser's cutoff is 6h30
- See the gun at 08:45 on the Lungomare Mibelli
- Drive to Seccheto before the coast road closes, for the aid stations at about 16 and 32.5 km, which gives two sightings in one place
- Return to Marina di Campo after the road reopens
- See the gun at 08:45
- Drive to Pomonte before the closure, for the aid stations at about 22.5 and 26 km
- Return after the road reopens for the finish
Post-race food
The free pasta party from 13:00 is the first meal, open to runners and companions. After that the organiser's restaurant partners in Marina di Campo give a 10% discount on list prices on showing a registration number, valid until mid-May. The partners include L'Approdo (Via Marconi 30), Acquolina (Via Roma 376), Ristorante Bologna (Via delle Case Nuove 71), La Cantina del Mare (Via Roma 371), Il Cacciucco (Piazza Cavour 10), La Vecchia Locanda (Largo G. Garibaldi 40) and Il Capriccio (on the Lungomare Mibelli).
Sunday opening hours and menus were not published, so confirm that a restaurant opens on the race Sunday before booking a table.
Where to Stay
Stay in Marina di Campo. Start and finish are both in the town, so the finish-first rule and the start-first rule give the same answer, and bib collection, bag sacks and the pasta party are all there.
Marina di Campo waterfront and centre
The town of the start, finish and bib pickup, and the best base by a clear margin. Everything is within a short walk of Piazza del Comune, and the restaurants listed by the organiser are nearby. Book early: the 2026 event sold out at about 2,000 runners across all distances.
Campo nell'Elba and Sant'Ilario
Campo nell'Elba is the inland village above the coast. It is quieter, but the marathon climbs through Sant'Ilario in the first six kilometres, so a room here needs a transfer to the start.
Cavoli, Seccheto, Fetovaia, Pomonte and Chiessi
These coastal villages lie on the course between 13 and 24 km. They put a runner next to the route for spectating but far from the start and bib pickup, and the coast road is closed on race morning. The organiser offers packages in all of them.
Procchio
A larger resort area on the north coast, also in the organiser's package list. It needs an early car or bus transfer.
Portoferraio
The ferry port, with the largest choice of rooms. Line 116 runs to Marina di Campo, but race-morning timetables need checking, and it is the least convenient base for an 08:45 start.
Ferry and hotel package. The organiser quotes custom ferry-and-hotel packages through Agenzia Margherita on request, in 3-star, 4-star and superior 3-star hotels, residences, apartments and bungalows in Procchio, Marina di Campo, Cavoli, Seccheto, Fetovaia, Pomonte and Chiessi, on bed-and-breakfast or half-board terms. Race entry is excluded. Compare it with independent rates, and arrive on the Friday or Saturday for bib pickup.
Booking timeline
The 2026 event sold out in its final week, so book entry, ferry and lodging early. The cheapest marathon entry band applies early in the registration year and rises step by step, so registering early saves money.
The Piombino to Portoferraio crossing takes about 70 minutes and is run by Blunavy, Moby and Toremar. The organiser's page gives departures about every 30 minutes from May to September. Check live sailings and book in advance for a May weekend, because vehicle space on the ferry is limited. Choose a refundable room in Marina di Campo.
Weather can cancel or delay sailings. Avoid an aggressive Sunday-evening or Monday-morning connection on the mainland.
See & Do
Elba is small. The first stop is in the finish town and the others are on the course.
Marina di Campo beach and harbour
The seafront promenade runs along the start and finish area and is flat, which suits sore legs. Beach services may be limited in early May.
Sant'Ilario and San Piero
The two hill villages at the top of the opening climb. Visit by car instead of on race legs, and check opening hours.
Cavoli, Seccheto and Fetovaia
Coastal villages on the course between 13 and 19 km, with beaches and restaurant partners. Weather and water temperature in early May need checking.
After the Race
The race is on a Sunday in May, so recovery days start on the Monday. Stay on the island by bus or car, or take the ferry to the mainland and on to Pisa or Florence.
Napoleon's town residence on Elba, the Palazzina dei Mulini, is a short visit, and its Monday hours are afternoon only. Portoferraio is also the ferry port.
Seccheto, Fetovaia, Pomonte and Chiessi, the villages of the course, at walking pace and without the race pressure.
An overnight in Pisa on the way to the airport, with the Piazza dei Miracoli and a flat evening walk.
Florence for two nights, with a flat central walk and museum visits that suit stiff legs.