After a successful 2013 edition where a record number of 778 athletes hit the starting line for the full or half distance Elbaman events, the organising team in Italy are working hard to make the next event, the tenth anniversary, bigger and better than ever before.
An Elbaman spokesperson said, ‘In fact, as we are talking about the X edition of the race and, thinking back to all the work, passion and effort put in over the past nine years, we never thought it possible that we would be able to reach this milestone.’
Behind the scenes, Elbaman has a small organizing group centred on a single family, that ‘creates one of the most appreciated long distance triathlons in Europe.’ The organisers continued… ‘It’s something that sounds still incredible to us and pushes all the team to make the best we can for presenting an amazing 2014 race.’
Elbaman X will once again take place on Elba Island in 2014. The anniversary is well timed because it also coincides with the 200th anniversary of Napoleon’s exile on the island. During next year’s Napoleonic commemorations, events and memorial ceremonies will be organized. This in turn is expected to boost the profile of Elba Island and the Elbaman triathlon’s corresponding anniversary.
Marco Scotti, Elbaman Triathlon President said, “We want to continue to maintain that ‘family feeling’ that makes Elbaman so special. So, the transition area will be ready for 800 bikes, no more. We have also decided to cancel the relay race at least for one year in order to be able to accept more individuals and avoid long waiting lists as we have witnessed over the past 3 years, particularly on the half distance.”
Entries will open next Tuesday 5 November at 10:00 CET (GMT +1) with the usual online procedure. The fastest 25 athletes [to sign up!], both on the full and half distance, will also benefit from a ‘super-discounted entry fee’. Thereafter, the fee will increase accordingly to a defined scheme as specified on the race website.
For 2013, the organisers saw 106 athletes register on the first day; and both races sold out from four to six months before the official closing date. This year’s race, which took place on on 29 September 2013, saw the full distance event sell out in June, while the half distance event reached capacity in May 2013.
The race, which is ‘totally independent of the big circuits from WTC or Challenge’, reportedly had a large number of non-Italian athletes on the starting list this year – with 16 countries represented and international competitors making up 29.5% of the total field.
Elbaman takes place each September at the Marina di Campo (Elba Island) between Corsica and the western coast of Italy. Elbaman X takes place on 28 September 2014.
