Capoliveri Bike Park - World Cup

Departure / Arrival: Capoliveri
Length: 11 km
Technical difficulty: difficult. A short and challenging route that in no time reaches the summit then goes downwards along steep, winding single tracks that are enjoyable to cycle over.
Total difference in height level: 300 m
Surface: 25% tar, 40% grit road, 35% single track

The World Cup route is a short ring road that consists of significant uphill parts and descents over narrow, fast single tracks.

Departure is usually from Piazza del Cavatore (164 metres above sea level) from where the ascent starts up to the summit of Monte Calamita (413 metres above sea level) over a tarred road in the first half, then grit road for three out of the four bends, then along a straight road with continual changes in height levels that are mild and help you to get your breath back.

Before reaching the actual top you get to what are known as the "4 junctions" (384 metres above sea level) and here you have to take the downhill path on the right which means you lose altitude until you get to a sharp left bend then you start going uphill again and you are beside a pine grove in the shade. Once past the pine grove, turn left and go across a spacious flat piece of forest ground then take the Sentry box climb and this will get you to the top.

From here the view makes you want to stop for a moment so you can admire the surrounding Archipelago islands as well as the rugged Elba coastline, with Monte Capanne (1018 metres above sea level) looking down on them.

Continue along the single track that runs along the fencing of the beacon of the Italian air force then take the windy, narrow downhill single track on the right; this then gets you to the spacious forest area you have previously crossed.

Now turn right and you will be back to where you reach the summit. Here you turn left and pedal along a wide, flat firebreak that farther along goes more and more downhill and gradually becomes a winding and steep single track right over the bay above the beaches of Morcone and Pareti and the Stella gulf.

At the junction turn left and take the fast and narrow up and downhill road that has many sharp, sudden uphill bends and goes along the slope until you get to the Fosco valley;here you take a sharp turn and continue going uphill, connected to the Cessa dell'Asta firebreak.

Get to the lower part of the firebreak and cross the single track that gets you to the forest road then turn right and you will get to the tarred road; you will now reach the last 3 km that are flat and scenic and then where you started off, in Piazza del Cavatore in Capoliveri.