On the same 73-kilometer course, the women also put on a show with a clear victory by Swiss Anna Weinbeer, who finished 4 and a half minutes ahead of Spain's Natalia Fischer, and third place went to Bosnia's Lejla Njemcevic.
Source: press release
A race appreciated by the Elite as well as by over 1.800 amateurs thanks to technical courses set in a setting with beautiful views of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the island landscapes of Elba.
In photo: Anna Weinbeer – ph credit wisthaler.com
Capoliveri, Italy – Saturday, May 9, 2026 – The opinion of elite bikers as well as that of numerous amateurs is unanimous: the Capoliveri Legend Cup courses are beautiful, technical, and fun, and this is also why today's mountain bike competition, valid as the second round of the 2026 HERO UCI Marathon World Cup, put on a highly competitive spectacle, with direct challenges and solo breakaways.
181 bikers from the Elite and Master Licence categories from 22 nations lined up at the start of the race over a distance of 73 km with 2.600 metres of altitude difference and fought to gain points valid for the general classification of the UCI HERO Cross-country Marathon World. Naturally, as with all the circuit events, Capoliveri was also open to numerous amateur runners, over 1.800 of them, who started from the center of Capoliveri.
The race report saw an initial phase of scrutiny among the strongest contenders for victory, but already after the Monte Calamita GPM, defined as the "KOM Andrea Crispu Challenge," there were the first attempts at breakaways, such as the one conducted by Fabian Rabensteiner, Stefano Goria, and Gioele De Cosmo at the Strada delle Mimose (after a third of the race). This was quickly reinstated thanks to Colombian Leonardo Paez of the LeeCougan Basso team, who closed the gap, followed by South Tyrolean Jakob Dorigoni, who was extremely dazzling today. But the cards were shuffled again just before tackling the Wall of Legend, where the veteran Paez (born in 1982) had to give way to the younger De Cosmo, Goria, and a lively Jakob Dorigoni. In the final kilometers, a leading pair formed, Goria and Dorigoni, who, despite being on competing teams, went beyond simple tactical collaboration: Dorigoni helped Goria remove a small branch that had become lodged in the spokes of his rear wheel. However, as the finish line approached, all alliances dissolved, and 28-year-old Jakob Dorigoni was able to crown himself champion of the day, awaiting his real degree, for which he is studying at the Faculty of Sports Science in Innsbruck.
"Here on Elba, it's always great—in fact, it's absolutely beautiful—because it's a truly challenging, fun, and technical track. Today, for example, it was a full-throttle race, from start to finish, always pushing without a moment's rest. Of course, if you win, it's an even better race," commented Jakob Dorigoni, "but above all, this result confirms my form and gives me confidence in my potential for the rest of the season."
Second place went to fellow Italian Stefano Goria of Scott Racing Team, who crossed the finish line just a couple of seconds behind the winner. Completing an all-Italian podium, despite a mechanical issue with his shock absorber, was Gioele De Cosmo, Dorigoni's teammate, with a time of 1:10.23.
Belgian Wout Alleman, who wore the World Cup leader's jersey, finished just off the podium, but managed to maintain his lead in the overall standings, as his direct rival, German Andreas Seewald, finished in 27th place.
In the women's race, the story is much simpler, because Swiss Anna Weinbeer, World Cup leader after her victory in the opening round in Calpe last February, reaffirmed that anyone who wants to win the trophy must reckon with her. And so the KTM SPADA Powered by Brenta Brakes team rider quickly left the group after the GPM, leading the rest of the race alone, finishing the race with a time of 3:46:35.
"I had a wonderful race, in a wonderful place. This is the double memory I'm taking home from Elba Island. The race went very well in every way: the course was technical and fun, and my physical condition is excellent," Anna Weinbeer commented immediately after the race. "And I felt so good that I can say, in some final stretches, I enjoyed the scenery. Of course, I remained focused on my race. Now I look forward to the next races with greater confidence."
The women's podium was completed by Spain's Natalia Fischer of Extremadura Ecopilas UCI MTB Team, 4:29 behind the winner, and Bosnian Lejla Njemcevic took third with a time of 3:53:23. The first Italian in the women's race was Chiara Gualandi of LeeCougan Basso, who finished sixth, over 15 minutes behind the winner.
There was also a spectacular show in the Masters Licence, where victory was achieved by the World Cup holders, Spaniard Alexandre Llado Diaz in the men's event and Polish Anna Magoń-Romanów among the women registered.
The HERO UCI Marathon World Cup caravan now moves to the Pyrenees where, in less than three weeks, the third stage, Naturland – Andorra, scheduled for May 31, 2026, will take place in Andorra. Wout Alleman and Anna Weinbeer will once again wear the leader's jersey, ready to do battle with anyone who tries to take it from them.
MEN ELITE RANKING
DORIGONI Jakob ITA 3:11:51.63
GORIA Stefano ITA 3:11:54.16 +2.53
DE COSMO Gioele ITA 3:13:01.86 +1:10.23
ALLEMAN Wout BEL 3:15:02.95 +3:11.32
RABENSTEINER Fabian ITA 3:15:07.13 +3:15.50
HARTMANN Jakob GER SINGER KTM RACING 3:15:19.65 +3:28.02
PAEZ Leonardo COL LEECOUGAN BASSO 3:15:32.20 +3:40.57
BILLI Jacopo ITA 3:16:11.34 +4:19.71
GERBAZ Stefano ITA 3:16:13.50 +4:21.87
FOCCOLI Davide ITA 3:16:21.62 +4:29.99
WOMEN ELITE RANKING
WEINBEER Anna SUI KTM SPADA 3:46:35.88
FISCHER Natalia ESP EXTREMADURA ECOPILAS 3:51:04.92 +4:29.04
NJEMCEVIC Lejla BIH 3:53:23.72 +6:47.84
GORYCKA – KURMANN POL 4:00:25.24 +13:49.36 Paula
BOHLIN Amanda SWE 4:01:25.56 +14:49.68
GUALANDI Chiara ITA LEECOUGAN BASSO 4:01:39.96 +15:04.08
MAIRHOFER Sandra ITA LEECOUGAN LOW 4:06:44.51 +20:08.63
PERETTI Claudia ITA 4:10:19.04 +23:43.16
BOLTON Chelsea USA 4:10:26.01 +23:50.13
BAUMANN Chrystelle SUI 4:11:25.20 +24:49.32
The complete results are available at the site: www.heroucimarathonworldcup.com
