Elba: Marina di Campo e Lacona

Beautiful compilation of descents between Marina di Campo and Lacona on the island of #elba. Start in Marina di Campo and climb towards Monte Tambone on a steep but always well pedalable dirt road. When you get to the ridge take a right and with a short climb you will climb to Monte Fonza and here a nice trail starts (follow the recent hairpin track fixed by local bikers) on dirt and firm rock/rock and a few loose sections. Follow the signs for Lacona (left) and proceed along a scenic single track with some steep and technical switchbacks, flow sections, traverses and a few short climbs. When you reach a wide forestry road, take a left and climb for a stretch until you cross a path on the right that descends to Lacona. First sliding section to become a nice path with trialistic passages on rock, steps and then more flow in the final stretch.

In Lacona by minor roads (where possible) you go up by asphalt to Colle Reciso and here on the left you take the GTE, a wide forest path slightly uphill and false flat. You come to a junction with the right-hand Zetine FR trail. The trail is a nice flow (a little dirty with the bottom a bit dug up by boars), first section with switchbacks and then some more technical passages. You come to a forest on the right and go up to the GTE: the forest becomes a very pedable single track that goes back to the GTE. Take a right and shortly after a path to the left that takes us to the beginning of Serra del Pero. A classic trail in the area; smooth at first and then the more technical passages begin on rock, steps but bottom with firm stone, again with a beautiful view of the Gulf of Lacona.

On the asphalt you keep to the right and go up toward Marina di Campo and at Monumento take the forest road to the right. Short climb, at the junction turn right and then climb back up following the GTE and then go back to the attack of Serra del Pero and this time keep right. Start a very steep climb (fortunately not too long) with some pushing sections (it would have been better to go through Monte San Martino, which although it had an up-and-down, would have been more rideable). Coming off at Monte Barbatoia on the left, the 5th trail begins. First section very flowy, but don't be fooled, because soon after starts the more peppery part: sections on rocks, trialistic passages, steep slopes and then some more flow. In the final stretch a few short climbs; you come to a dirt road that leads back to Lacona. On the SP you take a right and climb back up towards Monumento, but this time just before the top of the hill you take a steep forest road to the left that then flattens out and takes us back towards Monte Tambone. On the ridge to the right and after one last steep but rideable climb we reach Monte Tambone. Here the last trail begins: nice tough first section on loose rock and rock with trialistic passages between protruding boulders, then after some alternation with more flowing sections the final part is on firm rock but still very trialistic and the trajectory has to be studied at best. You arrive on the dirt road made on the way out and downhill in a short time you return to the parking lot