Leonessa Marathon Cup MTB
The mountain bike granfondo on the Leonessa plateau, at the foot of the Reatini Mountains
About Leonessa Marathon Cup
A granfondo in the heart of the Reatine Apennines
The Leonessa Marathon Cup MTB is the mountain bike event that brings the town of Leonessa, in the province of Rieti, Lazio, to life every year. Established in 2021 as a key element of the Leonessa Bike-Experience regional development project, the race has quickly become one of the most anticipated events on the central Italian off-road calendar, thanks to a truly unique environment: a plateau at about 1,000 meters above sea level, enclosed by the Reatini Mountains and the Terminillo massif, featuring beech forests, open pastures, and an almost unbroken network of dirt trails.
The village of Leonessa, the race headquarters
The historic center of Leonessa, with its porticoes and churches, is not just a backdrop; it is an integral part of the event. The race village is set up as early as Saturday afternoon, race bibs are distributed under the Cloister of San Francesco, while the start and finish are located in Piazza 7 Aprile, the town's main square. The final stretch of the race brings competitors back inside the walls through the historic Porta Aquilana: a finish line that has become the iconic image of the event and offers riders a grand arrival among the cheering crowds.
Two routes, one playground
The format includes different tracks that share the same scenery, that of Monte Tilia and the hamlets between Leonessa and Posta. The longer route, the Marathon, is reserved for the most trained riders and features the toughest climbs; the Point to Point, while shorter, remains technical and selective. In various editions, there are also cycle-touring options designed for those who want to experience the environment without the pressure of the clock.
- Iconic climbs: Colle dei Sassi and especially Colle Moretto, about 7 kilometers with an average gradient of 9%
- Technical descents: the sections known as Scentelle and Cordoni, highly favored by specialists
- Scenic stretches: the long progression of the Prati di Jego, almost entirely on natural terrain
- Refreshment points: stations distributed along the entire route, with technical and medical assistance
An event worthy of a title
The Leonessa Marathon Cup is part of the Pedalatium Off Road circuit, which brings together the main off-road events in Lazio, and has also hosted national-level title assignments under ACSI. This dual value—a circuit stage and a championship race—brings teams and athletes from all over the peninsula to Leonessa, significantly raising the competitive level without losing the popular character of the event, which is also open to amateurs and e-bikers.
Sport, territory, and community
The race revolves around a weekend of celebration for the entire town. The pasta party and award ceremonies take place once again at the Cloister of San Francesco, in a convivial atmosphere typical of sporting events in Apennine villages. The organization is entrusted to the Leonessa Bike Experience association, with the patronage of the Municipalities of Leonessa and Posta and the Lazio Region: a model of collaboration between the local association and local authorities that has already produced a network of permanent trails accessible all year round.
Why it is worth the trip
For those who are not racing, the Marathon Cup weekend is still an excellent opportunity to discover Leonessa, one of the most characteristic villages in the province of Rieti, its gastronomic tradition linked to the Leonessa potato (IGP) and mountain products, and the plateau that remains cool in summer even when the plains are sweltering. The sight of bikers passing through the pastures, woods, and hamlets scattered across the plateau is a spectacle in itself, and the town mobilizes to welcome athletes and their companions along the entire route.
Leonessa Marathon Cup — edition 2026
The 2026 edition
The event on July 12, 2026, represented one of the most important moments in the recent history of the event: in addition to being the third stage of the Pedalatium Off Road circuit, the Leonessa race was the only event to award the jerseys of the ACSI National Marathon Championship, attracting teams and athletes from all over Italy to the Reatine village.
The race village was set up at the Cloister of San Francesco from Saturday afternoon, while on Sunday morning, Piazza 7 Aprile filled with bikers for the single start of the two competitive events. The tracks, designed around Monte Tilia and reaching the territory of Posta, alternated single tracks, forest dirt roads, and the two key climbs of the event, Colle dei Sassi and Colle Moretto.
Results
On the long course, Pierluigi Torelli (Team Bike Palombara Logic Bike) confirmed his status as champion, repeating his success from the previous year, finishing in 2h47'45". Among the women, the title went to Susanna Ponzo (Di Gioia Cycling Team) in 3h44'50". On the 42-kilometer Point to Point, Graziano Laudati (Acido Lattico MTB Passo Corese) won in 2h01'32" and Martina Crocioni (Team Revolution Bike) in 2h32'48".
The day concluded with the pasta party and the award ceremonies at the Cloister of San Francesco, under the patronage of the Municipalities of Leonessa and Posta and the Lazio Region.
Programme Leonessa Marathon Cup 2026
Saturday, July 11, 2026
- 4:00 PM — Opening of the race village at the Cloister of San Francesco and bib distribution
- 7:30 PM — Village closure
Sunday, July 12, 2026
- 7:00 AM — Reopening of the race village
- 9:00 AM — Village closure
- 9:10 AM — Entry into the starting grid in Piazza 7 Aprile
- 9:30 AM — Start of the Marathon and Point to Point competitive events
- to follow — Start of the cycle-touring event
- 11:30 AM — First arrivals under Porta Aquilana
- 12:00 PM — Opening of the pasta party at the Cloister of San Francesco
- 1:00 PM — Award ceremonies and assignment of the ACSI National Marathon Championship jerseys
- 4:00 PM — Closing of the event
The routes
- Marathon — 58 km and 1,950 m of elevation gain, valid for the ACSI national title
- Point to Point — 42 km and 1,340 m of elevation gain
Both tracks wind between Leonessa and Posta, around Monte Tilia, with the climbs of Colle dei Sassi (1 km at 11% average) and Colle Moretto (7 km at 9% average), the long progression of the Prati di Jego, and the technical descents of Scentelle and Cordoni.
Highlights Leonessa Marathon Cup 2026
- Only event of the 2026 ACSI National Marathon Championship
- Third stage of the Pedalatium Off Road circuit
- Start and finish in the historic center, with a final passage under Porta Aquilana
- The Colle Moretto climb: 7 km at 9% average gradient
- Six refreshment points along the route
- Race pack with Volchem products and custom technical gear
- Pasta party and award ceremonies at the Cloister of San Francesco
Prices Leonessa Marathon Cup 2026
Practical information — Leonessa Marathon Cup
Getting there
Leonessa can be reached by car from the SS 4 Salaria road by exiting at Posta, or from Rieti by following the signs for Terminillo and the Valle Leonessana (about 40 km). From Rome, it takes just over two hours. The reference railway station is in Rieti, which is connected to the village by bus lines.
Parking
During the event days, the municipal parking lot near the Carabinieri station, the former BOSI area, and the spaces on Via Amor della Patria are available.
Registration and costs
Registrations are made online via the Krono Service portal, with increasing fees based on the registration period; it is usually possible to register on-site at the race village, with an increased fee. Participation for the public is free.
Tips
The village is located at an altitude of about 1,000 meters: even in mid-summer, mornings can be cool, so it is best to bring an extra layer. Accommodation facilities in Leonessa and the Valle Leonessana are few and in high demand during the race weekend: it is advisable to book well in advance.
Contacts
Leonessa Bike Experience — [email protected] — tel. +39 349 1258336 — www.pedalatiumoffroad.it/leonessa
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Leonessa Marathon Cup
Piazza 7 Aprile
Piazza 7 Aprile, 02016 Leonessa