Tuscany Gravel Bike Tour | Eroic “Strade Bianche” | Self Guided

Loop Bike Ride in Pienza. Distance: 51 km/31,5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate; 17km asphalt and 34km gravel
Loop bike ride from Pienza. Spring brings red poppy blossoms to the vibrant green wheat fields of Tuscany, and nowhere is the bloom more brilliant than the hills of the Val d’Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site lined with corridors of proud cypress trees. Follow the gravel roads off the beaten path and enjoy an espresso at La Foce. By lunchtime you’ll arrive to Montepulciano, the jewel of southern Tuscany. Return to Pienza with a stop in the village of Monticchiello, the quintessential Tuscan hill town.
Lodging at hotel Relais Il Chiostro di Pienza.
Meals included: Breakfast

Difficulty: Moderate; 17 km asphalt and 24 km gravel
Today we selected the sections of Eroica called Lucignano d’Asso and Pieve a Salti. Leave Pienza and follow the white roads toward Cosona to the little hamlet of Lucignano. Start the other Eroica gravel section of Pieve a Salti 9 km up and down in the rural countryside! Arrive in Buonconvento in time for lunch. After lunch, face the climb to the famed wine town of Montalcino all through vineyards and wineries. For dinner, reward yourself at least a glass of Brunello – we have a list of our favorite.
Lodging at hotel il Giglio in Montalcino
Meals included: Breakfast

Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging; 32 km asphalt and 24 km gravel
L’Eroica, meaning “The Heroic” takes place every October when thousands of hardened cyclists travel back in time on heavy lugged-steel bikes with down-tube shifters and impossible gear ratios and hard-man mentality. Today, we’ll ride one of the most beautiful gravel sections of L’Eroica. From the heart of Brunello di Montalcino, ride to the top of Passo del Lume Spento; which starts the Castiglion del Bosco gravel section. Once in Bibbiano, another 30km section called la Piana to reach Murlo. From here another legendary Eroica section to Radi, with some steep yet short rolling hills. A light lunch in Ville di Corsano you before returning to Siena.
Lodging at hotel Villa STR in Siena
Meals included: Breakfast

Difficulty: Moderate to Callenging; 12 km asphalt and 34 km gravel
Today’s destination is the town where the Eroica starts heading out into magical Chianti. Exit Siena via a Eroica gravel section of Pieve a Bozzone, Vico dArbia cycling 15km through rolling wheat fields to the wine region of Pianella. Pedal to Canonica a Cerreto, Vagliagli through Chianti Classico vineyards where you can’t help but count castles and old hilltop hamlets! Reach Radda in Chianit in time for lunch then in to Gaiole to relax.
Lodging at the charming Hotel Castello Spaltenna
Meals included: Breakfast

Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging; 44 km asphalt and 10 km gravel
Explore the villages and hamlets of Chianti Senese. Start from Gaiole and bike to Castello di Brolio. After a nice coffee stop, ride a short gravel section of the Eroica and on secondary scenery roads until reaching Castelnuvo Berardenga, just in time for lunch. Back on the saddle and encounter other small Borgos: San Gusmé and Villa a Sesta – back to Brolio. To return to Gaiole, you have 2 options; downhill and flat, or challenging uphill to Castagnoli and downhill to Castello di Meleto. Tonight, you deserve a Michelin starred dinner at your hotel restaurant Il Pievano.
Lodging at the charming Hotel Castello di Spaltenna.
Meals included: Breakfast

Badia a Coltibuono
Short loop Ride in Gaiole. Distance: 20 Km
If you still have energy and your legs feel strong, you can have a short ride to Badia a Coltibuono and back to Gaiole where you will leave the bikes.