Gran fondos, sportives and challenge rides across Europe
Toerversie Amstel Gold Race
Granfondo La Fausto Coppi
L'Étape du TourL'EroicaLes 3 Ballons
Liège–Bastogne–Liège Challenge
Mallorca 312Granfondo Internazionale Nove Colli
Ötztaler RadmarathonParis-Roubaix ChallengeColnago GF Mont VentouxGFNY La VaujanyGFNY CannesGranfondo ColnagoLa Stelvio SantiniHaute Route AlpsHaute Route DolomitesMarmotte Granfondo AlpesMarmotte Granfondo PyrénéesSportful Dolomiti RaceToerversie Amstel Gold RaceGranfondo La Fausto CoppiL'Étape du TourL'EroicaLes 3 BallonsLiège–Bastogne–Liège ChallengeMallorca 312Granfondo Internazionale Nove ColliÖtztaler RadmarathonParis-Roubaix ChallengeColnago GF Mont VentouxGFNY La VaujanyGFNY CannesGranfondo ColnagoLa Stelvio SantiniHaute Route AlpsHaute Route DolomitesMarmotte Granfondo AlpesMarmotte Granfondo PyrénéesSportful Dolomiti RaceA heritage-focused, non-competitive cyclosportive on Tuscany's white gravel roads, combining repeated short steep climbs with a very long day in the saddle.
Secure a ticket early, complete club and medical paperwork before registration, and treat gravel handling and equipment testing as core preparation.
Best for
Watch out for
D-Score™
D+
Epic
Entry
Tiered online registration via MyEroica, first-come
or Later or higher-priced tiers
Route
210.9 km
3,873 m climbing
Terrain
Mountain
Mixed asphalt and unpaved white gravel roads
Month
Early October
Annual event; registration typically opens in December
Temperature
Cool pre-dawn to mild daytime conditions
Valley to summit
Roads / Format
Open public roads, shared with traffic, controlled pace
Staggered pre-dawn and morning starts by route from Gaiole in Chianti
Participants
Approximately 7,000+; derived estimate needs verification
Per edition
GPX
Direct GPX download not found
Route files
A unique endurance event where heritage, surface skill and pacing matter more than outright speed. The full L'Eroico route is extreme even though it lacks high alpine passes.
Prepare membership and medical documentation before the December sale, then register as soon as your preferred tier opens.
No L'Eroica-specific tours listed yet
Explore Tuscany cycling tours and providers, or get notified when race packages are added.
| Route | Distance | Climbing | D-Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valle del Chianti (Leisure) | 45.1 km | 755 m | D1 |
| Gallo Nero (Short) | 80.7 km | 1,612 m | D2 |
| Val d’Arbia (Hundred) | 106.3 km | 1,795 m | D3 |
| Crete Senesi (Medium) | 132.5 km | 2,327 m | D3 |
| L'Eroico (Long) | 210.9 km | 3,873 m | D+ |
Constantly changing effort over short Tuscan hills, with fatigue accumulating from gravel resistance, technical handling and long hours rather than one defining mountain climb.
Several climbs on this route appear in Giro d'Italia history. The full route includes seven major passes.
| Climb | Length | Avg gradient | Why it matters |
|---|
Every rider has unique gearing and nutrition needs. Below are tools we find useful for working these out before race day.
Gearing
Bike Speed & Gear Calculator
bikespeedgear.com
Estimates your climbing speed from power, weight and gradient, then helps you pick gearing that keeps cadence in a comfortable range.
Gear Calculator
gear-calculator.com
Compares chainring and cassette combinations to show resulting gear ratios and speed at a given cadence, for fine-tuning your drivetrain.
Fuelling
DIN Calculator
dincalculator.com
Upload your GPX route (or use quick mode) for an hour-by-hour carb, fluid and sodium plan based on the ride's actual climbs and descents.
Precision Hydration Planner
precisionhydration.com
Questionnaire-based tool that builds a personalised fuel and hydration strategy, including electrolyte needs, based on your sweat profile and event details.
Best base
Gaiole in ChiantiNearest airports
Florence · Pisa · Rome Fiumicino
Car hire
Recommended due to rural location and limited public transport
Book ahead
Book very early; Gaiole has limited capacity and Siena is the most reliable larger base
Long-route starts can be before dawn, so arrange transport and breakfast in advance. Siena, Radda and Castellina are practical alternatives.
Early October can bring cold pre-dawn starts and rain that transforms the gravel.
Event size
Large, roughly 7,000+ entries across tiers
Field level
Mixed ability, heritage-oriented rather than a pure race field
Atmosphere
Festive historic ciclostorica with steel bikes and wool jerseys
International mix
High international participation
Bunch intensity
Low; non-competitive and spread over routes
First-timer
Start with Gallo Nero or Val d’Arbia rather than the full L’Eroico
Gravel handling
Practise climbing and descending on loose surfaces before race day.
Endurance base
Build toward multi-hour rides, especially for Crete Senesi or L’Eroico.
Pacing discipline
Control effort on repeated punchy climbs instead of surging.
Equipment testing
Test tyre choice, pressure, puncture setup and gearing on gravel.
Paperwork
Complete club membership, insurance and medical-certificate requirements before registration.