Ride the famous ‘strade bianche’ white gravel roads of Tuscany, explore the medieval towns and enjoy world-famous Tuscan food and wine on this dream trip – join one of our planned departure LUXURY & CHARMING HOTEL Pienza in the heart of val d’Orcia Montalcino brunello wine, Siena the Gotham gothic city and Gaiole the Eroica town… what else? Explore the undulating white gravel roads of Tuscany—the famed strade bianche—and immerse yourself in Italy’s most classic cycling local. These white, dusted roads are home to one of pro racing’s biggest dates, with steep climbs and full-blown attacks at every bend: Strade Bianche professional race Hotels are all different experiences: old convent in Pienza, a wine producer relais in Montalcino, a villa in Siena and a castle in Gaiole The pool at each hotels (except Siena) will be well appreciated after those epic day This trip is designed for gravel bikes, You can Bring your non-strong partner: great trekking e-bike are available and suitable for the itinerary Or non-riding partner along: we have guided daily activities available for non-riders. Carbon frame GRAVEL bike or E-bike are perfect to face this tour The tour is from March to November. Day 1: Pienza & Bagno Vignoni. Meet at Chiusi-Chianciano train station at 12.00 (a stop on all major Florence-Rome lines). Transfer to Pienza, the purest renaissance town in the world, for welcome and bike fitting. Pienza the “perfect town” is a remarkable example of Renaissance-era town planning. If you have even the least appreciation for beautiful architecture, it is a treat to stroll around its cobblestone streets Check into your rooms at your hotel, which occupies a 15th-century convent in the center of town. At 15.00 Meet your guides during a bike-fitting session and get to know the rest of the group. OPTIONAL (depends on time taken in the bike fitting) short ride to Bagno Vignoni: a thermal spa town that dates back to Roman times, and Madonna di Vita Leta chapel Welcome dinner at la Bandita townhouse Day 2: Montepulciano & Vino Nobile. Your tour starts with a circular ride from Pienza. You pedal through these corridors of proud cypress trees, the scenery may look familiar from such films as The Gladiator and The English Patient. Follow the gravel tracks off the beaten path through a timeless slice of Tuscany and enjoy the first espresso, overlooking the roads we just conquered. By lunchtime you'll come to Montepulciano, the jewel of southern Tuscany, full of Renaissance palaces. After a light lunch you deserve a wine tasting at our favorite cellar juts out of town – cantine Dei or Montemercurio. Relaxing a while sipping a glass of Nobile wine… it’s time to continue: next stop is the village of Monticchiello, the quintessential Tuscan hill town. Day 3: Pieve a Salti & Brunello Land. To get from Pienza to Montalcino we select the sections of Eroica called Lucignano d'asso and Pieve A Salti. You leave Pienza and after 6 km on paved road you will take the white road toward Cosona and reach the little hamlet of Lucignano - a caffè espresso at the little shop emporio - is a must. Once you reach the paved road you ride only one km and start the other Eroica gravel section Pieve a Salti - so beautiful landscape. 9 km up and down in the rural countryside! arrive in Buonconvento by lunch time. Now you have to face the climb to the famed wine town of Montalcino Tuscany’s most celebrated wine region. a total of 10 km: 5 on paved and 5 km on gravel all through vineyards and wineries. In Montacino enjoy a light lunch and we will introduce to this legendary story, at every year Welcome Brunello with special tile. We ask you the last effort to get to Pass Lume spento, the higher point of Montalcino, and enjoy the downhill to the wine relais where you will overnight. Tonight dinner at Relais Mastrojanno pairing the dishes with rosso and Brunello they produce. Day 4: Castiglion del Bosco & Siena. L’Eroica—meaning “The Heroic”—is a celebration of the golden age of cycling. The event takes place every October when thousands of hardened cyclists travel back in time to ride these gravel roads on primitive machines of the past. The heavy lugged-steel bikes with down-tube shifters and impossible gear ratios are no match for the red wine in the participant’s water bottles and the hardman mentality. Today, we’ll have our own taste of cycling’s heroic origins as we join one of the most beautiful gravel sections of L’Eroica From Tavernelle reach Castiglion del bosco gravel section- Castiglion del bosco is the biggest brunello winery & farm belonging to Ferragamo, the famous Italian fashion designer - once in Bibbiano another section called la Piana and reach Murlo after 30 km- caffé & visit! shortly you will face another famous Eroica section to Radi, with some steep yet short up and down. Light lunch is planned at Ville di Corsano Now the last 12 km on secondary paved road to Siena Dinner at Babazuf Day 5: Gaiole, the Eroica town. Today the destination is the town where the Eroica starts After your gourmet breakfast, head out into magical Chianti. You will exit form Siena via a eroica gravel section Pieve a Bozzone, Vico dArbia making your way through wheat fields before we hit the vineyards of this celebrated wine region. Reach Pianella after 15 km. Form here you will take a long glourios section to Canonica A Cerreto, Vagliagli- all road through chianti classico vineyards - Counting castles and old hilltop hamlets! Get in Radda in Chianti for lunch time after 38 km ride - mostly gravel. now you have only 8 km to Gaiole following the Eroica path via san donato in Perano and Vertine, 2 small enchanting borgo Lodging at the charming Hotel castello spaltenna dinner on your own Day 6: Chianti hills - Castello di Brolio. Today is consecrated to explore all the villages and hamlet of Chianti Senese- start from your "castle di Spaltenna" in Gaiole and reach Castello di Brolio after 10 km - here the caffé at agribar in front of winery is a must: all cyclists, locals and visitors seems to meet there. after you can ride into the gravel section of Eroica, is short and then you will ride on very secondary scenery roads until Castelnuovo Berardenga, it worth a visit and if you are there for lunch time offer many options. Wine tasting Felsina back to the saddle and encounter other small borgo: San Gusmé and villa a Sesta - back to Brolio: to return to Gaiole you have 2 options, one road downhill and flat so somewhat easy, or challenge uphill to Castagnoli, downhill to castello di Meleto. Farewell dinner at the castle Day 7: Arrivederci, a presto. Farewell breakfast at Spaltenna castle The tour includes 6 nights in excellent luxury five, four & three-star superior hotels, 6 breakfasts, 2 wine tastings, 4 dinners, route notes, maps, elevation gain and city map, sightseeing, restaurant and shopping suggestions, all baggage transfers, a keepsake Cicloposse water bottle, and sales taxes. The cost is € 3300 per person, based on double accommodations. A single supplement is € 850. Bike Rental per entire tour: Gravel or E-bike € 260 | e-gravel € 350 La Bandita Townhouse - Pienza is a luxury boutique hotel tucked inside the historic center of Pienza. The building is a rambling Renaissance-era palazzo where nuns have lived for over 500 years. the property itself blends in completely with the Renaissance character, is a comfortable, and stylish place Wine Relais Mastrojanni - Montalcino is a serene retreat in Montalcino's countryside, offering breathtaking views of the Amiata valley, blending nature's splendor with vineyards and oak woods. Villa STR - Siena is a converted 19th-century villa, retaining its historical charm and ambiance. Recently renovated, the public areas showcase exquisite Italian classical design, complemented by a peaceful garden. Located within a 10-minute walk from Piazza del Campo. Castello di Spaltenna - Gaiole in Chianti offers an exclusive experience nestled in the heart of Chianti Classico. Luxurious guestrooms offer mesmerizing views of the valley, situated just a few meters outside Giaole in Chianti.
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