OVERVIEW
HIGHLIGHTS
ACCOMMODATION
GETTING THERE
PACKING LIST
FAQs
OVERVIEW
Tuscany is home to some amazing riding. It’s no surprise it’s the scene of WorldTour level races and a favourite for gravel riders. Expect perfect white gravel roads, beautiful rolling countryside and plenty of climbs with breathtaking views.
Our route also includes some stunning secret spots that our local partner is lucky enough to spend the year exploring.
After a short warm up ride on day one, (time permitting) the remaining three stages range from 60-100km. The riding is varied through gravel roads, back roads and some off road sections on dirt tracks.
Each day we roll out in small groups of friendly, supportive riders of a similar speed to tackle the route together. Each group will be led by a guide based on rider speed so the quicker, more experienced riders will be in the front group and the back group will go at a more relaxed pace. All groups are no-drop and the aim is to soak up the scenery and take in the vast landscapes. It’s not about speed but the journey!
We have two support vans out on the route to help with any mechanical issues and provide our feed stops. Each evening we will eat together and have a ride briefing where our team will run through the next stage and talk you through the region we will be riding through.
Included in Ride Package
Accommodation
4 nights in charming 3 & 4* local hotels. Choose private single, shared twin (2 beds) or shared double (1 bed) rooms.
Airport Transfers
Fly into Pisa (PSA), our team will be on hand to collect you & drop you back off on departure day.
3 Epic Stages
Full ride support with guides leading small groups, van support & regular feed stops with a short warm up ride on arrival day.
Meals
Bring some money for drinks but our package includes 4 dinners, 3 lunches & 4 breakfasts.
Regular Stops
Regular feed stops approx every 25km with lunch stops in beautiful local cafes / restaurants.
Luggage
We move your overnight bags from hotel to hotel each day and provide a day bag to collect at lunch.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED: Flights, Insurance (mandatory), Drinks with lunch & evening meals
REAL RIDER REVIEWS
Everything really. From the routes to the hotels and food. Speaking to new people and especially the ride leaders Helen, Holly and Ingo. James and Francesco were brilliant too!
Tasos 
Beautiful location, excellent support from all your crew, superb local guide.
Elizabeth 
Great group of riders and as always brilliantly managed by Helen and team. Ingo was the perfect local partner.
Andy 
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ITINERARY
DAY 1
Arrival into Pisa airport, transfer to San Gimignano (transfer takes approx 1.15 hours). Time permitting end the day with a beautiful 35km warm up ride.
DAY 2
Stage One: San Gimignano to Siena - 107km, 2200m elevation, 50% off road
DAY 3
Stage Two: Siena to Panzano - 107km, 2450m elevation, 50% off road
DAY 4
Stage Three: Panzano to San Gimignano - 60km, 1200m elevation, 55% off road
DAY 5
Stage Four: Lipica to Portoroz - 87km, 1700m elevation, 55% off road
DAY 5
Departure day, transfer back to Pisa airport.
*Most of the on road sections are on quiet country lanes or smaller roads. We spend almost no time on roads like home. Due to the nature of gravel riding, the routes may change based on weather / trail conditions.
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS
The home of gravel cycling
With a massive network of gravel roads and an amazing history in this bike mad region, Tuscany truly is the home of off roading.
Food & Wine
Each evening we enjoy local food & wine as we alternate between small hotels in the rolling hills and a night in stunning Siena.
Iconic white roads
Ride sections used in the legendary Strade Bianche & L’Eroica as well as some stunning local secret spots our local crew are lucky enough to spend the year exploring.
CULTURE
Cycle through beautiful medieval Tuscan towns and wonder over the unique architecture. Learn about the history of the region from our local guide.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Accommodation
We’ll stay in charming 3 & 4* hotels each night in the heart of Chianti. You can choose between a private single room, shared twin (2 beds) or shared double (1 bed) room. All of our hotels are hand picked and we stay in some really charming places.
Bike & Tyre Choice
The route is designed for gravel bikes. We have had plenty of riders do this route on e-bikes and the batteries have lasted the entire stage. There is a lot of smooth gravel & some mixed surfaces with more challenging terrain. Trail conditions can change, after a lot of rain there can be deeper ruts and mud, but generally this route is ideal for a standard gravel bike with 35-42mm tyres.
Food
Italian food is renowned worldwide and is one of the highlights of the trip. Breakfasts are standard buffets at the hotels (always with a few interesting options to start your day!), lunches are in local restaurants and are mainly antipasto, pasta, risotto etc. Evening meals are a mix of meals in the hotel and local restaurants, with plenty of options for vegans & vegetarians. We also start and finish in San Gimignano which is famous for not just one but two of the best ice cream shops "in the world"!
weather
September in Tuscany is usually great riding weather, with warm and sunny days (expect around 18-25°C). Rain is not uncommon during this time of year however, so a waterproof jacket and layers (arm warmers, gilet, etc.) are must-packs. Evenings are casual but temperatures can be cool so it’s worth bringing warmer layers and a coat.
Terrain
They aren’t called the rolling hills of Tuscany for nothing! The route mixes short and spicy climbs with longer ascents at steadier gradients. There are plenty of descents, both on and off road, with sections of loose gravel to navigate. Expect a couple of very short technical sections each day, however if you are comfortable riding the gravel in the UK, you will enjoy the challenge. This is a stunning route, with a brilliant mix of road and off road terrain, and something for everyone to enjoy.
The Route
Our local partner has created us a truly magnificent route taking in some of the quintessential Tuscan gravel around the Chianti region. Expect sections of official Strade Bianche mixed in with tree lined gravel roads, some easy technical riding, as well as quiet roads.
7 UNMISSABLE HIGHLIGHTS IN TUSCANY
NUMBER One
Glorious ride in the Chianti hills
This trip is spent in the beautiful hill country around Siena & San Gimignano surrounded by Cyprus Trees, historic vineyards, sleepy villages & old estates.
None of the three stages is easy, with a lot of climbs (typically 2-6km long) and some stunning views from the summits. This is one of the great regions to gravel ride in across Europe.
NUMBER TWO
Siena
In our humble option, Siena is one of the most beautiful and impressive medieval cities in Europe.
The heart of the city is the famous square, the Piazza del Campo, home to the iconic horse race (Palio) around Siena and the opening to James Bond's Quantum of Solace. Siena also has the world's oldest bank, dating back to 1472 and some amazing local dishes.
number three
Strade Bianche
Tuscany is the home of gravel cycling and particularly the recent gravel revival. This is one of the main regions for riding in a country that is cycling mad and the white roads represent the traditional culture.
More recently, Strade Bianche began life in 2007 and is now one of the main WorldTour races each spring. We ride several sections, each marked with the distinctive SB marker, along our route.
Number Four
Food!
If Tuscany is famous for one thing, it's the amazing wine. Or the stunning pasta. Or ice cream. Or coffee.
During and after each day’s challenging riding you will be more than ready to get stuck into the amazing food at lunch (where we stop at lovely local restaurants) & dinner which is in our hotel or in hand picked local restaurants.
Number five
San Gimignano
The trip starts & finishes in this beautiful hilltop village.
San Gimignano is famous for it's 13th century towers, which were a symbol of wealth for the elites of the time and has some charming squares and excellent ice cream shops! It's a stunning place to start our Tuscan adventure.
Number six
L'Eroica and the soul of Italian cycling
We head into Gaiole in Chianti on the second stage of the ride and check out the old bikes and cool clothing in the shop in town.
L'Eroica is now 28 years old and celebrates the culture & history of our sport. Thousands of riders from around the world use a vintage bike on a long (and very challenging) route in the area and the sportive became so popular that the pros created Strade Bianche as an homage to it.
Number seven
Pure Escapism
As much as anywhere else we ride in the world, this route gives us so much time on quiet back-roads and well maintained gravel trails with glorious views in all directions.
Each stage is tough and contains long climbs where you can just find your rythm and chat with riders nearby as you soak in the beautiful countryside and enjoy the slow pace of rural Tuscan life.
STAGE DETAILS
Route Summary:
The first big day! Today takes us from the rolling hills around San Gimignano to the beautiful city of Siena.
The route starts on tarmac with a warm up climb after 4km (3km at 5.5%) before we hit our first gravel.
The main challenge of the day is a gravel climb coming a third of the way into the ride (4km at 7%) but after this the route is mostly rolling with some stunning views in the hills to the South West of Siena.
Ride Distance: 107km Ride Elevation: 22000m % Off Road: 50% Difficulty: 4/5
Route Summary:
The Queen Stage of the tour. Starting out in Siena, we head south and ride the classic 8km San Martino in Grania section as featured in Strade Bianche. This is a long false flat with some punchier parts and you can see the gravel road stretching out for miles in front of you.
After this we head north into the Chianti hills for some gravel and tarmac roads on glorious rolling terrain.
Ride Distance: 107km Ride Elevation: 2450m % Off Road: 55% Difficulty: 4.5/5
Route Summary:
The final stage takes us back over the hills and through the heart of the Chianti region. The toughest of the climbing is in the morning on fresh legs as we head west back into Siena province where the terrain is lumpy but few long climbs.
After our main feed stop the final part of the ride is on great rolling roads (a mix of gravel & tarmac) before a finish back in the centre of San Gimignano.
Ride Distance: 60km Ride Elevation: 1200m % Off Road: 55% Difficulty: 4/5
ACCOMMODATION
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PACKING LIST
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GETTING THERE
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Flights
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Transfers
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Outbound
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Your Guides
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Rental Bikes
getting to Tuscany
Fly Into: Pisa Airport (PSA)
Flights From: There are regular direct flights from London (all airports) with Easyjet, Ryanair, and British Airways.
Transfer Times:
On arrival day, transfers will be at 10.30 am and 12.30.
On departure day, the first transfer leaves the hotel at 8am for flights departing Pisa after 11.00am. The later transfer leaves the hotel at 12pm for flights leaving Pisa after 3.30pm.
Note: transfer times are subject to change should flight times change. Final times will be confirmed and sent to you a month before your trip.
Accommodation & Meals
The hotels in Slovenia are a good standard. We stay in a mix of superior 3* and 4* hotels. Choose between a single, shared twin or double room. You can add your preferred room mate in the booking notes.
In Kranjska Gora & Bohinj the hotels overlook the mountains & lake. Our hotel in Lipica is world famous for it’s white horses and we finish overlooking the Adriatic. Luggage is transferred from hotel to hotel & bike boxes are transferred from Bled to Portoroz on the first afternoon.
Evening meals are buffets with pasta, salads, meat & vegetables. Lunches at feed stops are local restaurants as we try some of the local delicacies. Vegan, gluten free and other dietary options are available.
packing list
Cycling Kit
Bibs/shorts | Jerseys/tops (consider LS t-shirts for cooler temperatures)
Gilet | Waterproof jacket | Arm warmers
Cycling shoes | Socks | Mitts
Helmet | Sunglasses
2 bottles | Chamois cream | Sun cream
GPS device with handle bar mount
Bike spares
2 x inner tubes suitable for the size of your tyre
Spare tyre | Tyre levers
1 x puncture repair kit (if running a tubeless set up, have a tubeless repair kit including plugs and spare sealant)
Multitool | Chain link specific for your bike chain
Spare rear mech hanger for your bike
Small pump | Rear light
Spare batteries/charging cables for lights
Personal Medical kit
1 x crepe roll bandage | Gauze or similar absorbent dressing
Small set of scissors | Tweezers | Pain Killers (paracetamol)
Steri-Strips | Antiseptic (spray, cream or wipes)
Assorted plasters | Rubber gloves | Prescribed medication
Hotels & Meals
Accommodation: The hotels in Tuscany are generally smaller, family run hotels and are a good standard. We stay in a mix of delightful 3* and 4* hotels in the heart of Chianti. You can choose between a private single room, shared twin (2 beds) or shared double (1 bed) room.
We stay at:
San Gimignano – La Cisterna
Siena – Four Points
Panzano – La Pensione & Villa le Barone
San Gimignano – La Cisterna
Meals – 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches on the road, 4 dinners are included in the package. Drinks with lunch & dinner are excluded.
DATES & PRICES
START
FINISH
SINGLE ROOM
TWIN/
DOUBLE ROOM
DEPOSIT
DATES & PRICES
FAQs
This route is designed for anyone that is comfortable riding on the gravel in the UK. The off road riding is much smoother than most gravel in the UK but there are a few technical sections & after long periods of rain, some of the gravel can be cut up / rutted.
Each stage is moderately difficult with daily elevation between 1300m & 2500m. There are long climbs on the first & second stage and lots of shorter climbs on the last two stages.
The closest airport is Pisa Airport (PSA). There are daily direct flights from all London Airports.
On arrival day, transfers will be at 10.30 am, and 12.30. Check-in and bike boxes will be available from 14.00.
On departure day, the first transfer leaves the hotel at 8am for flights departing Pisa after 11.00am. The later transfer leaves the hotel at 12pm for flights leaving Pisa after 3.30pm.
The transfer takes approx 1hr15mins.
Note: transfer times are subject to change should flight times change. Final times will be confirmed and sent to you a month before your trip.
September in Tuscany is usually great riding weather, with warm and sunny days, and cooler evenings. Expect around 18-25°C during the day.
British citizens do not require a visa to enter Italy.
Travel insurance is compulsory for our trips, and you are required to provide us with your policy information before departing.
Your insurance should include adequate cover for cycling abroad, any emergency medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and your bike. We also recommend it includes cancellation insurance, should you be unable to join the trip for specific reasons such as illness.