L’Eroica

L'Eroica is a vintage bike race which takes place at the beginning of October in Gaiole in Chianti in Tuscany, normally the first Sunday. It started in 1997 and aims to reenact historical cycling. It is open to everyone as long as a vintage bicycle is used. The bicycle is considered vintage if it is from before the 1980s and has a metal frame, gears on the frame and cage pedals.

There are various routes that can be done, from 38km to 205km, over both paved and the famous Tuscan 'white roads' (unpaved).
The event is not competitive. During the weekend there is a fantastic historical bicycle market and along the route there are various 'aid' stations which have local products ranging from bread and honey or salami to the traditional Tuscan bread soup (Ribolita). Many participates and volunteers are dressed in historical costumes making the event very colourful.

The route is completely permanently signed and is ideal for avid cyclists to follow throughout the year. For information about this visit: http://www.eroicagaiole.com/

For more information visit the L'Eroica website click here: http://www.eroicagaiole.com/
Our blog: tuscanguru.to-tuscany.com/get-pedaling-theres-an-ice-cream-waiting-at-the-top-of-the-hill/

Have a look at our villas within 10km of the start of the L'Eroica.
Please note that some of the villas have unpaved access roads, check carefully the approach road description if you are planning on biking to the start.