The Eroica, to rediscover the ancient values of cyclism

Cycling on the white roads

Once upon a time, Coppi and Bartali rode on dirt roads, hundreds of miles long, without the help of a team car and with two tires on their shoulders to cope with any holes. Today, that heroic cycling no longer exists, but to remember the courage and willpower of the champions of the past, in 1997 the Eroica was born, a cycling race that winds along the white roads of the area around Siena, featuring many of the participants riding vintage bicycles. The enrolment is open to everybody, but for logistic issues the number of participants is set to not more than 5,000. In this competition, no rankings are drawn up and no prizes are awarded: only those who choose to cover the route with a vintage bicycle, whose technical characteristics must follow certain criteria, receive the “Heroic” diploma.

Discover the Chianti by bike

For cyclists who want to test themselves, the organisation allows to choose among different paths: the purpose is to allow everyone to participate, even to those who are not professionals. Check out, for example, the itinerary called “Passeggiata”, 46 km long, which winds up between climbs and descents of the hills with a total altitude difference of almost 700 meters. Those who are most physically prepared can choose routes of 75, 115 or 135 kilometers, while the “heroics” face a 206-kilometer journey that touches several medieval villages, including Siena, and features a difference of more than 3,500 meters to complete in about 15 hours. While it is true that participants do not have a team car behind them to assist them, the organisation provides several resting points where you can stop a while for refreshments by tasting sausages, bacon and many other Tuscan specialties. Another peculiarity of the Eroica is that the starting time is free and can take place within a pre-set time frame. That is why each participant is given a roadbook to register the starting and finish times. When does this fascinating cycling race take place? Usually the first weekend of October.

How to attend the Eroica

To ride on the white roads you must plan a stay of at least a couple of days in Tuscany. The ideal solution would be to find a structure in one of the resorts touched by the race course, but during that time there is a remarkable crowd and it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to find free rooms in the Chianti area. For this reason a good option may be to choose a hotel in Siena, a structure that knows how to provide all the comforts and at the same time is not far from the starting area of the race. The 4-star structure of the group, the Hotel Garden, has all these features: it’s located a few steps from the historic center, it is a four-star hotel with private parking, just perfect for those who come to town with their bicycle. The many other services it offers should not be overlooked as well, from the swimming pool to the large park where you can relax after riding through the hills of Chianti.