Tuscany Gravel Explorer & Eroica

This unique tour embraces quintessential Tuscany but from a more off-the-beaten-track perspective and will appeal to any of you out there with a passion for finding the road less travelled. The full tour includes the option to finish with a chance to ride the famous Eroica Gaiole vintage bike race.

Our gateway for this tour is the beautiful city of Florence. From here we are able to explore many of the cycling routes of ‘La Bella Toscana’ that we have got to know so well over the years, including the Val d’Orcia, Chiantigiana, and the 7 bridges roads. Our route takes in the beguiling towns of Arezzo Siena and Loro Ciuffenna, as well as a plethora of enchanting hill towns along the way. Our refreshments will focus on the Sangiovese grape and general relaxation catered for by the numerous natural springs – ‘terme’ – that can be found en route.

What is gravel riding? A nicely presented video from Shimano that explores the essence of what they believe gravel riding to be all about. Try watching this without an urge to get out there and explore!

Turn your ride into one of historical proportions and take advantage of the chance to be part of one of the world’s greatest cycling events – L’Eroica (literally, ‘The Heroic’). Conceptualised in 1997, by the visionary Giancarlo Brocci, as a means of protecting Tuscany’s fabled ‘Strade Bianche’ from being paved, the ride can normally only be entered via a lottery system.

We have the good fortune of being able to acquire guaranteed entries as one of the official Eroica tour operators. We bypass the lottery system and therefore guarantee entry to all of our riders.

In terms of your steed you have 3 options: you can choose to bring your own, rent a ‘normal’ bike from us for the Tuscany Gravel Explorer stage, or spend the whole tour on a ‘vintage’ bike (either your own or rented from us).

For the Eroica the rules are that you must ride on a pre-1987 steel frame bike with ‘rat trap’ pedals, down tube shifters, and exposed cables, wearing woollen jerseys, and fuelled by decadent Italian food and wine! Vintage bikes are available to rent if you do not own one.