Giro della Toscana Femminile – Serravalle-Quarrata Stage

Elite women's cycling arrives in Quarrata

The Giro della Toscana Internazionale Femminile – Memorial Michela Fanini is one of the most significant stage races on the international women's cycling calendar. Dedicated to the memory of Michela Fanini, the champion from Lucca who won the Giro d'Italia Femminile in 1994 and passed away prematurely the following year, the race is organized by the cycling club that bears her name, led by patron Brunello Fanini, Michela's father, in honor of his daughter and his late wife, Giulietta. On August 28, 2026, the Municipality of Quarrata, in the province of Pistoia, will host the finish of the second stage, the first road stage of the 30th edition.

The Serravalle-Quarrata Stage

The stage covers 112 kilometers, starting at 1:00 PM from Serravalle Pistoiese. The unofficial start takes place beneath the towers of the Rocca di Castruccio, while the official start is given on the Lucchese provincial road below, near the Ala Carburanti gas station. While the route appears suited to sprinters, it hides several challenges within its flat but highly technical layout.

The route features a circuit in the Cantagrillo-Casalguidi area to be repeated four times: a special intermediate sprint is located in front of the mural depicting champion Franco Ballerini, awarding precious seconds for the general classification. The stage concludes with a final circuit around Quarrata to be repeated five times, passing through the village of Vignole in front of the Banca Alta Toscana headquarters, where an intermediate sprint is located.

The Finish and Awards Ceremony

The finish line is set at the end of Via Montalbano, just a stone's throw from Piazza della Resistenza, the heart of Quarrata, where the athletes' awards ceremony will take place. The presence of the race caravan and the crowds lining the barriers transforms the day into a true popular festival for the entire city.

A prestigious event for the region

For the municipal administration, hosting the race is a great source of pride: Mayor Gabriele Romiti described the stage finish as "an honor for our community" and an international-level event that brings prestige to the second-largest city in the province of Pistoia. The race also benefits from exceptional ambassadors like former champion Michele Bartoli and godmothers like Giro winner Edita Pucinskaite, confirming the importance of an event that attracts some of the best cyclists on the world stage.

A race with symbolic value

The Memorial Michela Fanini is not just a top-tier sporting competition, but also a tribute to one of the most beloved figures in Tuscan cycling and an opportunity to promote the region. Watching the Quarrata stage in person, amidst the roads of the Pistoia plain and the landscapes of the Montalbano, offers the thrill of seeing the final sprint of an international race in the heart of Tuscany.