Gran Fondo Strade Bianche

The granfondo that follows the legend

The Gran Fondo Strade Bianche is an amateur cycling event that allows thousands of enthusiasts to ride on the same gravel roads that, just hours later, host the stars of the professional race. Organized by RCS Active Team, the same organization behind the international Strade Bianche classic, the granfondo takes place in Siena, in the heart of the province of Siena and Tuscany, and has become an unmissable early-season fixture for road and gravel cycling.

Routes through the Crete Senesi

The event offers two courses, both starting from the Fortezza Medicea and finishing in the famous Piazza del Campo:

• Gran Fondo (long route): approximately 137.7 km with 2,000 meters of elevation gain and 10 sectors of white gravel roads, totaling over 42 km of unpaved terrain;
• Medio Fondo (short route): approximately 87 km with 1,350 meters of elevation gain and 6 unpaved sectors.

The routes traverse the most iconic landscapes of the Crete Senesi, amidst clay hills, rows of cypress trees, isolated farmhouses, and the characteristic white gravel roads that have made this corner of Tuscany world-famous.

The finish in Piazza del Campo

The most emotional moment is undoubtedly the final entry into the historic center of Siena, passing through Via di Città and arriving in the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, one of the most beautiful squares in Italy. Crossing the finish line in the same setting as the Palio and the professional race gives every cyclist the feeling of stepping into legend, if only for a day.

A sold-out event

The Gran Fondo Strade Bianche is a sold-out event every year, with thousands of participants from all over Italy and Europe competing for race bibs within hours of registration opening. The entry fee includes a race pack, technical jersey, timing service, mechanical and medical assistance along the route, refreshment stations, a medal, and the classic final pasta party.

Siena and its cycling tradition

Part of the great Sienese cycling weekend, the granfondo engages with both the professional race and the festivities animating the city. For the Municipality of Siena and all of Tuscany, the event represents an extraordinary tourist and sporting showcase, capable of combining a passion for cycling with the discovery of a territory featuring a unique landscape and cultural heritage.