L'Eroica

L'Eroica: cycling like in the old days on the white roads of Chianti

L'Eroica is much more than a cycling event: it is a journey through time that transforms Gaiole in Chianti, a small town in the province of Siena in the heart of Tuscany, into the world capital of vintage cycling every year. Along the unforgettable white roads of Chianti, participants ride bikes built before 1987, wearing wool jerseys, carrying aluminum water bottles, and sporting traditional mustaches, all in an atmosphere suspended between nostalgia and authentic sporting passion.

A story born to save the white roads

L'Eroica was born in 1997 from the vision of Giancarlo Brocci, with the goal of protecting and promoting the dirt roads of the Sienese territory, which were threatened by asphalt, and preserving an important part of Italian cycling culture. Since then, the event has grown year after year to become a globally recognized and beloved gathering, attracting participants from dozens of countries: the 2025 edition saw 8,328 registered riders from 51 nations.

The 2026 routes

The edition, organized by L'Eroica srl, offers five tracks designed for every level of fitness, all immersed in the landscapes of the Sienese clay hills, the Val d'Arbia, and the Chianti Valley:

• Long "L'Eroico" - 209 km: the legendary route for the most well-trained riders, starting at dawn (also open to bikes built before 1930);
• Medium "Crete Senesi" - 135 km: through the famous clay landscapes of the Sienese territory;
• Cento "Val d'Arbia" - 106 km;
• Medium "Gallo Nero" - 81 km, in the heart of the Chianti Classico;
• Short "Valle del Chianti" - 46 km, ideal for those who want to experience the event in a more relaxed way.

The L'Eroica Festival

In the days leading up to the races, the historic center of Gaiole in Chianti comes alive with the L'Eroica Festival: race pack distribution, the Eroica Cycle Workshop for tuning up vintage bikes, the market and sponsor village, the vintage barber, the famous Eroica Pasta Party, and special moments such as the Bicycle Elegance Contest and the unmissable beard and mustache competition. Music and storytelling accompany the participants until the last rider crosses the finish line.

An experience of sport, landscape, and taste

L'Eroica is a unique opportunity to discover Chianti in its most authentic form: vineyards, cypress trees, parish churches, and medieval villages frame a ride that is also an immersion into Tuscan food and wine traditions, with refreshment stops along the route featuring local wine and typical products. An event that celebrates the effort, beauty, and timeless charm of heroic cycling.