Poggi e Buche – Montepulciano Vintage Cycling Event
The vintage cycling event through the Valdichiana Senese and Val d'Orcia
About Poggi e Buche
A vintage cycling event in the heart of Tuscany
Poggi e Buche is the vintage cycling event held in Montepulciano, in the province of Siena, in the heart of Tuscany. An eagerly awaited date for lovers of old-school cycling, it fills the spectacular Piazza Grande every spring with classic bicycles, wool jerseys, and accents from all over Italy. More than just a ride, it is a journey back in time along the white gravel roads and rolling hills of the Valdichiana Senese and Val d'Orcia, two of Italy's most celebrated landscapes.
Classic bikes and vintage attire
The regulations are the heart and soul of the event: participants must ride in authentic period clothing and on vintage bicycles to relive the genuine atmosphere of heroic cycling. It is not about speed, but about the beauty of the experience: the slow discovery of the territory, the quality of human connections, and a sustainable way to enjoy the landscape, as the Mayor of Montepulciano himself likes to emphasize.
Four routes through villages and vineyards
The event offers four loop itineraries of increasing difficulty, alternating between asphalt and evocative white gravel roads. The tracks touch some of the iconic landmarks of southern Tuscany: in addition to Montepulciano, they pass through Pienza, Torrita di Siena, San Quirico d'Orcia, Trequanda, Chianciano Terme, Radicofani, Sarteano, and Castiglione d'Orcia, amidst rows of vineyards, cypress trees, and the famous Sienese clay hills.
- Giro del Pagliaio (short) — approx. 42 km
- Giro del Pagliaio (long) — approx. 66 km
- Giro dell'Aia — approx. 98 km
- Poggi e Buche — approx. 123 km, the most challenging route
A weekend of sport and tradition
The event is not limited to the Sunday ride. Saturday is dedicated to side events that showcase the local area: bike tours to the Lake Montepulciano Nature Reserve, guided tours of the historic center with cellar tastings, and the now-traditional meeting with Giancarlo Brocci, the founder of L'Eroica and the father of Italian vintage cycling events. Poggi e Buche is organized by ASD Cerro Bike with the patronage of the Municipality of Montepulciano and the collaboration of UISP Siena and the Vivi Montepulciano association.
Poggi e Buche — edition 2026
2026 Edition
The 2026 edition of Poggi e Buche confirmed the successful formula of a weekend dedicated to sport and tradition. The vintage costume ride started on Sunday, April 19 at 8:30 AM from Piazza Grande, with four loop routes through the villages of southern Tuscany. Saturday served as a prologue with bike tours, tastings, and a meeting with Giancarlo Brocci.
Programme Poggi e Buche 2026
Saturday, April 18, 2026 — Side Events
- 10:00 AM — Bike tour to the Lake Montepulciano Nature Reserve
- 3:30 PM — Tour of the historic center with visits and tastings in local cellars and at the Museo della Misericordia
- 7:00 PM — Meeting "La parlata del Brocci" with Giancarlo Brocci, creator of L'Eroica, at the Fortress
- 8:00 PM — Convivial dinner, in collaboration with the Nobil Contrada di San Donato
Sunday, April 19, 2026 — The Ride
Departure at 8:30 AM from Piazza Grande for all routes. Race pack collection at the Palazzo Comunale on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19.
- Giro del Pagliaio (short) — approx. 42 km
- Giro del Pagliaio (long) — approx. 66 km
- Giro dell'Aia — approx. 98 km
- Poggi e Buche — approx. 123 km (most challenging route, approx. 2150 m elevation gain)
The routes pass through Montepulciano, Torrita di Siena, Pienza, San Quirico d'Orcia, Trequanda, Chianciano Terme, Radicofani, Sarteano, and Castiglione d'Orcia.
Highlights Poggi e Buche 2026
- Four routes on gravel and asphalt between Valdichiana Senese and Val d'Orcia
- Ride in strict vintage attire and on classic bicycles
- Meeting with Giancarlo Brocci, creator of L'Eroica
- Tastings in the cellars of Montepulciano's historic center
Prices Poggi e Buche 2026
Practical information — Poggi e Buche
How to get there
Montepulciano can be reached by car via the A1 motorway (Valdichiana/Bettolle-Sinalunga or Chiusi-Chianciano Terme exits). By train, the reference station is Montepulciano-Chiusi, which is connected to the town center by bus. The start and finish lines are located in Piazza Grande, in the heart of the historic center.
Registration
Registration is available online via the official event website. Race packs can be collected on both Saturday and Sunday morning at the Town Hall (Palazzo Comunale).
Tips
Vintage clothing and bicycles are mandatory. We recommend booking your accommodation well in advance: Montepulciano and the villages of the Val d'Orcia offer numerous lodging options, which are in high demand during the spring.
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Where does it take place — Poggi e Buche
Piazza Grande
Piazza Grande, 53045 Montepulciano