L'Eroica is the single must-attend event for cycling enthusiasts who were thinking about planning a holiday in Tuscany. Held on the first Sunday of October each year in the province of Siena, this is an annual non-competitive cycling event based around a theme of vintage cycling. As such, participants use vintage (i.e. pre-1987) bicycles, accessories and clothing. Combining a beloved sport with a vintage theme and beautiful Tuscan landscapes, it is a unique and fascinating annual event that can be enjoyed by those who have found a vacation rental in Siena and who are making the most out of the rich gamut of different activities and attractions that this stunning part of the world has to offer.
Founded to celebrate road cycling and the history and values of the sport, L’Eroica first took place back in 1997 thanks to Giancarlo Brocci and as part of an effort to save Tuscany’s gravel roads from being replaced with asphalt. The event preserves a way of life now gone and sees cyclists in vintage suits and on vintage bikes take to gravel roads, while silhouetted against the stunning backdrop of the Sienese Chianti, Crete Senesi and Val d'Orcia.
Today, those original romantic notions that lead to the founding of the event linger but it has become increasingly about promoting sustainable living and “clean” cycling. The race itself is strictly regulated and only around 5,000 cyclists are allowed to join the Eroica, tackling five different paths: one that is 209km long, another that is 135km long, a 115km route, a 75km route and a 46km route.
While participating in the race itself might not be possible, you can cycle the route on your own throughout the year and you can even get a special road book and collect stamps along the route to be awarded a special Eroica certificate.
So, if you’re interested in cycling, get yourself to Siena for this very special experience.
Today, those original romantic notions that lead to the founding of the event linger but it has become increasingly about promoting sustainable living and “clean” cycling. The race itself is strictly regulated and only around 5,000 cyclists are allowed to join the Eroica, tackling five different paths: one that is 209km long, another that is 135km long, a 115km route, a 75km route and a 46km route.
While participating in the race itself might not be possible, you can cycle the route on your own throughout the year and you can even get a special road book and collect stamps along the route to be awarded a special Eroica certificate.
So, if you’re interested in cycling, get yourself to Siena for this very special experience.
Photo credit: teledelacourse / CC BY-SA 2.0