What Are the Strade Bianche? Riding Tuscany's White Gravel Roads
Living in Japan and dreaming of cycling in Italy? Cicloposse Japan, based in Okayama, is the Japan-side partner of Cicloposse Italia. Contact us to start planning your tour.
Strade Bianche: what are they?
“Strade Bianche (white roads)” are the white gravel roads that wind through the hills of Tuscany. As the name suggests, they are made of bright limestone gravel that reflects the light, so the whole road seems to shine white. Across the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Val d'Orcia area alone, there are more than 600 km of strade bianche, perfect for quiet cycling with very little traffic.
Why cyclists from all over the world come here
L'Eroica: the legendary vintage bike event, born in Gaiole in Chianti in 1997.
A pro classic: today the Strade Bianche is also a top race on the UCI calendar.
The holy land of gravel: what St Andrews is to golf and Everest to mountaineering, these roads are to gravel cyclists, a place of pilgrimage.
Gravel cycling, Tuscan style
Gravel cycling combines
the speed and elegance of a road bike,
with the stability and freedom of a mountain bike.
In Tuscany you don't just ride: along the way you stop in small villages, taste the wine and enjoy the feel of cobblestones and white roads. This is slow cycling at its best.
Cicloposse Japan tours
Cicloposse Japan offers several tours to enjoy the white roads.
Self-guided gravel tour: ride freely with GPS routes and luggage transfers.
Guided adventure: explore hidden white roads with a local expert.
Eroica experience: ride through Pienza, Montalcino and Gaiole and feel the spirit of the real Eroica.
Why ride the Strade Bianche
✔ Safe roads with little traffic
✔ Stunning views and World Heritage landscapes
✔ Cycling, wine and culture in one experience
Your first Strade Bianche: a little scary at first, but you get used to it fast
The first time on white gravel, most riders feel a bit nervous. Unlike asphalt, the gravel moves under your tyres, so especially on corners it can feel as if you're not fully in control of the bike.
Don't worry: after a few hours your body adapts naturally, and the feeling of the gravel under your wheels becomes part of the fun. On dry days the limestone turns into a fine white dust, and you understand exactly why they're called white roads.
On steep white roads, an e-bike is your best friend
Some sections of the Strade Bianche are really steep. On loose gravel climbs the tyres can slip, and climbing on leg power alone is not easy. There's even a steep climb known as Il Muro (the wall). On sections like these, an e-bike (pedal-assist electric bike) is a great ally, and we strongly recommend one.
On Cicloposse gravel tours you can choose between three types of bike:
Gravel bike (carbon): for confident riders who want the light, sporty feel of a gravel bike.
E-gravel bike: the sporty ride of a gravel bike plus motor assistance. An excellent choice if you already ride regularly.
E-bike (trekking style): ideal for rolling terrain. Wide tyres for stability and a comfortable upright position.
If you've only ever ridden a road bike on asphalt, there's no need to push yourself: choose an e-bike or e-gravel bike and enjoy the white roads with peace of mind.
The main Strade Bianche sectors on our tour
Cicloposse's Gravel Cycling Strade Bianche is a self-guided tour from Pienza to Gaiole in Chianti, home of L'Eroica, riding through the Val d'Orcia, the Siena countryside and Chianti in five stages. The total distance is about 275 km, with roughly 40–60 km and 850–1,000 m of climbing per day. On most days the mix is about half gravel and half asphalt.
Around Pienza: from Montepulciano to Monticchiello, a gravel sector with stunning views and a real challenge.
Lucignano d'Asso and Pieve a Salti: sectors also used by L'Eroica, leading to Montalcino, home of Brunello.
Castiglion del Bosco and Radi: legendary Eroica sectors with short but steep ups and downs.
Chianti: through the vineyards around Vagliagli and Radda to the finish in Gaiole.
For the highlights of the Val d'Orcia and how to get there, see our Val d'Orcia travel guide.
Best seasons: spring and autumn
Spring and autumn are the best seasons to ride the Strade Bianche. Mornings and evenings are cool and the days are not too hot, so even the gravel climbs are comfortable. In spring the days are very long, leaving plenty of daylight to enjoy the views. Gravel tours run from late March to late October, but not in July and August, when the heat is too intense.
What our guests say
“Choosing an e-bike was the right call. Tuscan roads are a kind of road you simply can't ride in Japan.”
This comes from a guest from Japan, a keen cyclist who joined solo and rode an e-gravel bike. Back home, routes of 30–60 km a day had seemed a little short, but with the constant ups and downs of the gravel, the real fatigue was nothing like the numbers suggested. On long climbs he really appreciated the assistance, and he felt his body getting used to it a little more each day.
This guest joined our Tuscany Cycling & Cooking tour.
Explore our Tuscany bike tours
Ride the Strade Bianche and enjoy the wine and the rolling hills.
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