Brevetto Strade Bianche

It is defined by cycling lovers around the world as “La Classica del Nord più a Sud d’Europa” (The Classic of the North in the southernmost part of Europe): it is the competition that runs along these roads, loved by the public and runners, so much so that it has already been awarded the title of sesta classica-Monumento (sixth classic-Monument), a monument to epic cycling in modern times.

The itinerary, which crosses many municipalities, is part of the Medici Fortress in Siena, the town where time seems to have stopped in the thirteenth century. Inscribed by UNESCO in 1995 as a World Heritage Site, Siena has in fact earned the recognition for having skillfully preserved the peculiarities of its medieval structure.

Sovicille, on the southern slopes of the Montagnola Senese, it is the Tuscan municipality with the highest concentration of parish churches, abbeys, castles and villas.

Murlo is a small, intact medieval village set in the center of unspoiled territory and is famous for the presence on the nearby hillside of a peculiar Etruscan settlement, Poggio Civitate.

Montalcino, a splendid medieval village known in the world of wine lovers for the Brunello di Montalcino, a red wine gifted with great longevity.

Near Monteroni d’Arbia is located Lucignano d’Arbia with its Parish Church, existing since the year 913, and the very famous Grancia di Cuna, a majestic, fortified farm built in 1314.

In the heart of the Crete Senesi, surrounded by breath-taking views, stands Asciano, an ancient village of Etruscan origins whose historic town center is a treasure trove of art and history.

The territory of Castelnuovo Berardenga is a checkerboard of uneven slopes and hills guarded by castles, churches, and fortifications, to which ascending avenues of cypress trees are a prelude.

The route is very bumpy and hilly both in the flat plan and elevation, devoid of long climbs, but dotted with more or less steep climbs, especially on dirt roads.

Completed in one day, it is a decidedly challenging route, the prerogative of the best trained cyclists; if you are not in this category, we suggest you break it up into two or three stages to make it more within your reach and enjoy the scenic, historical and food and wine beauties of the territories.

There are about 63 km of dirt roads divided into 11 stretches with well-maintained, well-trodden surfaces, free of grass and with little gravel on the surface.

Each stretch of dirt road, then, is identified by a slab of travertine, so as to be a guide for cyclists who want to try their hand on these roads for giants, and then combine the pleasure of cycling with the discovery of the territory – gastronomy - the excellence of Tuscany.

The Patent Dirt Roads is a digital certificate that is issued to every cyclist who has ridden along this famous route.

Itinerary by stradedisiena.it