A heavenly week in Tuscany
8
Tours
37:56 h
415 mi
36,100 ft
Wine, cycling and... Tuscany. There aren't many places that one can claim are absolutely perfect for cycling. And that makes Tuscany extra special. Here, in this beloved Italian region, you can enjoy the comfortable Mediterranean climate, breathe the scent of pine cypress trees — and enjoy the view of olive groves and vineyards as you glide past on two wheels. A landscape of undulating hills, you'll also find the right mix of ascent and descent, with none of the climbs proving overly grueling. What's more, from the top of every hill, you'll be met with breathtaking views of the lush Italian landscape — before gliding back down the beautiful road, straight into stunning Tuscan towns bursting with Italian flair and innumerable culinary delicacies. Sound like cycling heaven? Welcome to Tuscany.
In this Collection, we present you with a six to eight-day ride through Tuscany. Your starting point is in Florence, from where you'll cycle south-west towards the Etruscan Riviera, crossing the world famous Chianti area. From there, a small detour to the island of Elba is something we highly recommend. After all, a short ferry ride is all it takes.
As you travel on, you'll experience the art of Italian grape-growing in the Chianti area. This is a Tuscan speciality that is impossible to ignore. As you continue onwards, you'll pass the places of origin of other famous Tuscan wines, namely Scansano, Montalcino, Montepulciano and, of course, Siena. Here, why not stop for a moment and take in their treasure trove of cultural and historical sights?
From Siena, you're presented with the second possibility to break for a detour and to extend your great Tuscan-Tour. From here, you can follow in the footsteps of the L' Eroica, the once-a-year classic cycling tour frequented by fans of classic racing bikes. This heroic, 125-mile (200-kilometer) ride culminates on the white gravel roads of Tuscany. The truncated version of this ride we present to you below has its start and end point in Siena and will let you emulate the cycling heroes of years gone by, before getting you back on the road to Florence for the next leg.
To ensure you're able to make the most of your great Tuscan Tour, we have a few pieces of advice: The best way to arrive is via Pisa airport. Alternatively, you can also arrive via Florence or Milan, or fly into Rome if you're arriving from a destination outside of Europe. The best time to undertake this ride is in the spring or the fall. That way, you'll avoid both the striking heat of the summer months and the massively inflated tourist numbers that tend to converge on the region between June and September. Regarding accommodation, the Italian agriturismo farms are ideal for cyclists: They offer a great night's stay at really reasonable prices, and they usually offer space for you to store your bike. In the Chianti area, you will find numerous agriturismo in wineries, which offer an even more unique setting to lay your head after a day in the saddle. Visit agriturismo.it for more information.
On The Map
Tours & Highlights
- Expert road ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.Difficult04:5550.8 mi10.3 mph6,225 ft4,750 ft
It starts in the Tuscany capital of Florence. Our tip: set off early, because then you can really enjoy the city. The streets are still empty early in the morning …
bykomoot - Intermediate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.Intermediate04:0659.6 mi14.5 mph2,875 ft4,550 ft
This tour is very rich in contrasts and leads you from the hilly inland of Tuscany on winding country roads and through picturesque towns in the much more modern-looking port city of Piombino.Until then you will ride on some of the most beautiful roads in Tuscany and master two exhausting climbs. The port city of Piombino is the reward for your sweat. Opposite is the island of Elba in the Mediterranean, which will inspire you with its Mediterranean flair, but above all with its great conditions for racing cycling.For the next day you have the choice: You can take the ferry over to Elba and there complete a particularly beautiful tour (which we highly recommend). Alternatively, stay on the mainland and continue your Tuscany round directly from Piombino.
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- Expert road ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.Difficult04:4450.9 mi10.8 mph5,975 ft5,975 ft
If you are planning a Tuscany tour, a trip to Elba should be there. Elba adds the cream to the already beautiful Tuscan landscape and combines the varied hilly landscape with the most prevalent view of the Mediterranean and a pleasantly mild climate.Elba itself is quite small. The manageable coastline of just 147 kilometers invites formally to a complete island tour. We have kept this tour a little more compact. You can extend it relatively easily by consistently choosing the road closest to the coast. But even this 82-kilometer tour will blow you out of breath. Because one thing Elba has in common with the rest of Tuscany. There are a lot of altitude through the constant ups and downs.Elba is not only a small excursion due to its scenic attractions. The island is just ten kilometers off the Italian mainland and is easy to reach by ferry from Piombino.
bykomoot - Expert road ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.Difficult05:2567.1 mi12.4 mph4,400 ft2,775 ft
This tour is a bit atypical for Tuscany. Because you will be driving on flat roads for a while now. This is a peculiarity of the swampy Marremagebietes, which makes up for it in large parts with a view of the sea.And do not be afraid of boredom. We said "a while". Two really athletic climbs are still waiting for you. High to Tirli on the Poggio balloons, it is particularly steep, here you can take a little break after about 40 miles completed before it continues on a beautiful, traffic-quiet descent.After another flat passage, the last climb of the day follows up to Scansano. Here you are again in the midst of the wine-growing landscape of Tuscany. The best way to stay here is, as most of Tuscany, a quiet agriturismo, where you get well and cheap. Not to forget, of course, a glass of red wine from Morellino di Scansano, grown here.
bykomoot - Expert road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.Difficult05:1560.9 mi11.6 mph6,150 ft6,025 ft
We could easily call this tour tour of the red wine. The area itself is well known for its wine growing. The places you drive today produce three absolute Tuscan classics: Scansano, Montalcino and Montepulciano may be the reason you are not quite fit tomorrow.If you are not a wine lover, today's stage still offers enough highlights. In addition to the constant ups and downs you will master the Passo del Lume Spento a really long climb and more than once distracted by the wonderful views of vineyards, pines and olive trees.At the end of the day, you did a great job with almost 100 kilometers and 1880 vertical meters. Treat yourself to a noble Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and enjoy the evening.
bykomoot - Intermediate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.Intermediate02:5237.9 mi13.2 mph2,500 ft3,325 ft
Today's tour is a bit shorter. Finally, in Italy, time to enjoy the Dolce Vita a little bit. The stage destination Siena offers so many attractions that it would be a pity not to pay attention to this exciting city.But even the ride itself will cast a spell over you. You will ride sections of the L'Eroica and get to know one of the most beautiful streets in Tuscany on the way to Asciano.The aim of the tour is the old market square in Siena, which will impress you with its sheer size and its picturesque facades. In this city, you will have no problems spending some nice and interesting hours.
bykomoot - Expert road ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.Difficult05:0639.6 mi7.8 mph3,600 ft3,375 ft
This tour is definitely something different. Instead of well-paved highways we send you today on the world-famous white gravel roads of Tuscany, where you will follow a part of L'Eroica …
bykomoot - Expert road ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.Difficult05:3348.5 mi8.7 mph4,350 ft5,250 ft
This tour takes you right through the heart of Tuscany. From Siena you will first drive over some of the most beautiful country roads over the typical hills, which will …
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Collection Stats
- Tours8
- Distance415 mi
- Duration37:56 h
- Elevation36,100 ft
