L'Eroica was born for the love of cycling that has played a major role in the history and literature of Italy. Tracing the origins of this passionate sport, the race attracts cycling enthusiasts of all ages and levels to take to the roads for one of the regions most celebrated events.
It was first held in 1997 thanks to Giancarlo Brocci, and the idea was to save Tuscany’s gravel roads from being replaced with asphalt. Thus, the race was established for a rather romantic purpose, strictly tied to the territory, and is today an example of respect for the environment, sustainable living and “clean” cycling. Its name literally means “heroic”, and that's precisely how you feel taking part in it. The bike race is strictly regulated, with only a limited number of participants (about 5.000 cyclists) allowed to join the Eroica (for the official guidelines, see here). The competition includes five different paths: 209 km, 135 km, 115 km, 75 km and 46 km.
For those who don’t have the chance to participate in the official event in October, fear not! You can ride along the permanent route every day of the year! The path is open to everyone and can be completed in one or more days by all those wanting to test their skills or simply explore the area by bike. You can also get a special road book that you can use to collect stamps along the route and be awarded a certificate.
Find more information and a list of the Eroica events at these links: