Bartali's Tuscany Ride
Relive Bartali’s story of the book Road to Valour
Ride through the beautiful medieval villages of Tuscany and Umbria
Try hand made Pici, Fiorentina Steak and enjoy Brunello di Montalcino wine
Enjoy this special cycling holiday in the heart of Italy. The adventure begins with Gino Bartali’s epic route from Florence to Assisi over which he smuggled resistance documents during WWII, then explores some of Tuscany’s most memorable countryside included in granfondos including L’Eroica and Strade Bianche.
The first part of the week will be dedicated to the inspiring story of Gino Bartali, narrated in the famous book Road to Valor by Aili and Andres McConnon: Bartali was not only one of the strongest cyclists at the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, but also an underground hero during the Second World War. Reliving his journey from his house in Florence Ponte Ema to Terontola train station, we will visit Bartali’s Museum and ride the same route along which Gino saved the lives of many Jewish people by carrying forged identification documents hidden in the tubes of his bicycle. Our journey will then head to the magnificent city of Assisi, UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The second part of the week will take us across two more UNESCO sites, from the marvelous Val D'Orcia all the way to Siena. We all have in mind those Tuscany postcard-like dirt roads, running between lines of cypresses, surrounded by vineyards of famous Brunello di Montalcino, Montepulciano and Chianti red wines—also the setting of the most incredible segments of L’Eroica, Strade Bianche, and Giro d’Italia. We also follow the epic winding roads used in the Millemiglia historic car race, arriving at San Quirico d’Orcia. The well-deserved “grand finale” of this unforgettable week with Ital Cycling is a triumphant entrance into the main square of Siena, setting of the Palio delle Contrade historical horse race, and finish line of Strade Bianche. Do all of this using our gravel bike and ebike to rent!
Itinerary
1
Meet Ital Cycling team and your fellow riders and start getting in the mood of this week dedicated the soul of Italian cycling history. Take a walk in the center of Florence and enjoy a wonderful Italian dinner in Bartali’s hometown.
Accommodation: Poggio Baronti B&B
2
After a private tour at Gino Bartali Museum, our first day ride will start right from Bartali’s house. A pleasant ups and downs on non-busy roads will lead us to the town of Arezzo on paved roads, immersed in woodland, olive trees fields and vineyards.
Accomodation: Villa Baldelli
3
From Arezzo we will cycle to Terantola train station, where, during WWII, Bartali would use his popularity to distract the police in order to facilitate the escape of Jewish people. Heading southwest, we will stop in a small cafe on the hills overlooking Lake Trasimeno before arriving . The route will end in Assisi, and incredible medieval city, birthplace of Saint Francis, founder of the Franciscan Order, where its art masterpieces, such as the Basilica of San Francesco and paintings by Cimabue and Giotto, have made this place a reference point of Italian and European arts and architecture. After the climb to the city center, a typical torta al testo will pay back all the fatigue!
Accomodation: Borgo Antichi Orti
4
Today we will pedal through Val d’Orcia Tuscany UNESCO site, heading to Pienza, a stunning landscape that inspired artists like photographer Franco Fontana, and continue on mixed terrain to the beautiful medieval village of Montepulciano, with its square overlooked by Pulcinella Tower (popular Italian folklore character) and famous for its Nobile red wine. The beautiful winding roads of Tuscany will take us back to San Quirico from its most famous Millemiglia road.
Accomodation: Palazzo del Capitano
5
The day and the ride will be dedicated to the ancient town of Montalcino famous for its Brunello red wine and to L’Eroica route, across Tuscany most beautiful landscape. A Fiorentina steak but also excellent vegetarian dishes will make this dinner special.
Accomodation: Palazzo del Capitano
6
We will descend from San Quirico to admire Tuscany’s roads dotted by cypresses and to cycle on these beautiful hills covered in vineyards, sunflowers and wheat fields, warming up our muscles for the climb to San Giovanni d’Asso. On the way to Asciano we will pass Baccoleno beautiful farmhouse, with its enchanting winding road. We will continue riding in the heart of Chianti region, through its famous vineyards and across Castelnuovo Berardenga, heading to this wonderful week “grand finale” with the arrival at Siena iconic Piazza del Campo, set of the world-famous historical horse race, Palio di Siena and finish line of epic Strade Bianche grandfondo.
Accomodation: La Certosa di Maggiano
7
This is your last chance to visit Siena and to have a glass of red wine or a Negroni. Goodbye Tuscany!
Google Map
Dates + Availability
| DATES | PRICE | SINGLE SUPPLEMENT | AVAILABILITY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14/04/2024 - 20/04/2024 | €4.890,00 $5,330.00 |
€ 800,00 $ 875.00 |
Book Now |
Inclusions + Details
The price includes
- 6 nights stay hotels in double room with breakfast | every day laundry service
- 6 light lunches: every day during or after the ride | 6 dinners in finest restaurants we have chosen for you
- Cycling guide | holiday manager | van and mechanic in tow for ordinary assistance (snacks and drink) | photos and videos along the routes and during visits
- All minivan transfers, bike and luggage transport | transfer from and to the airport of Florence
- Welcome kit Vince Team supplement | 20% discount on Cinelli Bike apparel and accessories
The fee does not include
- Flights
- Travel insurance
Anything not mentioned in "The price includes"
Bikes
Ital Cycling Bike Tours offers you a road bike rental which is at a professional level.
The Superstar is Cinelli’s cutting-edge carbon fiber re-interpretation of the mythical Italian stage-racing bicycle that is the brand’s heritage and DNA.
Unlike other brands who each year offer bicycles with ever increasingly narrow scope of use, Cinelli, when developing the Superstar, obsessed over the way in which the inherent qualities of carbon fiber and its manufacturing processes could be employed to produce an aggressively contemporary version of the legendary versatility of the Italian Grand Tour ride quality i.e. the intelligent balance of low-weight, aggressive handling over highly varied terrain and long-distance riding comfort.
The K60 is the ideal model for those who switch to a carbon frame for the first time and wish to do so while being careful to optimize the quality / cost ratio. Also designed for cycle touring, the reactivity and stiffness of this bike will amaze you! The monocoque carbon frame weighing about 990 grams, is characterized by modern lines, in the name of cleanliness and elegance.
When we first premiered the Factor O2, it was ridden to mountain top stage victories at the Tour de France and second place at Paris-Roubaix. As good as that version of the O2 proved to be, this revamped O2 is even better, thanks largely to improved manufacturing techniques that allow us to make the frame lighter, stronger, and more durable.
There are several reasons to choose an electric road bike like the Navir I.ON. It allows you to go out with more prepared companions. It paves the way for you to achieve goals you have never imagined before. So why put limits on passion? Carbon monocoque frame conceived by Guerciotti in the same way as for the muscular version of Navir. Navir I.ON features a 500 Wh lithium-ion battery, which will give you an assistance range of up to 220 km. The electric assistance of Navir I.ON is powered by a powerful 250 watt Italian motor, with a maximum torque of 70 N/m. Polini E-P3 boasts a unique design, compact dimensions and a lower weight than the e-bike motors available on the market today.