History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Thanks to the recent \u201cgravel-crazy\u201d frenzy, this unique bike race has rediscovered a wave of popularity. However, the origins of the Strade Bianche<\/em> stretch back further than most fans realize. There isn\u2019t much written history about the event before its “re-installment” in 2007. Like many Tuscan cycling legends, the allure of the Strade Bianche<\/em> is rich with tales of courage and perseverance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The race archives in Florence attest to the creation of a \u201cGreat\nRace\u201d in Tuscany. Founded by the popular wine establishment Gallo in the Tuscan\nhills, the organizers sought to bring notoriety to their vintages. Around the\nturn of the century, the epic Bordeaux-Paris bike race of 1891 drew attention\nto France\u2019s premier wine growing districts. Why not draw the same attention to\nTuscany?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Gallo family race was a success in 1893, highlighting the interconnected roads between Tuscany\u2019s most powerful wineries. But regional politics regarding bicycle races changed the direction of the early Giro di Toscana into an edition more suited on paved roads. In addition, internal difficulties within the Gallo family divided the estate, and stole leadership from the great race on dirt roads. But no destination is better for excellent biking and excellent wines like Chianti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those first editions of the Strade Bianche<\/em> had its fair share of heroes, such as legendary Costante Girardengo. Considered the original campionissimo<\/em>, Girardengo was able to bike the over 300km on treacherous, trenched dirt roads. This \u201cGiro di Toscana\u201d was the modern precursor to the Strade Bianche<\/em>. And as each region began to have its official road race on paved roads, the thrills of the dirt got left in the dust. Until the popularity of gravel biking came along in 2006. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 2007 was when the men\u2019s edition of the Strade Bianche<\/em> became an official UCI event. Noteworthy names like Cancellara, Segan, Gilbert and last year\u2019s Alaphilippe have made their way to the podium over the years. This race is as important as the Tour of Flanders and the Paris-Brest classic competitions. But now, due to the coronavirus outbreak, dates have been rearranged and professionals will be hitting the dirt later in the season. Of course, most of then haven\u2019t been racing this year, but the weather in March is typically cold and rainy. Now \u2013 in the throws of the Tuscan summer – this gritty test of courage will be unleashed during the hottest month of the year<\/a>: August 1st<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, have no fear. The 2020 edition of the dusty duel has not been canceled. Actually, it will be an incredible display of skill and determination. The varied and rolling course extends over 184 grueling kilometers. There is a lack of long climbs, however the race is speckled with short steep sections on dirt and sand. There are 63 total kilometers of dirt, (with 8km similar to the women\u2019s edition) and over 8 sections with well-maintained, hard-packed dirt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n From the historic Siena departure, the first interesting section of dirt road will be at km 18, perfectly straight and narrow. The women have been dirt racing in Tuscany since 2015. The Strade Bianche has been an official qualifying race in the UCI Women\u2019s World Tour since 2016. The winner of the first ever edition was American cyclist Megan Guarnier who also won the female Gio d\u2019Italia in 2016. The first place finisher of the official UCI race was Britan\u2019s Elizabeth Armistead. Italy\u2019s Elisa Borghini brought home the highest podium finsh in 2017. This year the women\u2019s edition of the Strade Bianche boasts 136 total kilometers with over 30km of dirt road. Expect it to be a battle of the best \u2013 especially over the 9.5 km section of S. Martino in Granaia. It is bound to be a dusty battle for the title. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although there are dirt road stretches of 11km near Asciano, most of the difficulty lies in the hillier parts of the race. But climbing uphill isn\u2019t the problem: you need to be carful when going downhill. The Strade Bianche are notorious for their technical descents \u2013 on dirt. Sections like Lucignano or the descent from Pieve a Santi will put a professional\u2019s bike-handling skills to the fire. Positioning, route knowledge and sheer luck will play major roles in who will be fortunate enough to cross the finish line. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Crete Senesi are the quintessential hills of southern Tuscany. If you have ever traveled to this famous Italian region to visit Pienza\u2019s Palazzo Piccolomini and eat tagliatelle al cinghiale, you\u2019ll have recognized the unique coloring to the rock. This dry earth limestone mix of small pebbles and sand give the roads a spectacular white hue to them. One look over the lush green hills of the countryside and you\u2019ll see a mesmerizing matrix of white interconnecting farm roads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gino Bartali is possibly one of the best-known Italian bike\nracers of the 30s and 40s. Born just outside of Florence, he and Fausto Coppi\nmade cycling history with their epic duels over mountain passes and across a\ncity\u2019s cobbled streets. But Gino Bartali\u2019s heroic efforts during WWII took\nplace directly on the white roads of Tuscany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is known Bartali couriered false identification documents\nin his bicycle frame to avoid the fascist authorities during the war. He often\nwould travel on his bicycle between Florence and Assisi for the Italian Resistance,\ndelivering pictures of Jewish citizens residing in his hometown. The\ncounterfeiters in Assisi would create falsified documents using these pictures.\nEventually, he would return to pick up the fake ids and help distribute them\namong his Jewish compatriots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His actions protected hundreds of Florentine citizens. And\nhis route from Florence to Assisi took place on these same White Roads between\nTuscany and Umbria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bartali rode the Strade Bianche \u2013 the white vineyard paths \u2013\nremaining distant from the wondering eye of the Gastapo. The military patrolled\nthese dirt roads infrequently, expecting to find only simple farmers and\nignorant locals along them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Gino Bartali used his persona to justify his biking the 180km distance from Assisi to Florence as training. Already by 1938, the Italian government \u2013 including Mussolini \u2013 considered Bartali a true compatriot, claiming he was \u201cgod-like\u201d in public. As an untouchable, Bartali would use his fame and his political connections to justify his Strade Bianche training, if ever he were stopped en route to Assisi. A race on the Strade Bianche isn\u2019t just a professional bike race. It is a test of strength and courage, not only within the context of athletic tenacity, but as a measure of human justice. A race on dirt roads is remembering what good humanity can achieve when faced with some of the world\u2019s deadliest challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking for the gravel experience of your life? Get in touch with our staff at Tuscany Bicycle and get yourself ready to start digging in the dirt. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHis and Hers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nIt’s All Downhill From Here<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why White Roads?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStrade Bianche and Bartali<\/h2>\n\n\n\n