The Strade Bianche — the white gravel roads winding through Tuscan hills between vineyards and wheat fields — gained worldwide fame through the cycling classic of the same name, raced every spring around Siena. Riding them on a gravel bike remains one of the most direct ways to discover the Crete Senesi, the eroded clay hill landscape that features on most Tuscany postcards.
A route between vineyards and clay hills
From Siena, the route pushes into the Crete Senesi toward Monteroni d’Arbia and Buonconvento, alternating small roads with the white gravel tracks typical of the area. Expect around 60 km and 850 m of cumulative climbing for a full loop, on terrain that alternates gentle climbs between cypress trees and long straight stretches across open fields.
The Le Tolfe sector, used in the professional classic, remains a standout: a white gravel road climbing dead straight between two rows of cypresses, one of the most recognisable images in Italian cycling.
Getting the ride right
A 35-40mm gravel tyre is enough for this generally smooth terrain, no aggressive tread needed. Tuscan summers run hot and dry, with little shade on the stretches through open farmland — a generous water reserve and sun protection are worth packing outside the cooler months.
When to go
April to June or September to October, when the hills are still green or turned golden by the harvest. Summer, hot and dry, makes the surface dustier and the effort harder; winter and early spring can instead turn the clay muddy after rain.
Good to know
Siena, a UNESCO World Heritage art city, has a wide choice of accommodation and a direct train link from Florence, convenient for a trip combining cycling with sightseeing. Under an hour’s drive away, the Chianti wine region offers hillier, more wooded gravel terrain — a good way to vary the Tuscan scenery within the same trip.
