Strade Bianche reveals 2020 race routes for both men and women

Italy’s Strade Bianche to go ahead with the traditional routes for men and women on August 1st

The routes of Strade Bianche and Strade Bianche Women Elite being raced on Saturday 1 August have been officially confirmed. The two races will start from the Fortezza Medicea in Siena and end in the unique setting of Piazza del Campo in Siena, after 184km and 136km for men and women respectively.

Men's Route – 184km, 11 sectors and 63km on gravel roads (34.2% of the course)

The Strade Bianche, organized by RCS Sport / La Gazzetta dello Sport, is scheduled in Siena on Saturday 1 August. “Europe’s most southern northern classic”, part of the elite of world cycling since 2017, is now a key race on the UCI WorldTour calendar. The last winner to triumph in Piazza del Campo was Julian Alaphilippe, who also won the 2019 edition of Milano-Sanremo.

Women's Route – 136km, 8 sectors and 31.4km on gravel roads (23.1% of the course)

Strade Bianche Women Elite will be held in Siena, a few hours before the start of the men’s race. Strade Bianche Women Elite is set to be one of the most spectacular races of the year, a unique event on the global cycling scene thanks both to its special course character including Tuscany’s famous gravel roads, and to the high level of participants.

All eight UCI Women’s WorldTeams, and the best seven UCI Women’s Continental Teams are expected to start, along with eight wild cards.

The 2019 edition was won by Annemiek van Vleuten (who went on to become UCI Road World Champion later in the year in Harrogate, UK) ahead of Annika Langvad and Katarzyna Niewiadoma.

The Mayor of Siena Luigi De Mossi, and the Councilor for Tourism and Commerce of the Municipality of Siena Alberto Tirelli, said: “We are excited about this new start with Strade Bianche and Strade Bianche Women Elite on Saturday, August 1st: the city of Siena is ready to welcome these two events with the best riders on the international scene. It will be an important postcard to be shown to the world with the unique natural and artistic beauties of Siena and its surroundings.”

Mauro Vegni, RCS Sport Cycling Director, said: “Strade Bianche and Strade Bianche Women Elite will mark the restart also for us at RCS Sport. Strade Bianche will in fact be the first race on our calendar, an interesting test for the rest of the season. “In addition to symbolizing the restart of cycling in Italy, these races also want to be a restart, not only from a sporting point of view but also from a tourist point of view, since cycling is closely connected to the promotion of the territory. “We are confident that these events will take place in the best way and always in compliance with the rules. We confirm the consolidated route of Strade Bianche that, for some years, has contributed to making ‘Europe’s most southern northern classic’ a point of reference among the great Classics on the international calendar.”

The Route of Strade Bianche

It’s a twisty and undulating course, with no long climbs but punchy hills, most significantly on the unpaved parts. There are roughly 63km of gravel roads, across 11 sectors, eight of which are shared with the Women Elite course.

Starting from the Stadium/Medicean Fortress area of Siena, the initial undulating kilometres are on asphalt before reaching the 2.1km-long gravel Sector 1 at km 18, which is perfectly straight and slightly downhill.

After a few kilometres the riders then face Sector 2 (5.8km), the first real challenge with a short descent followed by a long climb with sections of over 10% gradient.

The course then goes through Radi, where gravel Sector 3 starts (4.4km long; the second part of what was gravel Sector 1 in the race’s first edition) shortly followed by Sector 4 – named “La Piana” – and one of the race’s classic gravel sectors (5.5km in length, and featured in the course ever since the first edition) with no significant gradient, leading to Buonconvento.

After a few kilometres the second climb of the day starts: the Montalcino (4km at 5%). Following Torrenieri the riders face Sectors 5 (11.9km) and 6 (8km) with only 1km of tarmac in between. Both are hard, hilly, very punchy and with many challenging bends, climbs and descents.

After the second passage through Buonconvento the riders will reach the feed station, positioned in the area of Ponte d’Arbia. Soon the route reaches Monteroni d’Arbia, which marks the beginning of Sector 7 of San Martino in Grania (9.5km) in the middle of the Crete Senesi. It’s a long sector with continuous ups and downs in the first part, ending up with a twisting climb before meeting the tarmac again.

In Ponte del Garbo (Asciano) gravel Sector 8 begins. At 11.5km it’s the hardest of the race, mostly uphill and characterised by tough hills, the most important being those close to Monte Sante Marie, with steep gradients on both climbs and descents over short distances. After Castelnuovo Berardenga there’s a very short, flat section of gravel (300m) before facing, after Monteaperti, Sector 9 – it’s only 800m long, but greets the riders with a double digit gradient ramp before they rejoin the tarmac in Vico d’Arbia and then a paved road through Pieve a Bozzone.

Next comes the penultimate section of gravel (Sector 10, 2.4km) on the climb toward Colle Pinzuto, with gradients up to 15%. After a few kilometres the riders then face the last gravel section (Sector 11, 1.1km) which features a sequence of demanding descents followed by a very punchy climb (with a maximum gradient of 18%) that ends up at the Tolfe. From here only 12km separate the riders from the finish in Piazza del Campo, Siena.

Final Kilometres

The demanding final kilometres, with gradients up to 16%, approach the city of Siena along broad, straight sections of road, connected by sweeping curves, first descents and slight climbs. 2km from the finish line, the route joins Via Esterna di Fontebranda; here the gradient touches 9%.

900m from the finish line, the race route passes beneath Fontebranda Gate where the road surface becomes paving slabs. The gradient then exceeds 10% until 500m from the finish line, reaching its steepest gradient of 16% along Via Santa Caterina. A sharp right hand turn leads to Via delle Terme, and then Via Banchi di Sotto. With 300m to go, the road continues to climb slightly then, 150m from the line, a right turn leads into Via Rinaldini. The route enters the Piazza del Campo just 70m from the finish line. The final 30m descends at a gradient of 7% and the finish line itself, which is flat.

Watch the Race

You can ride and watch the race with Italy Bike Tour's Strade Bianche Weekend

Arrive July 30 | Depart Aug 3

Hotel
La Gallozzole

Details:

4 Nights (4* accommodation)
4 Days Riding
Region of Tuscany
VIP Hospitality Strade Bianche
3 Dinners
Guided Rides
Full Support
Airport Transfer
Welcome Pack
Average Daily KM 80

Arrive Florence Airport of Pisa
Depart Florence Airport or Pisa

€1199
Single Supplementi €29

Ride the Gran Fondo

Enjoy the drama and passion of Strade Bianche Granfondo. A weekend full of unforgattble moments. Strade Bianche GF is without equal and the change of date to September make the ‘new 2020 edition truly unique. A weekend of stupendous riding awaits you in one of the most beautiful areas to cycle anywhere in the world. With the customary excellent Italian hospitality make this a trip not to be missed. Whether you simply fancy joining us for the weekend of maybe combine this as part of a wider adventure make Strade Bianche your late season adventure. With unparalled experience, rock star guides and a well deserved reputation as Italy’s numbers one cycle tour operator, Italy Bike Tours will make sure you join us and ride the dream.

DAY 1- FRIDAY
FRIDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER
Meals: Dinner
Destinations: Siena Loop 65km
Hotel: Agriturismo Le Gallozzole

On arrival at Pisa|Florence airport or friendly team will be in place to bike you up and transfer you to the hotel. On arrival you will have time to unpack, relax and tweak bikes (with the support of our staff) before heading out on a costmary spin around the local area to test legs, bikes and white road!

Dinner will be served in the hotel restaurant. Marco and his team in the kitchen once aging using local produced food in a time honoured tradition that involves more than a little passion

DAY 2- SATURDAY
SATURDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER
Meals: Breakfast | Dinner
Destinations: Greve in Chinati 80km
Hotel: Agriturismo Le Gallozzole

Waking up and breath in the fresh Tuscan air. After a light breakfast we will head out on the bikes heading north in the direction of Florence. Through endless vineyards and through 13thcentury villages the ride takes you on a journey back in time.

Our destination is the picturesque town Greve in Chinati. On arrival you will have time to explore the main piazza and it’s bustling market stools. The ride continues and we stop for lunch and wine tasting in the magnificent Vignamaggio. Included in the afternoon activites is a stroll around the grounds and visit to where Leonardo Da Vicini painted Mona Lisa.

DAY 3- SUNDAY
SUNDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER
Meals: Breakfast
Destinations: Gran Fondo
Hotel: Agriturismo Le Gallozzole

Our mechanics will be on hand to make sure bikes perfectly tuned and ready to roll. The short ride to the gran fondo start line is a great way to warm up before taking your place in the starting grid.

As ever our staff will be dotted around the route with drinks and nutrition. They are there to offer support, a push and if needed a motivational speech. They will also meet you on the finish line, taking care of your bike will you enjoy the pasty party and festivities that are the finish of the Strade Bianchi Gran Fondo.

DAY 4 - MONDAY
MONDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER
Meals: Breakfast
Destinations: Home
Hotel:

This morning we offer you a truly unique and very Italy Bike Tours experience. Staff will be up early to prepae the bikes for what is our sunrise ride. A loop that allows you to maximise your time in Italy as well as the truly wonderful experience of watching the sun slowler rise acoss the Tuscan landscape. As the world wakes up we will stop in Castiglione D’Orica for café and broche. A chance to pause and watch the world go by before we hop on the bikes and ride back to the hotel. With plenty of time to shower, pack and check out, staff will be on hand to transfer you to your next destination.