Gravel Cycling the Strade Bianche from Siena into the Crete Senesi

The Strade Bianche are the white gravel country roads of the Siena countryside, made famous by the professional race of the same name that finishes in Piazza del Campo. Recreational riders can follow the same kind of surface south-east of the city through the Crete Senesi, a landscape of pale clay hills, isolated farmhouses and cypress rows around Asciano and Monte Oliveto Maggiore. Loops from Siena commonly run from about 40 km to over 90 km, with steady climbing on loose gravel.

The riding is technical in places and is best on a gravel or mountain bike with wide tyres; a road bike is not suitable on the unpaved sections. Operators in the area, including Anima Toscana, which reviewers on Tripadvisor mention for gravel hire and multi-day gravel trips around Siena, supply bikes, route files and in some cases guides. Prices were not published in the sources checked, so they should be confirmed directly with the operator.

Riders start from Siena's historic centre and leave through one of the southern or eastern gates; the finish of the race is the steep climb of Via Santa Caterina up to Piazza del Campo. Water points are scarce on the white roads, so each rider should carry at least two bottles, a spare inner tube or tubeless plugs, a pump and a charged phone with offline maps.

The best seasons are April to June and September to October. July and August are very hot on exposed clay, and the roads can be muddy and slippery after heavy rain in winter. In an emergency, dial 112 anywhere in Italy.