For Tuscany’s Old-School L’Eroica Bike Race, Leave Your Lycra at Home

Posted by Mary Anne Potts on October 7, 2009
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Post by contributing photographer Dan Patitucci of PatitucciPhoto

In Italy, a bike race is a regular occurrence, for races are everywhere, every weekend. But each fall since 1997, Tuscany’s Chianti Region is host to a special kind of race, L’Eroica.

Italian roads are typically silky smooth pavement represented as yellow lines on maps. But the map’s white lines, or strade bianche in Italian, are dirt roads, sometimes worn smooth, sometimes hideously bumpy and potholed – and most certainly always full of surprises. These are the roads for L’Eroica, the same roads used for the professional Eroica course in the spring. But instead of carbon fiber, lycra, and race radios, the L’Eroica is a game of steel frames, lugs, wool, and hairnets. It is a celebration of the sport, its rich history, and of the heroic efforts made by those who have raced in what may be the most grueling of all sports.

We decided to spend the afternoon at the finish line enjoying the many characters who came to participate. See our photos here >>
Read a feature on another famous Italian bike race, the Maratona dles Dolomites, here >>

Find a biking tour with our ratings of 200 travel operators here >>

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    Great Story ! Basically, I born in Italy but didn’t spend much time there as we shifted in Germany after the 1 year of my birth. And after that I never got any chance to go there. Italy is very beautiful country. And the best thing I am shifting there very soon as my job has been transferred there and now I am looking for any good moving company who help me in shifting my household safely.

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    what year this bicycle made of. LOoKS like vintage.

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    These are the types of bikes I grew up on in the 60s. I loved going to Italy as a kid and the old dirt roads are such a great memory. I’m glad to see some things that keep great tradition.

  8. Massimo
    September 14, 2011, 5:22 pm

    Nice story, am from tuscany but i did not never hear about this race untill now.
    Thanks for share this information and welcome to the best places in Tuscany one of the most beauty region in the world…

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    September 26, 2011, 3:16 pm

    I remember having a bicycle like that when I was younger. I miss the days of people riding bikes around and not having to eat that disgusting smog I smell daily.

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    Definitely leave the lycra at home. I can’t wait to see a bike like that in downtown Philadelphia, it would be great.

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