YOUR PRIVATE TUSCAN ADVENTURE

Day By Day Breakdown

A NOTE ON OUR TUSCANY ROUTES

One of the many reasons we love Tuscany so much is that the riding options are almost endless. And because we’ve called this part of the world home for so long, we’re proud to say that we’ve explored (almost) every inch of it.

Our collection of routes around our villa in Chianti would be enough to keep you busy for a season, never mind just one week, so rather than stick to a rigid programme we prefer to tailor each group’s experience based on the average ability, the time of year, and our guides’ local knowledge.

Whatever we end up riding, we promise that it will include a fine selection of our favourite roads, climbs, descents, and plenty panoramic views, and you’ll be expertly looked after at every turn by our experienced team of mechanics and guides. The following itinerary is just an example of what’s possible.

1: LUCARELLI-CASTELLINA

This ride is very much an introduction to the roads of Chianti and a chance to get you acquainted with your new De Rosa Idol. We will leave the villa and coast down a 2km descent before a short climb up towards the beautiful town of Panzano. Another quick descent from Panzano will start us on a 10km drag of 2% which will take us to Radda in Chianti, the starting point of the 2016 Giro D’Italia ITT. From here we follow the Giro TT around 20km back to the villa with the first 8km being a mange e beve (up and down) before a 10km descent to the beautiful town of San Donato in Poggio where we turn down towards the villa. This will be a little taste of what cycling with La Corsa in Chianti has to offer.

2: LA PANCA

With the introduction to Chianti out the way and a new best friend in your Moda Finale, we set off to fry bigger fish, something that both amateur and professional cyclists alike try to conquer when they’re in the area. It’s one of Strava’s most legendary segments, L’ora Del Chianti (the Chianti hour). We do intend to stop for a coffee in Greve in Chianti, which is around halfway, making it very hard to break any records! But with five taxing climbs in 56km many people will choose to roll back to the villa, but for those not satisfied, we have an extending loop which takes in another two serious ascents.

3: CASTELNUOVO BARADENGA

As with most of the rides in this part of the world we are going to climb a lot of vertical meters, although this ride south, in the direction of Siena is as tame as it gets. Several gradual climbs will take us down towards one of the most beautiful areas of Chianti and will give many of you the first taste of the all famous Strade Bianche (gravel or white roads). A coffee stop in Castelnuovo Berardenga and then we loop back round in the direction of the villa. 90km in Chianti never felt so pleasant.

4: Lucolena

Deep down, everyone wants to test themselves against the toughest and most challenging climbs that Tuscany has to offer and this route will give you the chance to do exactly that. With five serious climbs totalling 24km and nearly 2,000 metres of vertical, you’ll earn every drop of the ice-cold beverage that’s waiting for you by the pool back at the villa. Lucolena is the main climb of the day, 7.2km long and averaging 6%, and it will take us to the highest point in Chianti which is 747m above sea level. For those who feel a shortcut back to the villa would be the best bet we can shorten the loop and take out a 6.6km climb that will max out at 18% and has an average of 6%.

5. Monteluco

This ride will see us head south towards Siena and will all be fairly relaxing till we reach the bottom of the 10km ascent to Monteluco. Averaging a tame 4% but containing several sections which peak at 11% and 12% this climb will rip the energy from your legs stroke by stroke. A tricky descent down the other side we see us loop back up north and we will have lots of gradual climbs to take us back to our starting point. For anyone looking to take it easy, we can simply ride straight past the turning to Monteluco and pretend it was never even there.

6. Asciano

La Corsa’s longest ride by far, this will leave an impression of cycling in Tuscany long after you’ve returned home. The route heads down south of Siena on the amazing Crete Senesi roads used in the Strade Bianche Pro race every March. These iconic roads and the views of which they offer will have you hoping the day will never end. Some of the hills we will pass have that feeling also!

7. Brolio

From Panzano, we have a false flat all the way up to Radda in Chianti where the climb continues for another 1km before descending down for 15km leaving us a 4km gentle climb to the enchanting Castello di Brolio. From Brolio, a short climb up to Monti and then we will loop back round towards Gaiole in Chianti which is the home of the famous Eroica. After Gaiole a 6km Climb with some steep gradients awaits us in Badia di Coltibuono. We then loop back to Radda where we retrace our steps with a long gradual downhill/flat section, short descent and then a short climb back to the villa.