From October 1 to 4, Gaiole in Chianti will once again become the world capital of vintage cycling. Around 9,000 cyclists from across the globe are expected for the 29th edition of L’Eroica, bringing together white roads, vintage bicycles, music, encounters, wine and stories worth telling.
Some events simply take place in a particular location. Others, over time, become part of that place’s identity.
L’Eroica definitely belongs to the second category.
From Thursday, October 1 to Sunday, October 4, 2026, Gaiole in Chianti will once again welcome thousands of cyclists from all over the world for the 29th edition of L’Eroica. Four days during which this small Chianti village becomes a meeting point for an international community united by a passion for bicycles, white roads and a different way of experiencing cycling.
But to really understand what L’Eroica is all about, we need to go back almost thirty years.
It all began in 1997
L’Eroica was born in Gaiole in Chianti in October 1997, when Giancarlo Brocci invited 92 “hunters of feelings and emotions” to take part in a ride inspired by classic cycling and the great challenges of the past, the era of Coppi and Bartali.
The idea was simple and, at the same time, revolutionary: to rediscover cycling in its most authentic form, riding along white gravel roads on vintage bicycles and rediscovering the value of effort, adventure and sharing.
From that first edition, an international movement was born. L’Eroica has grown into a worldwide network of events involving tens of thousands of enthusiasts, yet Gaiole remains its spiritual home — the place where it all began.
And those white roads have become one of the strongest symbols of that story.
The permanent L’Eroica route covers around 200 kilometres through some of Tuscany’s most spectacular landscapes, from Gaiole towards the Val d’Arbia and Val d’Orcia, passing through Siena and Montalcino among vineyards, farmhouses and rolling hills.It is a landscape that L’Eroica has helped preserve and promote, turning Tuscany’s white roads into an extraordinary cultural and tourism asset.
The beauty of effort
Few phrases capture the spirit of L’Eroica better than “the beauty of effort and the taste of adventure.”
Here, effort is not something to be avoided. It is part of the experience.
Riders take part on bicycles built according to the event’s rules — generally dating from before 1987 — or on modern bikes designed in a vintage style. Clothing follows the same philosophy, with classic jerseys, wool garments and cycling outfits inspired by another era.
And above all, L’Eroica is not a race.
It is a non-competitive cycling event: there are no rankings to climb, no opponents to beat. Riders choose their route and set their own pace, with the goal of reaching the finish line having completed their own personal challenge.
Perhaps this is one of the most fascinating aspects of L’Eroica: thousands of people can ride the same roads, yet everyone experiences a different story.
The challenge may be completing the 209-kilometre L’Eroico route. Or simply tackling a climb for the first time, riding alongside friends, or reaching Gaiole on a bicycle rescued from a family attic.
Because the adventure begins long before the starting line.
From around the world to Gaiole, via a bicycle
Over the years, L’Eroica has become an international phenomenon.
The first event outside Italy took place in Japan in 2014, followed by Eroica Britannia and other events across Europe and around the world. In 2016, the Ciclo Club Eroica was created, while in 2017 NOVA Eroica brought the spirit of heroic cycling to modern bicycles.
Yet every October, the journey leads back to the same place: Gaiole in Chianti.
This year, around 9,000 cyclists are expected for the 29th edition. Some will travel from just a few kilometres away, others from the other side of the world. All will arrive with their own bicycle, their own preparation and their own story.
And it is this collective dimension that transforms L’Eroica into something much more than a cycling event.
The five routes in 2026
The cycling events of the 29th edition will take place on Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4.
Saturday, October 3 will feature three routes:
L’Eroico – 209 km, starting between 5:00 and 6:00 am. Bicycles dating from before 1930 will have a special start at 4:30 am.
Crete Senesi – 135 km, starting between 6:00 and 7:00 am.
Sunday, October 4:
Val d’Arbia – 106 km, starting between 7:00 and 7:30 am;
Gallo Nero – 81 km, starting between 8:00 and 9:30 am;
Valle del Chianti – 46 km, starting between 8:00 and 9:30 am.
Five routes, five different ways to experience the same adventure.
And for those staying in Gaiole, another part of the spectacle will be waiting: the return of the Eroici.
The 2026 L’Eroica Festival
The ride itself is only the heart of a much larger celebration.
From Thursday, October 1 to Sunday, October 4, Gaiole will host the L’Eroica Festival, with exhibitions, music, talks, activities for children, tastings, competitions and events dedicated to the world of cycling.
Here is the main programme.
Thursday, October 1 – The beginning
The Eroica week officially gets underway at 5:00 pm in Piazza Ricasoli with the Opening Ceremony.
Throughout the evening, riders will also be able to collect their technical packs and race packages, while the Ciclo Club Eroica, Terra Eroica, the Cycle Workshop and bike rental, the Eroica Bicycle Register, the Eroica Market, Eroica Caffè and the sponsor villages will all be open.
Generali will also offer posture analysis sessions, while Colnago will host its Retrofitting service and Nuncas will present Clean My Bike.
Friday, October 2 – Gaiole comes alive
Friday marks the first full day of the Festival.
Alongside the permanent activities, the programme includes:
10:00 am – Buongiorno Gaiole
10:30 am – Le Eroiche nel mondo
11:00 am – Press conference
11:00 am – Mini Eroica, registration
2:30–5:00 pm – Concours d’Elegance and awards
3:00 pm – Mini Eroica
3:00 pm – Ciclo Club Eroica Ride
3:00–7:00 pm – TAPPE, a programme of conversations, music and stories
3:00–7:00 pm – Giocociclismo
5:00 pm – “Dalmillesettecentosedici”, a tasting performance by the Chianti Classico Consortium
5:00–6:00 pm – L’Ora Impavida
6:45 pm – Beard and Moustache Competition
Throughout the day, visitors can also explore the Eroica Market, Sponsor Villages, Eroica Caffè, Terra Eroica, the Cycle Workshop, the Eroica Bicycle Register and the Barber Shop in Piazza Ricasoli.
Saturday, October 3 – Eroica Day
This is the day of the big rides.
In the middle of the night, preparations will begin for the longest routes. At 4:30 am, bicycles dating from before 1930 will set off on the 209-kilometre L’Eroico route. Other riders on the long route will start between 5:00 and 6:00 am, while the 135-kilometre Crete Senesi route will start between 6:00 and 7:00 am.
Meanwhile, the Festival will continue in Gaiole until late in the evening.
Highlights include:
4:30 pm – Meet & Greet with Paolo Bettini, hosted by Selle San Marco
5:00–6:00 pm – L’Ora Impavida
6:00 pm – Holy Mass and Blessing of the Eroici
12:00 noon–9:00 pm – Eroica Pasta Party
Festival activities, market, sponsor villages, Eroica Caffè, Terra Eroica, Cycle Workshop and Eroica Bicycle Register throughout the day.
And while the Eroici are out on the white roads of the Sienese countryside, Gaiole will be waiting for their return with “Ultimo chilometro. Che spettacolo!”, from 11:15 am to 9:00 pm.
Sunday, October 4 – The final day
Sunday will see the remaining three routes take to the roads.
The 106-kilometre Val d’Arbia route will start at 7:00 am. Between 8:00 and 9:30 am, riders will set off on the 81-kilometre Gallo Nero and 46-kilometre Valle del Chianti routes.
Meanwhile, Gaiole will continue to host the Festival:
9:00 am–12:00 noon – RAI live broadcast
10:00 am–6:30 pm – Ultimo chilometro. Che spettacolo!
12:00 noon–7:00 pm – Eroica Pasta Party
Eroica Market
Sponsor Villages
Eroica Caffè
Cycle Workshop
Terra Eroica
Barber Shop
Colnago and Nuncas activities
Generali nutritionist service.
At 7:00 pm, the 29th edition of L’Eroica will officially come to a close.
A celebration shared with the local community
During Eroica week, it will not only be the official village that embraces the spirit of cycling.
From Wednesday through Sunday, businesses throughout Gaiole and the surrounding area will also take part, decorating their shop windows around this year’s theme: “L’Eroica: stories of passion and effort.”
And perhaps this is one of the most interesting aspects of the event.
L’Eroica was born in Gaiole, but over the years it has built an increasingly strong relationship with the local area: its roads, villages, businesses, wineries, restaurants and, above all, its people.
For four days, Chianti becomes a vast open-air stage, crossed by thousands of bicycles and thousands of stories.
A medal for everyone
At the end of their ride, every participant will receive the traditional Eroica award.
In 2026, the philosophy of the wooden medal will once again embody the spirit of the event. In competitive sport, fourth place is the position just outside the podium. At L’Eroica, however, we are all fourth.
Because it is not about arriving before everyone else.
It is about arriving.
It is about the road that brought you there. The bicycle rescued from the attic, the climb you managed to conquer, the dust on your legs, the friends you met along the way, the refreshment stops, the effort, the landscape and that moment when you finally return to Gaiole.
Perhaps that is the secret of L’Eroica.
Almost thirty years on, the formula remains remarkably simple: A bicycle, a white road and a story to tell.
And in Gaiole, from October 1 to 4, thousands of people will be writing a new one.
Foto Credits: Paolo Martelli
Fonte: www.eroica.cc
