There were 967 cyclists joining and riding the vintage race, with their vintage bikes!
On August 30th, the 4th edition of Eroica Montalcino took place, in the Orcia Valley.
The original Eroica, in the past years, has always taken place the first Sunday of October in the Chianti area, but this year, unfortunately, it has been canceled.
Anyway the fans will be able to join the NOVA EROICA, on 25th October.
As a result there were only 967 bikers, in front of previous editions
In fact many foreigners due to the particular situation couldn’t confirm, we hope they will do next year in the Val d’Orcia.
Our young tour leader Tommaso has decided to participate. He rented a vintage bike, the Legnano, the only one big enough for him.
Very Difficult ride, exhausting and 5 flat tires in 153 km.
Above all a lot of the enthusiasm, and from this he began the project to assemble a custom vintage bike.
Certainly it was more difficult to organize the event this year, all the safety measures to counter the spread of covid-19.
This year in the race pack you could find not only the number but also the bottle sponsored by Ciacci Piccolomini d’aragona winery and the mask with the logo.
Giancarlo Brocci, creator of the Eroica, was present at the start, and he said: “we know we can count on the sensitivity of the people of Eroica. During the years, the values of the event selected people of a rare humanity. This fact allowed us to ask them some sacrifice, but anyway we needed to try to start again exactly to give credit to that heritage of strong passion for an extraordinary sport like cycling, that with Eroica finds its own cultural roots again.”
In addition, there was a terrible weather before the start and the forecast was very bad, in other words everybody expect a day in the mud!
The night before it rained a lot, until the morning, so the departure has been postponed by one hour.
Once the race started there were only sprinkles, the temperature was perfect and the stretches of dirt road much easier with compact gravel, if we think that they are old bikes, they are ante 1987, and even if they are refurbished, they are old technology … for heroes!
There were 5 routes, all loops starting and finishing in the city of Brunello, including the 27 km, “family fun route” shortest ride
Tommaso decided to cycle the longest one, “long route” which crossed all the most beautiful white roads of the Val d ‘Orcia: San Quirico, Vignoni alta, Bagno Vignoni, Pienza, Montisi, and then also passed the Crete Senesi, Asciano, Pieve a salti, Buonconvento. And come back to Montalcino passing through Castiglion del Bosco, Poggio alle Mura, Sant’Antimo!
The Terra Eroica project is to make this route also indicated, like that one of Eroica which starts from Gaiole in Chianti – so cyclists will be able to come all the year and ride in stages, both with gravel bikes and e-bikes, to admire these breathtaking landscapes among perched villages, medieval castles, Renaissance historic centers, Brunello vineyards and unique specialties such as pecorino di Pienza and Cinta Senese!
Team Cicloposse, September 2020
