Strade Bianche Gran Fondo and Pro Race

VIP&Hospitality options available

2018 Strade Bianche Gran Fondo & pro race weekend

Saturday March 3, 2018

Duration: 3 days Distance: 176km

Fancy a bit of gravel racing? Watch and ride the 2018 Strade Bianche and 2018 Gran Fondo Strade Bianche in a weekend. Includeing a 4 star hotel in Siena, mechanical support during the Granfondo, Granfondo registration fee, support van and welcome Aperitivo …You can watch the Pros on the Saturday and the Gran Fondo takes place on the Sunday. The perfect chance for riders and non-riders to explore the beauty of Siena while watching some incredible cycling.

DETAILS
The Strade Bianche is one of the most popular cycle races on the circuit with its unique character and fantastic location in and around Siena in Tuscany, Italy. Even though the race has only been taking place in the last 10 years, it attracts a lot of attention and was added as a UCI World Tour event in 2017.
After the pros tackle the “white roads” on the Saturday, you have the option of riding the ‘Strade Bianche’ yourself. The long course will be identical to the Women Elite’s route, while the short course will be 74.5km with six gravel roads sectors, for a total of 20.5km on Strade Bianche. Both distances start and finish in Siena.
Strade Bianche: Trip Highlights
- Stay in a 4 star hotel in Siena
- Enjoy 3 breakfasts and evening meals
- Take advantage of our van support on rides
- Watch the Strade Bianche pro race
- Entry for the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche, 77km or 129.8km included
Prices
£689 per person based on two people sharing a twin room
Single supplement of £159 for the sole occupancy of a room
£50 reduction for non-cyclists
What is included:
- 3 nights hotel accommodation
- 3 breakfasts including an early breakfast on race day
- 3 Evening meals
- Aperitivo on arrival day
- Guided bike ride on Saturday
- Bike storage at the hotel and mechanical assistance
- Vehicle support and mechanical assistance during rides and the Gran Fondo
- Guaranteed entry to the event
- A Sports Tours International cycling jersey made by Santini – More information
Also available:
- Return airport transfers from Florence airport for yourself and your bike (Available at £90) – Arrival transfer will be at 1500 so please book flights arriving prior to 1430. Departure transfer, book flights departing after midday.
- High end road bike rental available at £129 for the weekend – Contact us for more details
- Travel Insurance – highly recommended. Don’t forget to insure your bike. visit our insurance page
Available on all travel packages:
Return transfer between Florence airport and the hotel: £90 per person

Twin to share
Do you want to come and join our group but your friends haven’t put in the training? Are you a single traveller and you don’t want to pay the sole occupancy charge? If the answer is yes to any of the above questions then you can make use of our ‘twin to share‘ option. Come and join our group and we will pair you up with another rider (of the same sex) and you can enjoy the event without having to pay extra.
Read More
After the great success of the 2017 edition – where 5,000 sportive riders participated at the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche by Trek – the 2018 edition will continue to grow thanks to its incredible appeal, raced in the unique scenery of Siena and of the Crete Senesi.
In March 2017 the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche presented by Trek had 5000 participants with some famous faces taking part like Fabian Cancellara with his former team Trek – Segafredo and other champions like Paolo Bettini, Johann Museeuw, Ivan Basso, Andrea Tafi, Alessandro Ballan, and Alessandra Cappellotto.
The men’s race was won by Roberto Cesaro in 3h48’10”, while Simona Parente claimed the title in the women’s category in 4h07’56”.
Below you see our group of riders hanging out with Ivan Basso and Peter Sagan at our hotel before the race.
VIP experiences and stage hospitality
As official tour operator of the 2018 Strade Bianche we are pleased to offer you some fantastic special VIP access options on every stage which you can purchase as stand alone tickets without hotel or travel package:
- Start Village (VIP start village access) at £79 per person per stage
- Club Truck finish line hospitality at £125 per person per stage
- A day on the course in an official car (Drive experience) – £919 per person – Available on Request – E-mail us
- Helicopter Experience – £1375 per person – Available on Request – E-mail us
Start Village (VIP start village access)
The 2018 Strade Bianche entourage and organisation will set up with the team busses within an enclosed and restricted area. An expo type village is created at the start. It is usually here that everyone who is linked in any way to the Strade Bianche like TV, sponsors and celebrities from the cycling world will show themselves. Also local companies will be keen to show off their wares. Your VIP passes will give you access to the village and the rider’s paddock. If you are into collecting autographs, this is the best place for it. It is in the Start Village where the athletes assemble in the morning along with sponsors and organisation and management before they set off.
MEET THE RIDERS IN THIS ELECTRIC ATMOSPHERE!
When you arrive in the start stage town, the Strade Bianche Club staff will welcome you. You will receive a day pass which gives you access to the Hospitality Area with snack/coffee bar service available. You will meet the riders and experience the exciting pre-race atmosphere. The highlight of the day is that you will get up close with the riders and you can mingle with the racers and team directors and other people close to the inner world of cycling. Many people really enjoy the start village access due to the fact that you get very close to actual riders and you get a good insight into the inner workings of the 2018 Strade Bianche.
Club Truck finish line hospitality
The Strade Bianche sets up a limited number of areas located on course within the final portion of the stage for special access called Club Truck. Guests of the Club will arrive at the finish a little before the cyclists, and will have access to the Club Truck, reserved for the top stars and located in a privileged area near the finish line. The Truck will offer snack/coffee bar service, and TV screens will broadcast the final kilometres of the race until the riders come into view. Every guest will receive the exclusive Strade Bianche VIP bag. After the finish we will return to the hotel and have the evening meal.
A day in an official car (Drive experience)
Our most popular VIP option is to spend the whole day on the course during the event. You will meet your driver at the start village and drive the course in front of the caravan. A packed lunch is included on the way and at the stage finish you will enjoy finish hospitality in the finish hospitality bus.
Your day in the car will include:
- A seat in a VIP car on the race course
- A maximum of 3 passengers
- A welcome from the Club staff
- Accreditation and assignment of a daily pass
- Access to the hospitality area at the start
- A packed lunch
- Access to the Club Truck at the finish with snacks and coffee bar service and TV screens
- VIP bag of the 2018 Strade Bianche
- Shuttle service back to the start city (on request) Available on request
Please note that this is for a ticket only so no hotel or transport is included. At the time of booking you will receive a booking confirmation. Nearer the time you will receive an itinerary with directions and details of the exact location of the stage start location. Your accreditation badge and wristband will be available for collection from the reception desk at the official start village.
On request. For questions, please contact us on cycling@sportstoursinternational.co.uk or call us on +44 161 703 8161
TESTIMONIALS
"Your staff went the extra mile"
I booked at very short notice but the level of customer service was extremely high and your staff went the extra mile. We really enjoyed our day at the Giro and Adreanna, who met us in Benevento, was really friendly and helpful. The whole experience was excellent. Thanks.
N/A - May 25, 2015
ITINERARY
2018 Strade Bianche itinerary
Friday March 2 – Arrival day
Please arrive directly at the hotel today or take the option to fly into Florence Airport and make use of our transport which is available at an additional cost of £90 per person. Please arrive in the afternoon so you are on time for ‘Aperitivo’ time before the evening meal. If you choose to make use of our airport transfer service then please note that the arrival transfer will be at 1500 so please book flights arriving prior to 1430. For the departure transfer, please book flights departing after midday.
Saturday March 3 – 2018 Strade Bianche day
The Strade Bianche: Event Details
Held annually near the city of Siena in the region of Tuscany in Italy, the Strade Bianche was first organised in 2007 and is now held early March as part of the European classics season. It is held as a warm weather precursor to the cobbled classics of the north like the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and Liege Bastogne Liege. The field is usually made up of riders taking part in Tirreno–Adriatico. Considered one of Italy’s finest medieval towns, Siena has much to offer including a range of fine selection of museums and has featured in the recent James Bond film Quantum of Solace. The race starts in San Gimignano and finishes in the famous Piazza del Campo in Siena. The route of the pro race consists of 197 kilometres around the city of Siena, including 45 kilometres of the famous gravel roads which are called sterrati in Italy. The race takes its name from the gravel roads ‘strade bianche’ literally means white gravel roads. Parts of the route are now also used in the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche which you can ride. The route was inspired by the Tour of Flanders with its bergs (hills), and Paris-Roubaix with its cobblestone sections.
The routes
The Elite Men’s course
The main differences with last year’s course are in the first kilometres, where the Bagnaia climb on gravel roads marks its return after the 2014 and 2015 editions. The course will then see a harder white roads sector in the first part and the cancellation of the paved Passo del Rospatoio climb. A twisty and undulating course, with no long climbs but with punchy hills, most significantly on the unpaved parts. There are roughly 62km of gravel roads, appearing in 11 sectors (eight of those shared with the Women Elite course).

The Women’s course (same as the long Gran Fondo route)
A twisty and undulating course, with no long climbs but with punchy hills, most significantly on the unpaved parts. There are roughly 30km of gravel roads, appearing in eight sectors (all shared with the Men’s course). Final kilometres are the same as the men’s course.

Our Itinerary
After breakfast we will build our bikes, before riding out to watch the Strade Bianche from the hotel. Today we will ride about 50 km in total, with some climbing, in the region around Siena. Firstly, we head out to experience our first ‘white road’ at San Leonardo, where we will wait for the riders to pass by. After this, and before the riders arrive, we continue our ride back towards Siena to ride 2 of the final sections of white road, including the Colle Pinzuto. In the afternoon we will see the finish in Siena of the 2018 Strade Bianche, at about 15:30, near the finish-line. Evening meal at the hotel.
Sunday March 4 – 2018 Gran Fondo Strade Bianche
Today you will have the option of participating in the 2018 Gran Fondo Strade Bianche. the official start is at 09.00, although the starting pens open from 06.30. There is the option to ride the 83.5km Medio Fondo or the 122km Gran Fondo and there is mechanical support on the way for you today.
Non-Riders:
If you are visiting Siena without a bike and are not taking part in the Gran Fondo, then you are in for a treat. Considered one of Italy’s finest medieval towns, Siena has much to offer including ‘Il Campo’, the central piazza, known worldwide for the famous Palio run, a horse race that takes place here twice a year. Siena was featured in the recent James Bond film; Quantum of Solace. The hotel is located just 3 kilometres from the town centre, so you have a great opportunity to discover this historic town.
Monday March 5 – Departure day
After breakfast, leave the hotel or opt for our transfer back to Florence Airport. To make use of the departure transfer, please book flights departing after midday.
HOTELS & PRICING
Prices:
Hotel – 3 nights half board
£689 per person based on two people sharing a twin room
Single supplement of £159 for the sole occupancy of a room
Return transfer between Florence airport and the hotel: £90
Twin to share
Do you want to come and join our group but your friends haven’t put in the training? Are you a single traveller and you don’t want to pay the sole occupancy charge? If the answer is yes to any of the above questions then you can make use of our ‘twin to share’ option. Come and join our group and we will pair you up with another rider (of the same sex) and you can enjoy the event without having to pay extra. Simply click on the green button and select the twin to share option.
IMPORTANT INFO
How to Book
Click on the Book Now at the top of the page. At time of booking we require a non-refundable deposit per person plus any applicable entry fee. The balance of your travel package must be paid, at the latest, 12 weeks before departure to avoid the cancellation of your trip. Please look here for our full booking conditions
Medical certificate
To take part in the Gran Fondo you have to get a medical certificate signed by your doctor within the last year from the event date, our partners offer online medical certification.
To participate in the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche, you must be aged between 18 and 64. Alternatively 16-18 and those over 64 can enter the Medio Fondo Strade Bianche.
Sports Travel – Keeping safe
For some tips on how to stay safe whilst you travel, please have a look here
Single travellers and twin to share
We welcome single travellers on our tours and holidays as it is a great way to join a like-minded group of people and you will make lots of new friends. If you would like to join our group as a single traveller we can offer you two options. A single room or if you want to avoid the single supplement then you can make use of our ‘twin to share’ option. We will pair you up with another rider (of the same sex) and you can enjoy the event without having to pay extra.
General, visa, passport and health information
For passport and visa information, please check the relevant section on this page: https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship/passports. General Travel and health Information for your destination is available on the FCO website. Click here for the latest travel advice for Italy, and click here for useful ‘know before you go’ information also from the FCO. Please note that this information relates to UK passport holders only and that other nationalities should refer to their own authorities for this information.
Travel Insurance
For details of specialist sports travel insurance for our travel packages, please visit our insurance page. You must ensure that your travel insurance policy covers you to participate in running events. There is additional information about our other Concierge Services on our special web page.
GALLERY
VIDEOS
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Three Nights at Garden Hotel on Half Board
4th - 7th March 2016
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ASK A QUESTION
Previous Question
Q. What type of tyre should I use?
A.
We recommend putting the biggest tyres which the clearance of your bike will allow between 25 and 28mm.
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So lucky to watch 2 races today @LeTour LaCoursebyTDF #TDF2017 pic.twitter.com/4aWHMqbebb

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Best seats at 9km from the Izoard summit @LeTour #cycling hospitality pic.twitter.com/nYSTVaoh6X

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Well done @lizziedeignan Great to meet you after @LaCoursebyTDF All the best for Marseille on Saturday! pic.twitter.com/LI6eUADrRi

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Enjoying VIP access to @LeTour in Briançon pic.twitter.com/h9NUsx0Wmk

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Enjoying @JoRowsellShand commentary on @LaCoursebyTDF (shame that the VIP start village doesn't have it on a bigger screen!) pic.twitter.com/sUOa5QDBkt

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Strade Bianche Gran Fondo and Pro Race

2018 Strade Bianche Gran Fondo & pro race weekend

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