Strade Bianche Gran Fondo & Pro Race

Please make your way to meet us at our hotels in the centre of Siena. Our staff will be available on arrival at the hotel to meet you.

If you are flying today then we provide arrival airport transfers from Pisa Airport and from Florence Airport. These are available as an additional pre-bookable option at £60 per person for a single transfer and £TBC for a return transfer.

Arrival transfers on Friday

Please ensure that your flight arrives in time before the transfer departure times listed below. On arrival, please make yourself known to our member of staff at Pisa or Florence Airport.

1. Departure from Pisa Airport at 14.00 and from Florence Airport at 15.00
2. Departure from Pisa Airport at 19.00 and from Florence Airport at 20.00

Departure transfers on Monday

1. Departure from the hotel at 08.00 for flights departing Florence after 12.00 and Pisa after 13.00

Bikes and bike rental

On arrival today, we will assist you with putting your bike together after travel. Your bike will be securely stored at the hotel. We also offer bike rental for the weekend and your bike will be fitted on arrival.

Registration for the Gran Fondo

The Expo Village will be located in the historical Fortezza Medicea (also known as Forte di Santa Barbara), in Siena. The Fortezza Medicea, built between 1561 and 1563 at the request of Florence’s duke Cosimo I de’ Medici, is going to be the centre of the activities of Strade Bianche’s weekend. The Fortezza is close to the Siena district of San Prospero, near Stadio Artemio Franchi. It’s easily accessable and is about 1 km from Piazza del Campo, where all races will finish.

The Expo Village will be open on Friday from 14.00 until 19.00 and on Saturday morning from 08.30.

Ride across the finish line of the Strade Bianche in Siena and stand on the podium, just a couple of hours before the Pros

After breakfast we will head out for a supported and guided ride into the countryside surrounding Siena with our bike guide.

Cross the Finish Experience in Siena (Riders Only)

We have a treat in store for you today. We have accreditation to do a ‘cross the finish line’ VIP experience. From our hotel we will start our ride and do the final 50km or so of the route before crossing the official finish line of today’s Strade Bianche. We will then all get together for photos on the official podium followed by a backstage tour. Once we’ve done this, we’ll get changed and drop bikes off and we’ll enjoy the rest of the day in the finish hospitality area.

Siena finish-line hospitality (included with your weekend trip)

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. After the finish and the award ceremony, we’ll walk back to the hotel.

Non Riders can choose to book an additional optional experience with the VIP Start Village Hospitality. (see below)

Our VIP access options are available to travellers not on our hotel packages. Details below.

2023 Strade Bianche Stand alone VIP and Hospitality options

If you are visiting Siena without a bike 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.

Start Village (VIP start village access) – £TBC per person incl tax

The 2022 Strade Bianche entourage and organisation will set up with the team buses 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 with snack and coffee bar access, along with access to 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. 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 2022 Strade Bianche.

Palazzo Publico Finish Line Hospitality – £TBC per person including tax

The Palazzo Publico is  palace in the centre of Siena, Tuscany. The palace dates back as far as 1297, and is a stunning example of Italian Medieval architecture, with strong Gothic influences. This grand setting provides the perfect location for an unforgettable VIP experience. The Palazzo Publico Finish Line Hospitality Experience includes exclusive access to an indoor hospitality area, close to the finish line, and inside the historic and atmospheric Sala delle Lupe room. Authentic Tuscan food and drink will be on offer, and there will be an open available throughout the day. The race will be broadcast live for you on large plasma screen televisions. Then, as the race draws to a close, you can step outside, on to the famous Piazza del Campo, to see the final moments, in person, from the finish line.

Today’s Gran Fondo Strade Bianche offers 2 routes both with departure and finish line in Siena.  The long route is the same as the Women elite race. The short route Gran Fondo is the same up until to Murlo, where you take a right with a dirt road sector and a descent to Monteroni d’Arbia. The final kilometers are the same for both routes.

Please note that you will need a medical certificate. For an example copy of the kind of form have a look here, Medical certificate example cycling. Alternatively our partners offer online medical certification

In the evening we will assist the riders will re-packing their bikes into their transport cases and bike boxes.

Please check out of the hotel and make your way home. Our airport transfers will depart from the hotel at 08.00 for flights departing Florence after 12.00 and Pisa after 13.00.