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A 40km stretch of paved road is to come but, with a nagging headwind and fatigue growing, it turns out to be no free ride. San Martino in Grania brings to a close three successive sectors that have served up more than 25km of gravel. Siena sits proudly – ominously – on its hilltop in the distance behind me, the white road I’ve just climbed hugs the ridge, cutting a path through the spring growth.
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We’re in the heart of the Crete Senesi now and the landscape unfolds like a crumpled bedsheet, the rolling hills disappearing into the distance under the haze of the early-spring sunshine, before rising up to meet the snow-capped Apennine Mountains in the north.Ī series of tight, steep switchbacks leave me breathless, not only due to the gradient but also because of the remarkable view that stretches as far as the eye can see. It is also one of the most beautiful stretches of road I’ve ever ridden, paved or otherwise. This is the longest gravel sector so far, but the San Martino in Grania segment is longer still at 9.5km. The start of the San Martino in Grania sector – one of the most beautiful on the route. Tuscany? It’s more like Tokyo Drift, and I’m glad I’ve got some extra control – or, rather, more margin for error – through the 30c rubber on my bike, rather than the 23c tyres of days gone by. The road snakes from left to right, with a 180-degree hairpin to contend with, too, and, if you want to carry any speed here, you need to be comfortable with the tyres squirming beneath you. Mostly downhill, La Piana should be an opportunity to tick off another 6.4km sector with relative ease, but it’s fast and, more to the point, there’s a deep layer of fresh gravel that means grip is a state of mind, rather than a reality. Radi is characterised by a series of punchy rollers that are typical of the area, while La Piana is one of Strade Bianche’s classic stretches, having featured in every edition of the race.īy now, we’re deep into the Tuscan countryside on tracks that see little traffic through the rest of the year. The roads here are rarely flat, but the smooth tarmac between sectors provides some respite before the next two gravel segments. Vineyards and white gravel roads – this is the Tuscany of postcards. Cancellara – the Classics legend, aptly nicknamed Spartacus – is the only three-time winner of the men’s elite race, triumphing in 2008, 20. “Pozzato, Cancellara, Cipollini, Colbrelli, Bettini,” he continues, reeling off the star-studded cast of former pros in the VIP pen, also riding the gran fondo. Italian gran fondo organisers don’t do things by halves and, despite the sun only just rising above the church towers of Siena, and the early-morning temperature in single figures, the atmosphere is red-hot in the city’s Fortezza Medicea, the 16th Century fort serving as the start pen.Īgainst a soundtrack of deafening rock music, the compere is working his vocal chords as hard as I’ll work my legs over the 138km to come. Gran Fondo Strade Biancheīy the time I’m standing at the start line of Sunday’s gran fondo, I’ve recced each of the individual gravel segments and seen how the pros do it – now it’s time to ride the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.The gran fondo route covers 138.5km. We suggest FEDEX Priority Overnight, however, we will not make claims for broken products with the carrier on your behalf, and we will not replace items unless you reorder them at the original cost. We will only ship these items by air on your account. Any breakaways besides bottles are not guaranteed to arrive intact, and are sold at your risk.
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Or, we will give you full credit for the broken items if you prefer. We will replace goods broken in transit provided you notify us of any breakage within 48 hours of receipt of goods, and you pay for freight charges (freight billed to you) on the replacement items. We guarantee that our Breakaway bottles will arrive intact when shipped via UPS, by us to your location (one trip only).
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