We’ll meet you at Pisa airport and transfer you to our first night’s hotel close to the centre of Siena. It’s a relatively long transfer, at just under 2 hours, but the views are good as we leave the coast and go deeper into Tuscany.
Once checked in at the hotel, our mechanic will assemble your bike and make sure it’s running smoothly.

There may be time for a short pre-dinner spin to loosen your legs after a travel day and double-check that everything’s running well.
We’ll eat at the restaurant close to the hotel; your tour manager will lead a briefing on exactly what to expect from a weekend in Tuscany with La Fuga.

They have some great sayings in Tuscany about food and wine so here are a few to get you started:
• He who eats well goes far – Chi mangia sano, va lontano
• Water is not good for you but wine makes you sing – L’acqua fa male, il vino fa cantare!
• If you care of yourself, eat well – Se ti vuoi bene, mangia bene
• To make a friend all you need is a glass of wine, to preserve a friendship, more than a barrel – Per farsi un amico basta un bicchiere di vino, per conservarlo, non basta una botte

Today is the turn of the professionals. We’ll have an early breakfast in the hotel and the head to the start area to watch the women’s race assemble. We will have to take in the atmosphere at the sign-on of the race and see the teams preparing. If we’re lucky, we’ll get the chance to meet and greet some of La Fuga’s friends from the pro ranks who’ll be riding.
The women’s race gets underway around 09:15 from Piazza della Liberta. The first 3km are neutralised, but you’ll get a sense of the nerves as everyone vies for the position even this early on. The women’s course becomes the route of the following day’s granfondo.
The race’s roadbook suggests that the women’s race will conclude at around 13:00, finishing with the same final kilometres as the pro men (and us amateurs!) through town.

We’ll then head out on our bikes and ride to Buonconvento to get in a ride ahead of the Men’s race getting to the same place. We’ll grab a bite to eat before heading onto the next spot to watch the race in the van. You’ll be able to get a true feel for the white roads – remember, this is also your recon!

After the men’s race passes the second time we’ll jump back into the vehicles to beat the riders back to Piazza del Campo to see the final kilometre attacks and a witness who’ll cross the finish line with their hands in the air.

With the post-race atmosphere dying down in Siena, it’s just a short walk back to our hotel for dinner and a final briefing about what to expect from the granfondo the following day. Moderation and a good night’s sleep are key tonight in preparation for race day tomorrow.

Today, you’ll get to ride the very same roads that we watched professionals do battle over yesterday. After a hearty breakfast and multiple visits to the espresso machine, we’ll escort you to the start grids in the centre of town. This should all be familiar to you from yesterday, but we’ll be on hand to offer some final words of wisdom and with all the kit on hand to deal with any last-minute emergencies.
The atmospehere is great at the start, with many local riders seemingly competing to ride in the most garish kit. The voices you hear will predominantly Italian – L’Etape du Tour this is not!
The ride starts at 09:00 and you will be accompanied on the course by a tour manager, who will give you some guidance on how to ride on the gravel.

Just before the start of the second sector of gravel, we’ll be set up with a private aid station stocked with food and drink and ready to sort out any mechanical issues you might have had. We’ll make sure to point out the exact location for this as we watch the pro race on Saturday.

On the run back into Siena, as the road kicks up, grit your teeth and console yourself with the knowledge that you are a 16% gradient away from finishing a unique and memorable ride. We’ll be there to welcome you across the finish line with a well deserved cold Moretti or two.
After basking in the glory post-ride, it will be time to get back to the hotel so that you can shower and change. To round off a great day, La Fuga will scout out the local restaurant scene to find the best pizzeria in town.

Our schedule today is largely determined by flight times.

For those heading on afternoon flights there is the opportunity to do one last ride across the Strade Bianche. For those on an early flight, you’ll enjoy a last breakfast in Siena and then head to the airport.

We’ll make sure bikes are boxed in time for departure, freeing you up to enjoy a more leisurely breakfast and explore the historic centre of Siena. It’s remarkable how quickly the town gets back to normal after being completely taken over by the world of pro-cycling just hours previously.