It’s that time of year again. L’Eroica time. The end of our Italian season, and what a finale it is. A show-stopper of epic proportions that attracts riders and their vintage bicycles from all over the world for one joyous farewell to the last of the summer sunshine on Tuscany’s iconic gravel roads.
We’ve written about how much we love this event in the past – but it bears repeating. L’Eroica is all kinds of awesome. Most of the inGamba crew has been coming to ride the white roads on classic steel for some time now, and it’s hard to believe how much the event has grown. What was once a fairly local fete has now become an international celebration of Tuscany, the bike, and the cycling heroes of the past.
We’ll report back after the weekend on all the action, but for now we’ve compiled some fun facts about the last two decades as well as some photographs of the hottest rides in the inGamba stable, getting ready for Sunday’s showdown on the Strade Bianche. Enjoy!
- Just 92 riders started the first edition in 1997, and in 2001, out of 240 starters just 17 finished due to truly heroic weather conditions
In 2003, a power cut meant that the race departed from Gaiole in complete and magical darkness – just like in days of yore
The professionals got in on the action for the first time in 2007, in the Strade Bianche spring classic that has since become one of the highlights of the racing calendar. The legendary Fabian Cancellara has a stretch of white road named after him, having won the pro event three times, in 2008, 2012, and 2016
By 2010, more than 700 international riders were showing up to join in the fun and in 2012, entries broke the 5,000 barrier for the first time
L’Eroica went abroad for the first time in 2013, setting down roots in Japan. Since then, more events have been launched in the UK, the USA, South Africa, Uruguay, and the Netherlands
- Want to join in the fun? Check out our L’Eroica packages now!
