Let's discover what it's like to ride Siena's Strade Bianche with Giulio, a nurse with a passion for running and, of course, cycling.
Sunday, a day of rest. The alarm rings at 7:00, unwavering. Outside the window, the rays of a timid sun are breaking through the light late-winter mist. A hearty breakfast of yogurt, honey, and toast is just what I need. I begin the ritual of getting dressed, which for me is sacrosanct. Luckily, the weather is favorable today, so I get through it quickly. I grab Lyla and pedal toward Buonconvento , 40 km from Siena.
I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Giulio, and Lyla is my S-Works. She's been with me since last fall, and it was love at first sight. I have to say, I didn't think you could become so attached to a bike in such a short time. Believe me, I was wrong.
Lyla and I ride gently through the first few kilometers of flatland. The morning coolness clings to our skin, so I decide to increase my pace and we warm up a bit. The fog slowly begins to lift, ready for the first climb of the day, one of the most scenic stretches I'll encounter today. Heading toward Montalcino , where hectares and hectares of Sangiovese vineyards nestled in the Val d'Orcia will once again produce the famous Brunello this year.
Arriving here, a certain sadness surfaces at finding a town that's usually bustling with people at this hour deserted. I think back to what we deal with every day in the hospital. I'm a nurse, unfortunately, I know what I'm talking about. In my spare time, I've always been a runner, but in the last year, I've discovered cycling, which has become a true lifeline for me, a passion that's helped me unwind. With a sigh, I chase away the melancholy, determined to enjoy every moment of freedom these fantastic places have to offer. Today is a happy day, I tell myself, biting into a sweet I had with me. I regain some of my lost calories and am ready to resume my ride.
We're riding the first few kilometers of the Strade Bianche, from Montalcino toward Castiglion del Bosco . The sun is starting to get hotter and hotter, and the Val d'Orcia offers picture-perfect views. The pro route is 180 km long, with approximately 3,000 meters of elevation gain, featuring moderate climbs but 65 km of dirt road divided into 11 very challenging sectors. Rising headlong through these curves with a 15-16% elevation gain isn't for everyone. Among the sections where you need to be extra careful are Monte Sante Marie, Le Tolfe (where Van Aert practically left everyone behind to win last year), and S. Martino in Grania . The various sectors are interspersed with kilometers of asphalt, which I use to recover, but for the pros, simply means pushing harder. 180 km to be experienced in one go. Whoever wins Le Strade Bianche finishes the race in around 5 hours; for us mere mortals, it will take at least double that. A nice health outing.
Today I'm not yet feeling fit enough to challenge Sagan and his teammates. So I'm enjoying the 20 km of pure dirt road I'll ride on the trails of another famous event: L'Eroica . I can feel the dirt, dusty under my Ursus rims.
Many have asked me why I made this choice: before my current bike, I had started cycling on a Specialized Tarmac SL6, but later I realized that cycling would become a fundamental part of my life, so Lyla arrived. But its S-Works frame needed to be paired with a wheelset with the same lightweight and smooth characteristics, right? I read a lot of features, browsing the web, before choosing the right product for me. The Ursus Miura TC37 discs struck me for two reasons: One, ceramic hubs. Two, excellent weight despite the 37 mm profile. And then, they were using them at the Giro, I thought... do you really think I can't use them too? :). I could not have made a better choice: unparalleled smoothness (even I, who am not an expert, felt the difference) and aesthetically they are very beautiful to look at under my Lyla.
Meanwhile, I keep pedaling, while the famous Tuscan food and drink is starting to make itself felt. But we're only halfway through my 110 km with 1600 m of elevation gain. Not bad for a rest day, right?
We head back toward Buoncovento, then take the provincial road that leads to Vescovado, Murlo, and Lupompesi, and from there we return to Siena . As we return to the city, my mind flashes back to images of great champions like Cancellara, Ballan, Valverde, and Van Avermaet, all of whom raised their arms to the sky in Piazza del Campo. There's only one word that can describe the thrill I feel in riding their same roads, my hometown, retracing the journey to one of the world's most beautiful finish lines: satisfaction. Yes, when I return home after covering hundreds of kilometers on asphalt and stretches of dirt roads, that's how I feel. Satisfied, happy, and contributing to the environment. Because those who practice sport this way respect it in every way.
I don't need plane tickets, I tell myself. All it takes is two wheels and I can travel every day.
