Guest writer Rik de Voogd he went on a trip through Europe to cycle there with friends he usually only knew through Instagram. After stops in Hessen, Baden-Württemberg and Bayern he ends up with Alessandro Salvaggio in Tuscany. It’s great to be back in Tuscany. Beautiful photos and a great story. On a bike tour in Tuscany, you’ll be taken to beautiful places and before you know it, you’ll want to go to Tuscany on your own bike!
Text and photos: Rik de Voogd // Alessandro Salvaggio
Close to the sky.
To get right to the point: if I ever arrived at the heavenly gate, it would have to look like Tuscany. For many, the region is synonymous with ‘real Italy’. I was especially happy that I could finally take a few trips with my friend Alessandro The guy I knew from the Netherlands. We met through Instagram and we made quite a few trips together in the Netherlands. Until in September 2020 he suddenly moved to Patagonia, where he spent the winter with his partner. In May he returned ‘a casa’, to his hometown Tuscany.
Vinci and San Miniato
A big advantage of cycling with Alessandro is that he knows the region inside out. We only ride the quieter routes, all the routes with beautiful views, the nice climbs. He is the perfect person for that. guide.
The first round takes us around the town of Fucecchio. The town, with over 20,000 inhabitants, is a good base for the rest of the region. You can easily get to all directions. Cycling in Tuscany is truly a dream for me. When you drive through the small villages of Vinci and San Miniato, you sometimes have to pinch yourself. This ride was really a warm-up with a few short, tricky hills in it. It was also a precursor to what awaited me in the days to come!
Pescia, Il Paretaio and Montacolle
One thing I have to mention: if Tuscany isn’t already on your bucket list, then this is it. Trust me on this one. Our second trip through the region convinced me even more. Once again, Alessandro, a well-established local, joined us. We eventually met at the bottom of the hill near my accommodation, just outside Santa Lucia. From there, we started climbing together. We head northwards, so the climb here is quite steep. After a nice climb, we arrive at the picturesque Vellano. A hamlet with only 250 inhabitants. In the middle of the climb, the village came into view and once we’re above, we are surprised by a stunning view. You can see the valley with the medieval church towers in the background. Absolutely fantastic. I can’t get over how beautiful it is here.
Colle Troggio, Balzo di Montale and La Bastia
The first two rides here were already very cool. But I must say, in terms of effort, it was a bit lacking. It felt more like a warm-up ride, despite the summer temperatures. A bit of sightseeing and taking photos. Our third ride together definitely changes that! This time we’re heading north.
Our ride is really on a different level than the rides before it. The route includes 2000 meters of elevation gain in 100 kilometers. I don’t consider myself a very good climber, but I really love it. The climbing is tough, but somehow the lower speed also allows my brain to relax a bit. It’s actually quite calming. Despite this, I can also have a lot of fun on a descent!
North of Tuscany
The far north of Tuscany actually has nothing in common with the image everyone usually has of Tuscany, with its rolling landscape and winding roads lined with cypress trees (like in Strade Bianche). In the north you find more vegetation and mountains. You hardly encounter tourists (unlike the cities). It feels much more authentic there.
What I mean to say is: look at our stop at the top of the first climb. A small bar, only three tables, espresso for just a euro each. When we come in and take our seats, five middle-aged men are drinking coffee. After a brief greeting, they walk out to look at our bikes. About half an hour later, they are still impressed by our two-wheelers and in discussion. We almost feel awkward about getting back on. I think this is fantastic. I also think this is my highlight of the day.
Siena and Chianti
The more I see the beauty of the landscape, the more grateful I am. And the more grateful I am, the more beauty I am presented with. For our fourth and final ride, we meet up in Siena. Our friends drop us off in the city center and we go on a bike ride of 125 kilometers.
This ride takes us through the typical panoramas you’re used to seeing in Tuscany. A landscape dominated by the hilly countryside, which is mainly used for agriculture and as a vineyard. I’m sure you won’t find “Tuscany” anywhere else but here. It’s the perfect way to end this trip. Fantastic views, stunning colors, beautiful light. A great playground for a cycling photographer. We avoid the touristy places and drive through authentic small villages. Add 2000 meters of elevation gain, delicious cake and good coffee and you get it: perfect just like that.
On a cycling adventure in Tuscany – the routes
If you want to do these and even more routes in Tuscany, we have created a beautiful collection for you on our Komoot account. Take a look at this route here.
The route from this story
- Cycling in Tuscany with Rik124.3 km · 2,057 hmGPX ↓
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.