Gran Fondo Strade Bianche: routes, gravel sectors and how to prepare
- Distance
- 136 km
- Climbing
- 2,273 m
- Highest point
- 370 m
- Categorised climbs
- 26 · up to 15 %
- Shape
- Loop
Measured on the course you ride in Cycloscape. The organiser's own figures are below.
Elevation profile
140–370 m · 26 categorised climbsThe 6 biggest of 26 categorised climbs, in the order you ride them.
The Gran Fondo Strade Bianche follows the white gravel roads of the Tuscan hills south of Siena, from the Fortezza Medicea to the finish in the Piazza del Campo. The long route is 137.7 km with about 2,000 m of climbing and 10 gravel sectors; the short route is 87 km with about 1,350 m and 6 sectors. The organiser lists the next edition for 7 March 2027, and it is sold out.
Gran Fondo Strade Bianche at a glance
- Where
- Siena, Italy
- Official website
- gfstradebianche.it ↗
- Next edition
- 7 March 2027
- Routes
- Long route: 137.7 km, 2,000 m climbing · Short route: 87 km, 1,350 m climbing
- Terrain
- Hilly — repeated climbs
- Facts checked
- 4 November 2026, against the sources below
Full preparation and course training require Event Coach Pro.
Ride the real course on your trainer. The route of Gran Fondo Strade Bianche, 136 km, as a 3D world, with your trainer following its gradients — any day, and as part of your Event Coach plan. Part of Cycloscape Pro.
The routes
The Gran Fondo Strade Bianche offers 2 routes.
| Route | Distance | Climbing |
|---|---|---|
| Long route | 137.7 km | 2,000 m |
| Short route | 87 km | 1,350 m |
What the course asks of you
Between the gravel sectors the roads are paved, but they are never flat: the Crete Senesi roll constantly, and several sectors climb or descend steeply on loose white gravel, where traction, not power, sets the limit. The last kilometres climb into Siena on steep, narrow streets before the Campo.
On gravel, stay seated on the climbs to keep the rear wheel gripping, choose your line early, and let the wheel in front go if the dust hides the road. Tyres and pressure matter as much as training here.
How to prepare
The general shape of a good preparation, which Event Coach turns into a plan for your fitness, time and date:
- Train repeated climbs: several efforts of 8 to 15 minutes close to your threshold, with short recoveries, copy the rhythm of the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche.
- Build the long ride towards 137.7 km, so the final climbs are not the first time your legs have been out that long.
- Add a few short efforts at low cadence on steep gradients, for the ramps that come late in the day.
Pacing mistakes to avoid
The mistakes that cost riders the most on a day like this:
- Answering every climb of the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche with a surge: repeated climbs reward an even effort, not a burst on each ramp.
- Spending the most on the famous climb when the hardest part of the day is still to come.
- Letting the pace of the group on the flat decide how tired you arrive at the climbs.
Prepare the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche with Cycloscape
Tell Event Coach you are doing the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche, your route and what you want from the day, and it builds your preparation towards 7 March 2027: structured workouts held by your trainer in ERG, Race Pacing for how to spend your effort, and Performance Lab to see whether the work is landing. Full preparation and course training require Event Coach Pro.
Frequently asked
When is the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche 2027?
On Sunday, 7 March 2027, according to the organiser.
How long are the routes of the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche?
Long route: 137.7 km with 2,000 m of climbing; Short route: 87 km with 1,350 m of climbing. The routes as the organiser lists them, with approximate climbing.
How many riders take part?
About 8,500 riders, according to the organiser.
Can I ride the course of the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche in Cycloscape?
Yes, inside Event Coach with Cycloscape Pro: once you start your preparation, the course is ridden on your trainer as part of the plan.