Nova Eroica Buonconvento 2026: Complete Race Guide — Routes, Tips & Everything You Need to Know | SportPlan
Apr 3, 2026·8 min read·guide
Nova Eroica Buonconvento 2026: Complete Race Guide — Routes, Tips & Everything You Need to Know
Nova Eroica Buonconvento 2026 on April 12: 5 routes from 42km to 290km epic, timed gravel stages, Crete Senesi landscapes and Monte Sante Marie. Full guide.
There's a moment somewhere on the white roads south of Siena — the sun not yet fully up, nothing but rolling golden hills, cypress rows on the horizon and the crunch of gravel under your wheels — where you understand why people travel from 40 countries to do this. Nova Eroica Buonconvento isn't just a race. It's a statement about why cycling is worth loving.
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On April 12, 2026, Buonconvento opens its medieval gates for another edition of the event that has quietly become one of the most atmospheric gravel races in Europe. Whether you're chasing podium points on the timed stages or riding the short route at your own pace with a glass of wine in mind, this guide covers everything you need to line up prepared.
Nova Eroica is the competitive, modern-bike arm of the legendary Eroica movement. Where the classic L'Eroica (born in Gaiole in Chianti in 1997) requires vintage steel bikes and wool jerseys, Nova Eroica was created for riders who want the same magic — the white roads, the Tuscan landscapes, the soul of heroic cycling — on their modern gravel or road bikes.
The format is deliberately hybrid: timed competitive stages alternate with free-paced transfer sections. This means every rider, at every level, shares the same roads and the same experience — but those who want to race, genuinely race. Those who want to soak it in, soak it in.
Race. Ride. Relax. — three words that sum up the philosophy perfectly.
Buonconvento sits 25 kilometres south of Siena, straddling the confluence of the Ombrone and Arbia rivers at just 155 metres above sea level. The town itself is tiny (barely 3,000 inhabitants) but architecturally striking — a perfectly preserved medieval brick centre surrounded by flat agricultural land that quickly transforms into the sculpted clay hills of the Crete Senesi.
The landscape here is iconic in a way that photographs can never fully capture. Rolling ridges stripped bare by centuries of erosion, lone farmhouses perched on hilltops, vineyards and olive groves fading into grey-green distances. To the south, the routes push toward the Val d'Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004, one of the most photographed landscapes in the world.
In April, the fields are impossibly green after winter rains. The white roads (strade bianche — Tuscany's unpaved agricultural tracks) are firm but not dusty. It's arguably the best month to be on a bike in this part of Italy.
Nova Eroica Buonconvento 2026 offers five route options for every level. All routes depart at 08:00 (Epic Route at 04:00). Here's what each one demands:
The entry point. This route is designed for those who want to experience Nova Eroica without the competitive pressure — a contemplative ride through Buonconvento's white roads at the perfect pace. One refreshment stop in Monteroni d'Arbia. No timed sections. Ideal for first-timers, riders with limited gravel experience, or anyone who wants the festival atmosphere without racing.
Recommended for: Complete beginners to gravel events, riders combining with a Tuscany holiday.
An emotional journey through the Siena landscape, designed for those who experience cycling as discovery and sharing. Two regenerating refreshment stops: first in Monteroni d'Arbia, second at the welcoming Podere La Campana. Gentle introduction to the Crete Senesi terrain. The elevation is forgiving enough to ride without specific training, but the 67km distance requires a solid base.
Recommended for: Recreational cyclists with regular weekend riding. Minimum: 3-4 hours in the saddle weekly for 6 weeks prior.
Here the event shifts gear. Three refreshment stops, a crucial water station at Torre a Castello and three timed sections that test your gravel power and tactical positioning. The iconic Crete Senesi landscape is at its most dramatic here — clay ridges, sunken white roads, sudden punchy climbs. The final climb of Monte Sante Marie features prominently on this route; fill your bottles at Torre a Castello before attacking it.
Recommended for: Regular cyclists who train 2-3 times a week. Gravel experience helpful. Target finish time: 4-6 hours.
The headline race for serious competitors. Five timed sections across 131 kilometres and nearly 2,000 metres of climbing. Four refreshment stops: Torrenieri, Monteroni d'Arbia, Podere La Campana, and the water station at Torre a Castello — essential before Monte Sante Marie.
Monte Sante Marie on the long route isn't just a climb; it's a qualifying statement. The road rises over raw clay, often without shade, and the gradient comes in waves. Riders who haven't paced the first 80km carefully pay for it here.
The long route is also the most scenic — the loop out toward Torrenieri passes through Val d'Orcia territory, and if the light is right in early morning, you'll understand why photographers from 50 countries come here every year.
Recommended for: Trained cyclists with 300+ km/month base. Gravel experience strongly recommended. Prepare for 6-8+ hours in the saddle.
Nova Eroica becomes ultra. Departs at 04:00 — in the dark, before the world wakes up. 290 kilometres. 5,500 metres of elevation. One refreshment point. This is the frontier version of the event, reserved for ultra-endurance riders who want an experience that borders on suffering and transcendence simultaneously.
Recommended for: Experienced ultra-cyclists with specific 200km+ training. Not a beginner adventure.
The most common mistake at Nova Eroica Buonconvento is going out too fast. The first 30-40 kilometres from Buonconvento are deceptively gentle — flat river valley, smooth white roads, fresh legs, adrenaline. Riders who treat this section as a race will suffer badly when the Crete Senesi terrain kicks in.
On the Medium route: The three timed sections are not necessarily sequential. Save your match burns for when the clock is actually running. On transfer sections, spin easy, eat, drink.
On the Long route: The section between km 70-95 is where races are lost, not won. Monte Sante Marie needs fresh legs. Ride at 65-70% effort until Torre a Castello, then commit.
Nutrition timing: With refreshment stops spaced 20-35km apart, don't rely solely on the official points. Carry at least 2 bars and 1 gel as insurance. The April weather in Tuscany can turn cold and wet — pack a lightweight rain layer even if the forecast looks clear.
By train: Buonconvento is served directly from Siena on the Trenitalia line (30 minutes). Siena is reachable from Florence Santa Maria Novella (1h30) or Rome Termini (3h via Chiusi-Chianciano). Bike transport on regional trains requires a bike ticket purchased in advance.
By car: Buonconvento is 25km south of Siena on the SR2 Cassia road. Parking is available in and around the medieval centre. From Florence: 1h45. From Rome: 2h30 (A1 motorway to Chiusi exit, then SR2 north).
From Spain: Direct flights to Pisa (Ryanair, Vueling) from Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia and Alicante. Pisa to Buonconvento by car: 1h45.
Buonconvento itself has limited accommodation — book early. The best options:
Buonconvento town centre: Small hotels and B&Bs, walkable to start/finish. Book months in advance for race weekend.
Siena (25km): Far wider choice at all price points. Rental car or local trains for access.
Agriturismo in the Crete Senesi: The most atmospheric option — working farms converted to accommodation, often with pool and direct views over the race routes. Search for options between Buonconvento, Monteroni d'Arbia and Asciano.
For 2026: April 12 falls on a Sunday. Book Friday-Sunday nights at minimum. Tuscany's high season begins in late April — prices and availability are still reasonable for this weekend.
The white roads of the Crete Senesi are dry and fast in good conditions but can turn into clay paste after rain. April is unpredictable.
Bike: Gravel bike ideal (tyre clearance 38mm+). Road bike with 28-32mm tyres possible on shorter routes. Cyclocross bikes work well. No vintage bikes required for Nova Eroica (that's for the classic L'Eroica in October).
Tyres: 38-42mm tubeless, low pressure (1.5-2.0 bar). Carry plugs and CO2/pump. Flats on white roads are common when the surface breaks up after rain.
Weather: April temperatures in this part of Tuscany average 12-18°C. Morning starts can be cold (5-8°C). Wind on the ridges. Pack arm warmers, knee warmers, and a light windproof.
Mandatory gear check: Review official rules at registration — fluid minimums, emergency contact protocols and mandatory items are confirmed by the organisation each edition.
Many gravel events have found the formula: scenic location, timed segments, festival atmosphere. Nova Eroica's edge is the weight of the place. These are roads that have been ridden since the Middle Ages. The strade bianche weren't built for sport — they were built for agriculture and trade. Cycling here isn't tourism, it's archaeology.
The route through the Val d'Orcia passes land that Renaissance painters used as backgrounds in their masterpieces. The climb of Monte Sante Marie has defeated riders in pain and rewarded them in beauty simultaneously for centuries. When you cross the line in Buonconvento, you'll have a story worth telling.
That's what separates Nova Eroica from a generic gravel race. Any cyclist who's done it will share this post. Any cyclist who hasn't done it yet should be on the start line.
Both the April 12 and the May 31 Gravel edition of Nova Eroica Buonconvento are in the SportPlan database — save them to your calendar and get reminders as registration deadlines approach.
