Another extraordinary edition of GeoGravel Tuscany – Le Strade Grigie has come to a close. This weekend proved once again that gravel riding is about so much more than just a sporting challenge: it is about sharing, exploring the territory, friendship, and a shared desire to be together.
The 2026 edition put fun, conviviality, and that authentic Tuscan hospitality at its very core, making every single kilometer ridden on our white and grey roads truly unique. Hundreds of participants from all over Italy and abroad experienced the event with a smile, brought together by the same passion and the desire for an authentic experience.
The weekend kicked off on Saturday afternoon with the departure of the Ultra at 3:30 PM, launching a long adventure through spectacular landscapes and Tuscan sunsets. The evening then turned into a full-on celebration with 80s and 90s music, dancers, and performers lights up the GeoVillage, transforming it into a huge dance floor where everyone shared moments of pure joy.
Sunday was a true celebration of the territory and its welcoming spirit. The numerous rest stops scattered along the routes were much more than mere refueling stations—they became genuine gathering hubs.
The "Volpe's pop-up stop" (Il ristoro abusivo della Volpe) has already made the history books of GeoGravel Tuscany - Le Strade Grigie, winning participants over with the irresistible sausages from Macelleria Nicola Fabiani, which were met with incredible enthusiasm. Riders also christened this edition with another local institution: the Camparino, a true symbol of Pomarance's spirit. Meanwhile, the Vapori di Birra and Bibbona rest stops offered an extraordinary welcome to the athletes tackling the long route, proving just how much the local community comes together to support this event.
Yet, the true success of the event is measured—as always—by the happiness at the finish line, the chats shared over a drink, and the encounters between people who might not have known each other the day before, but who head home with new friends and new memories.
"GeoGravel Tuscany - Le Strade Grigie has never been just a simple bike ride," says multiple World and Olympic Champion Paolo Bettini. "But this year, we made an upgrade that the public absolutely loved. We started right from our rest stops: no longer just places to pause, but stages to truly savor our land. Kilometer after kilometer, this event is becoming an immersive journey into the warm heart of Tuscany. I love seeing cyclists riding like this, with a sense of lightness despite the fatigue. And it’s so beautiful to see them get emotional over a sudden view or a landscape. We aren't just mapping out routes; we are pouring our entire soul into this."
A special thank you goes to Velo Etruria Pomarance, the sponsors, the local administrations, and all the organizations that helped make this great gravel festival possible. Without their enthusiasm and dedication, it wouldn't be possible to create that warm, family atmosphere that has always defined Le Strade Grigie.
GeoGravel Tuscany - Le Strade Grigie bids farewell to all participants with a promise to meet again on the roads of Tuscany, to keep riding together through sport, landscapes, great food, and authentic camaraderie.
Because in the end, the most beautiful memory isn't the stopwatch, it's the journey shared.