The success of the retro cycling event Eroica in Gaiole in Chianti in Tuscany (Italy) has ensured that other regions have also copied this concept. After all, it's not just about cycling on vintage steel horses, but the routes show you the best of the region, usually places you don't come every day.
The start in front of the town hall of San Giovanni Valdarno
The Valdarno region in Tuscany also has its own Eroica since 2013, called La Marzocchina genaamd. Start en aankomst is het pittoreske stadje San Giovanni Valdarno with its beautiful town hall from the 13th century. The routes (3 in total) show you the most beautiful of the Valdarno region (area around the valley of the Arno) and for the occasion the mining site around the power station of Cavriglia has also been set up.
This site, which is closed to the public all year round, is managed by the electricity company Enel, which also sponsors the event. It is wonderful cycling on the unpaved roads (strade bianche) where no one ever comes. Unfortunately, the strade bianche are different from those of the Eroica and the stones are much more angular and sharp. During my participation in 2016 I had no less than 3 punctures and I was not the only one. Tires are therefore not really recommended, better tubes.
On each of the routes there is a provision in the ghost town of Castelnuovo dei Sabbioni, which was evacuated in the 1970s because the hill on which the town was built was subsiding. The reason was the mining of brown coal in the area. In all haste a new city was built higher up where no real attention was paid to the aesthetic.
supplies in the ghost town
The Event La Marzocchina itself
The event usually takes place in September and starts on Saturday with the collection of the registration package and a vintage bicycle market in the central market square of San Giovanni Valdarno. For the occasion, all shops in the center will remain open until 10 p.m.
The Sunday itself is the day of the race where you can choose from 3 different routes:
- percorso corto: 28km with 14km strade bianche
- percorso medio: 48km with 32,5km strade bianche
- percorso lungo: 71km with 57km strade bianche
It is striking that there are a lot more strade bianche than with the Eroica and that the longest course is only 71 km. A much longer distance may be added in the future.
profile of the short course Percorso corto
Afterwards there is a pasta party where all kinds of regional dishes are served. If you want to travel to beautiful Tuscany and participate in this event, you will find all the information below with a link to the official website
Practical information La Marzocchina
Place of event: La Marzocchina takes place in San Giovanni Valdarno, about 45km from Florence and 40km from Arezzo
When: september
More info: www.lamarzocchina.it
