Starting out from Siena, Italy, the 2023 edition of the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche sponsored by Enel Green Power is set for March 5th. This year’s event has reportedly sold out, hitting its capacity of 6,500 riders.
The 2023 Gran Fondo Strade Bianche Enel Green Power largely shares its route with the women’s elite event. There are approximately 42 km of gravel roads (30.2% of the route) appearing in nine sectors, some of which are new to both the men’s and women’s elite races.
In addition to new routes, the amateur gravel event has new race jerseys, manufactured by Sportful, and new sunglasses, manufactured by Koo.
Starting from Siena (near the stadium/Fortezza Medicea area), the route reaches the first gravel sector at km 11 (2.1 km). The second sector (5.8 km) is just a few kilometres away featuring stretches with gradients around and over 12%.
Upon reaching Radi, the route takes in sector 3 (4.4 km), immediately followed by sector 4 (6.4 km), with no major gradients, which leads to Ponte d’Arbia. Here, the route crosses the Cassia to take in the new Serravalle sector 5 (10.7 km). This sector ends at Monteroni d’Arbia, and is followed almost immediately by the 6th gravel sector, San Martino in Grania (9.5 km), through the Crete Senesi.
Past Castelnuovo Berardenga, sector 7 at Montaperti is only 800 m in length but has double-digit gradients along the climb. The route then takes in the eighth and penultimate sector on the steep Colle Pinzuto climb (with gradients peaking as high as 15%).
The ninth and final gravel sector (1.1 km), with slopes of 18%, ends at Tolfe. From there, just over 12 km remain until the finish located in Piazza del Campo, the heart of Siena.
Paolo Bellino, Managing Director at RCS Sport, said “We’re getting ready to experience a great weekend of cycling between Saturday’s races, the Strade Bianche Women Élite and the Strade Bianche, which by now represent two of the most important cycling competitions in the world, and Sunday’s Gran Fondo Strade Bianche Enel Green Power, a race that is ever growing, year after year, with increasing interest and participation from all over the world.
“We will pass through enchanting places that are entering the hearts of all the fans and that are growing in visibility. We do believe that this will continue to work, and that the numbers, in terms of participation and beyond, will continue to grow”.
Luca Onofrio, Head of Mass Events at RCS Sports and Events, said “The Gran Fondo Strade Bianche Enel Green Power is a unique event, and this is demonstrated by the growing interest in this race.
“There is some news this year, starting with the route, which was softened after speaking with some of the participants of the previous editions. In addition, we have significant data on the prestige that this race has achieved in the world, since over 30% of the 6,500 participants are foreigners, a symbol of the beauty of cycling on these roads and with these landscapes as a backdrop.”
