Giro D’Italia in Montalcino : The Brunello Wine Stage

Preparations are underway for the arrival of the Giro D’Italia in Montalcino next month. This epic bike race is 3.450 km, starting in Turin and finishing up in Milan and this year will be its 104th edition. Montalcino has already hosted this event twice, in 1987 and 2010, and the town is delighted and excited to do it again.

The 11th Stage on 19th May 2021 begins in Perugia and, 163 km later, will see cyclists cross the finishing line in the centre of Montalcino. They will zip through the Val D’Orcia and its postcard views before the last 70km in Montalcino, 35 of which on strade bianche (gravel roads). Anyone who has ever driven on the rough roads from Castiglion del Bosco to Montalcino, got lost below Camigliano or on the treacherous Sesta will be able to imagine what this entails: high puncture risk and exciting viewing. According to the official Giro site the “ features and … road surface will make the Montalcino stage as challenging as tackling the Alps.” In 2010, the Montalcino section was the most watched stage of the Giro.

Of course this year, as we emerge from difficult times, there is a fervent hope that the Giro will mark the beginning of the recovery for Montalcino.

Bring on the cicloturisti! The Brunello Wine Stage awaits you! And if you think you might prefer an ebike, here’s the place for rentals.