ROUTE INFO

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The 103 km route covers the last two sections of the ‘Tuscany Crossing’ route: the Valdorcia Classic and the Valdorcia Mountain. After the start, it passes the Rocca di Tentennano (your landmark for the entire race), crosses Rocca d'Orcia and descends to cross the Orcia River to reach theancient spa town of Bagno Vignoni, famous for its pool in the centre of the village. You then climb up to the Rocca di Vignoni Alto and reach San Quirico d'Orcia, a village rich in history located on the Via Francigena, where Frederick Barbarossa was crowned Holy Roman Emperor. You will cross the lands made famous by the film ‘Gladiator’ with its Elysian Fields and the church of the Madonna di Vitaleta, to reach Pienza, the ideal city desired by Pope Pius II, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. More hills follow, and you arrive at Monticchiello, a village rich in history and famous lately for its “Teatro Povero” where all the inhabitants act, you descend along Via Agogna where you can enjoy a 360° view of the Valdorcia, you cross the river again and arrive at Gallina (2nd base camp) and here the real Tuscany Crossing begins....you start climbing towards Campiglia d'Orcia, a village located around the bell tower that dominates the valley, you descend again to Bagni San Filippo, famous for its Balena Bianca, a magnificent limestone formation created by the flow of thermal waters that make the landscape so picturesque. You climb for 7 km towards Vivo d'Orcia, the highest point of the race (1050 metres above sea level), and then begin the descent to the last refreshment point at Poggio Rosa, the lowest point of the final stage at 207 metres above sea level, but it's not over yet...A series of ups and downs will take you to the final climb to “conquer the Rocca” and the well-deserved final prize.

The main recommendation for participants is to pace themselves well, pay attention to distances and manage their water and food supplies carefully. The Val d'Orcia is a windy, desert-like area and can easily deceive you. Remember that this is a semi-autonomous race. There may be several kilometres between refreshment points and it may take some time to reach them, so it is essential to carry all the mandatory equipment with you and leave nothing to chance. Read the race rules carefully, keep your mobile phone switched on (we recommend carrying a power bank) and make sure you have a working torch with spare batteries. Remember that your conduct during the race depends entirely on YOU. The route is marked, but it is advisable to have a GPS tracker or download the map.

SIGNS

In the 103 km race, you must follow the yellow arrows and reflective tape.