13th edition           CASTIGLIONE D'ORCIA (SI)               17/18 April 2026

ROUTE INFO – 53 KM “VALDORCIA CLASSIC”

The 53 km route follows the trail called “Valdorcia Classic”. After the start, you will immediately reach the Rocca di Tentennano, which will serve as a visual reference point for most of the race.

You then cross the village of Rocca d'Orcia and descend to the Orcia River, which you cross to reach the ancient spa town of Bagno Vignoni, famous for its large pool in the center of the village. From there, you climb up to the Rocca di Vignoni Alto and continue to San Quirico d'Orcia, a historic village along the Via Francigena, where Frederick Barbarossa was crowned emperor.

Continue through the lands made famous by the film Gladiator, with its evocative Campi Elisi and the famous church of the Madonna di Vitaleta, until you reach Pienza, the “ideal city” desired by Pope Pius II, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The route continues through the rolling Tuscan hills to Monticchiello, a village rich in history and known for its “Teatro Povero”, where the inhabitants themselves perform. The route then descends along the panoramic Via Agogna, with breathtaking 360° views of the Valdorcia, crosses the Orcia river again and arrives at Gallina, home to the second base camp.

From here, there is only one last climb before crossing the finish line in Castiglione d'Orcia.

Although this is a seemingly easy route, don't be fooled... the constant ups and downs will take their toll on your legs, there may be fords and their importance depends on the rain. Another thing not to be underestimated is the weather conditions. If it is a hot day, the route is very exposed to the sun and the refreshment points are quite far apart, so pay close attention to hydration.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Your conduct during the race is entirely your responsibility. The route is marked, but we strongly recommend downloading the GPS track or route map.

SIGNS

During the 53 km route, you must follow:

Yellow and red arrows on a yellow background

Orange ribbons with reflective strips