Italy's retro bicycle race is a cycling classicRun on gravel roads with 80's bicycles, woolen jerseys and fueled by rich Italian food and wine, the gloroius L'Erocia race captures the golden era of cycling.
As a period race - only bicycles made prior to 1987 can enter - riders also dress in appropriate costumes (merino wool jerseys, leather shoes, small peak caps), and most of the course is made up of the bone shaking (strada bianche) Italy's crushed white gravel roads. When it was first held in 1997 it was intended to help save these roads from being gradually replaced with asphalt.
L'Erocia is entirely different than most events on the cycling calendar. For many years the event was sponsored by the classic saddle maker Brooks, now it is backed by Le Cog Sportif, who once made wool jerseys for the Tour de France.
The race starts each October from Gaiole in Chiati, Italy. During the weekend of L' Erocia more than 3,000 competitors flock into town early to register for the race and peruse dozens of stalls which spring up selling vintage bikes, parts and jerseys.
The races are divided into distances to suit all levels of riders, form the 38km that the majority tackle to the full 205km course.
L'Erocia is entirely different than most events on the cycling calendar. For many years the event was sponsored by the classic saddle maker Brooks, now it is backed by Le Cog Sportif, who once made wool jerseys for the Tour de France.
The race starts each October from Gaiole in Chiati, Italy. During the weekend of L' Erocia more than 3,000 competitors flock into town early to register for the race and peruse dozens of stalls which spring up selling vintage bikes, parts and jerseys.
The races are divided into distances to suit all levels of riders, form the 38km that the majority tackle to the full 205km course.
Click here for more information on L'Eroica.
Below is a video of the 2009 L'Eroica presented by Brooks.
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