Road bike Italy
Tuscany grand tour
Andiamo for road cycling highlights of the Chianti, the Siena hills and the Casentino, the most beautiful part of Tuscany...Ref CR45
From Florence, we leave for a long loop through the Tuscan jewels: - The Casentino : this is the intimate part of the Tuscan mountains, with its forests of chestnut, pine and beech trees; the charm of its mountain villages and towns; its medieval fortresses and churches. - The shores of Lake Trasimeno. - The Crete Senese, or Sienese peaks: the hills seem to play leapfrog. They have always inspired the Sienese painters. - Siena: an astonishing concentration of monuments, each more beautiful than the other... - Chianti: vineyards, rows of cypress trees, woods, hills, perched villages... - And of course, Florence, one of the world's art capitals...
Highlights
- Landscapes of incomparable serenity.
- The perfect balance between nature and culture.
- Villages where life seems to stand still...
- The exceptional cities of Florence and Siena.
- Nights in Italian agriturismo, in beautiful typical Tuscan properties, most of them with swimming pool or in hotels.
Description
Comments
- This tour is available from leve 1 to level 3.
- This tour is available in a version "without support vehicle" (from 2 participants).
Dates and price
Dates
| From 20/09/2026 to 27/09/2026 | 8 days | 1695 € | Available |
| From 04/10/2026 to 11/10/2026 | 8 days | 1695 € | Available |
Costs and services
The price includes:
- Tour leader and support vehicle
- 7 nights in hotels or typical Italian Agriturismo in double/twin rooms with en-suite facilities
- 7 breakfasts
- 7 picnic lunches
- 6 dinners (3 to 4 course menu) (except on Day 1 in Florence)
- Daily baggage transfers
- Carefully designed itineraries in 3 levels of difficulty
- Our navigation app for smartphones, a detailed road book including maps (digital format) and GPS tracks
What is not included:
- Diner in Florence on Day 1.
- International flights
- Your transfer to the meeting place (see paragraph below)
- Bike rental
- All services mentioned in extensions
- Travel insurance
- Drinks at the accommodation
- Visits to museums, monuments and sites
- Additional travel related to change in the programme due to bad weather
- All personal expenses
- Everything not mentioned under “the price includes".
Extra services
| Single room accommodation (7 nights) | 365 € /  |
| Vélorizons cycling jersey (shipping not included) |
75 € / |
| Transfer Chambéry - Florence (with luggage and bike) Departure on day 1 at 9 a.m |
95 € / |
| Return transfer Florence - Chambéry Arrival in Chambéry around 11:30 p.m |
95 € / |
Road bike rental
If you have booked the tour with support vehicle, you can choose to rent a road bike. Four models are available:
| Standard road bike Carbon frame and fork, disc brakes, Shimano Tiagra groupset, 10 speeds, 50/34 - 11/32, aluminium wheelset, model Scott Addict 50 or equivalent, roughly 9 kg |
355 € / |
| Premium road bike Carbon frame and fork, disc brakes, Shimano 105 groupset, 12 Di2 speeds, 50/34 - 11/32, aluminium wheelset, model Scott Addict 40 or equivalent, roughly 8,9 kg |
430 € / |
| Ultimate road bike Carbon frame and fork, disc brakes, Shimano 105 groupset, 12 Di2 speeds, 50/34 - 11/34, carbon Mavic or Syncros wheelset, model Scott Addict 30 or equivalent, roughly 8,4 kg |
565 € / |
| E-road bike Carbon frame and fork, Shimano 105 groupset, 11 speeds, 50/34 - 11/32, aluminium wheelset, supplied with 1 x 248Wh battery (+ 1 extra 210Wh battery), model Orbea Gain M30 or equivalent, roughly 13 kg |
800 € / |
Rental bike equipment (for all models)
- Gear range: 11-speed cassette (11x32), compact 34/50 chainset
- Repair kit included: 2 CO2 cartridges, patches, multi-tool, 1 inner tube, tyre levers
- 2 bottle holders (except size 47 bicycles on which only one can be placed)
- Helmets and water bottles: not included
- Pedals: Our rental bikes come without pedals. You can bring your own pedals or specify your needs (2 weeks before departure at the latest). We can install 3 types of pedals at no extra charge: Look KEO easy, Shimano SPD SL or Shimano SPD
Please indicate your choice of model and pedals as well as your height (if possible also frame size and inseam) when filling out your booking form.
You will receive your chosen model from the tour leader on the first day of your tour. He will carry out an inventory of the bike with you, as well as a second inventory at the end of the tour.
Bike “consumables" (tyres, tubes, brake pads, cables) are included in the rental price. Only parts and components that are broken due to a crash and/or misuse will be charged. In the event of bike loss or theft, a fixed fee will be charged (2200 € for the Standard model, 3590 € for the Premium and Electric models and 5700 € for the Super light model).
Vélorizons cycling jersey
A cycling jersey to our taste.
A timeless road cycling jersey produced in France, inspired by our team and our road cycling trips. High quality, made in France by a Savoy company and with a feel-good character for long days in the saddle. Offered at a great price.
Features
- High-quality SIRTECH + LYCRA textiles
- 3 pockets, one with a central zip + 1 side pocket
- Full front zip
- Half-high cycling collar
- Short raglan sleeves in Lycra with seamless ends
- Gripper at the hem
Available sizes (EU sizing): XXS bis XL
Cut: Slim fit, unisex
Price: see above
Order and further information by e-Mail or ask our leaders while on tour.
Private groups / Custom tours
You are a group of friends, a family, a company or a cycling club and you would like to organise a private cycling tour on the dates of your choice. This option is available for guided and self-guided tours.
- If you are interested in one of the tours presented on our website, we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in your group.
- If you are interested in a custom version of one of our tours, with specific requirements (tour duration, accommodation type, vehicle assistance, airport transfers, bike rental, etc.), we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in the group and the group's specific requirements.
For more information or to receive a quote, please contact us by phone at +33 458 140 435 or by email at info@france-bike-trips.com.
Travel insurance
It is important to be correctly insured when embarking on a cycling holiday. We recommend checking the details of your travel insurance (if you have one) and, if necessary, subscribing to our contract below. Please note that France Bike Trips is simply an intermediary between you and the insurance company.
You can choose between these travel insurance contracts while completing your booking form:
- I subscribe to the "comprehensive multi-risk" insurance cover (4.5%), minimum premium of 15 €:
This contract covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage, holiday interruption and cancellation. To see the full contract, click here. - I purchase the "cancellation only" insurance cover (2.5%), minimum premium of 10 €:
This policy covers cancellation only. To see the full contract, click here. - I purchase the "repatriation & assistance" insurance cover (1.6%), minimum premium of 10 €:
This policy covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage and holiday interruption. To see the full contract, click here.
Recommendation: |
Booking procedure / Cancellation
How to book
In order to make a booking please fill in the online booking form on the "booking" page of your chosen tour. At the end of the booking process you will be transferred to our bank's secure payment page in order to pay a 30 % deposit.
Last minute booking
All self-guided bookings made within 21 days of tour departure will incur a surcharge of 15 € per person.
Expert advice
- Unsure which tour to book?
- Interested in a custom version of one of our tours?
- Not sure if a particular tour is suitable for your riding style?
A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm (French time) by phone - +33 458 140 435 or by mail - info@france-bike-trips.com.
Tour confirmation
In order to confirm our guided tours, we need to reach a minimum number of participants (usually 5 persons are necessary). Therefore booking a guided tour does not necessarily mean the tour is confirmed. In the unlikely event that we are unable to confirm your chosen tour, we will offer you the opportunity (no less than 21 days before departure) of switching to another (confirmed) tour, or receiving a full refund.
Self-guided or custom tours: We confirm bookings of self-guided tours and custom tours directly after booking.
In both cases, please await our final booking confirmation before making any travel arrangements.
Balance payment
Tour balance payment must be made no less than 30 days before tour departure. Your travel documents will be sent to you once we have received your balance payment. Road books and maps will be sent to you 3 weeks before departure.
Cancellation
In the event that you are obliged to cancel your tour France Bike Trips will reimburse the entire sum paid for the tour, minus the following cancellation charges:
- More than 60 days before departure: 5 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
- Between 60 and 31 days before departure: 15 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
- Between 30 and 21 days: 30 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
- Between 20 and 14 days: 50 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
- Between 13 and 7 days: 70 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
- Less than 7 days before departure: 100 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
Full details of our sales conditions are available here
Daily schedule
During riding you carry only your day pack. All your luggage is transported each day by the support vehicle.
After breakfast, the support vehicle driver will pack your luggage in the van, distribute cereal/energy bars, and announce the time slot for lunch. The driver can also hand out picnics to any participants who do not wish to stop at the designated picnic lunch stop.
Once all the participants have passed the picnic stop, the driver transports your luggage directly to the following nights accommodation, before returning to wait at the foot of the last climb of the day. He is then available to help any members of the group in difficulty or who encounter a mechanical problem. You'll usually meet the van driver several times during the day, offering the opportunity to fill up with water, change clothing, etc.
Each participant is free to ride at his or her own pace, using the road book and GPS route to navigate during the day. However, the driver is equipped with a mobile phone, and can be reached at any time during the day if a particpant encounters a problem. The driver is also available throughout the trip to provide information and advice.
How to get to the meeting point
By plane:
Florence airport: https://www.aeroporto.firenze.it/en/
Airport transfers are available on request. Contact us for a quote.
By train:
There is a direct line from Paris to Florence that runs every night. The hotels we book in Florence (we have several addresses depending on availability) are located close to the station. In the case of the version "with support vehicle", our driver can pick you up at the train station in Florence (from 5pm), please specify this when you register.
By car:
Route planner: en.mappy.com
You can park your car near the hotel (in a residential area where there are usually free parking spaces) or in one of the guarded (and therefore paying) car parks in the city centre.
Route navigation
You will receive an email 2 weeks before departure, containing all the information necessary for your upcoming tour, including the following navigation tools:
Our dedicated smartphone app
Follow your route with comfort and ease! Thanks to the Velorizons navigation app, download the full trip itinerary to your smartphone, view route maps and profiles, access the list of booked accommodation, services and useful contacts, and use the integrated route guidance (visual and vocal) for navigation.
►See the mobile app presentation video
To benefit fully from the app navigation system, we strongly recommend attaching your smartphone to the bicycle handlebar using a dedicated mount. An example can be viewed here.
| Operating system | Android | Apple | Windows Phone | Blackberry |
| Compatibility | Version 8.0 minimum | iOS 8.0 minimum. iPhone compatible, iPad compatible if GPS equipped | Non compatible | Non compatible |
A detailed Road Book
Your tour road book will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The road book contains:
- Full colour maps with highlighted routes,
- Step-by-step route description,
- Route profiles
GPS tracks
Tour GPS tracks will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The tracks are in .gpx format, compatible with all GPS devices/apps.
Accommodation
We favour comfortable accommodation with warm hospitality.
Version "with support vehicle" (open trip):
In a hotel in Florence, and in an agriturismo for the rest of the tour. Alternating nights in double, triple and quadruple rooms. Possibility of double room for all nights (subject to availability). Please indicate your rooming preference clearly in your booking form.
"Self-guided" version (without the support vehicle):
In guesthouses, agriturismo and hotel, on the basis of two people per room (double bed or two separate beds). Please indicate your rooming preference clearly in your booking form.
Food
This trip is fully catered (breakfast, lunch and dinner included). We pay very careful attention to the quality and the variety of your meals. Fresh and local products will be served wherever possible. This trip is also an opportunity to discover the local gastronomy and regional products - l'art de la table!
Please note: If you have any food intolerances, please inform us in the comments field on the booking form.
- Continental breakfasts taken at the accommodation
- Simple cereal/muesli bars and dried fruit are distributed in the morning before the start of the stage. You must bring your own specific energy bars and isodrinks, if desired.
- Hearty dinners (3 to 4 courses, with local dishes)
For lunch, our tour leader will offer you a picnic stop along the route. Our picnics combine a rich salad based on carbohydrates and fresh vegetables with cold meats and cheese, fresh fruit and bread (wherever possible from local producers) as well as sweet and savoury snacks. If you do not want to stop for lunch, we can offer the following options:
- Our tour leader provides you with a picnic to carry along in a small backpack or a handlebar bag. It contains an individual salad (carbohydrate and vegetable based salad), cold meats, cheese and fruits
- "Racing food" for weight weenies and those "allergic" to backpacks: energy bars, dried fruit
- Feel free to stop and eat when and where you want (restaurant, bakery, grocery store...)
Car sharing
If you sign up for a guided tour, we offer you the opportunity to see if you can carpool with other participants to get to the point of departure. To do this, go to "Car sharing" in our website. By entering the complete reference and the date of departure of the tour (available on the registration confirmation that we have sent you), you have access to route details and emails of other participants who wish to carpool.
Baggage
During the day you carry only a daypack for additional clothing, water, food, camera, etc. The rest of your baggage is transferred each day to the following nights accommodation.
Our / Your state of mind
- A "group" tour: If you join a guided tour, you will be part of a group for several days. This is a superb opportunity to meet new people and share some magical moments. However, a group tour requires that each person show friendliness, openness and mutual respect for their fellow travellers.
- An "adventure" tour: despite the most careful preparation, adventure tours can present unforeseen events. Accepting these risks will help you enjoy your trip to the full, in the knowledge that your guide, our local partners and the entire France Bike Trips team will offer you the most suitable solutions to any given situation.
Bike and plane / train
If you decide to bring your own bike, be aware that transporting a bike by plane or train is no longer an issue. However a few simple guidelines help to optimise the transport and avoid potential damages that could occur.
Your bike must be transported in a designated bike bag (standard size 120x90cm). This maximal size allows you to travel with your bike as "hand luggage" in any high-speed and regional trains.
It is very important that you protect your bike in the bag. After having deflated the tires, removed the wheels (by removing the quick release mechanisms), pedals and rear derailleur (which is left hanging on the chain), we recommend you wrap your bike inside the bag in a sheet of dense foam (thickness of 3 to 5 cm). A piece of cardboard or rigid plastic positioned between the foam and the inside of the cover can be beneficial to provide more rigidity.
Once folded up the bike bag will take up very little space and will be transported by the assistance vehicle during your tour.
Bike bags are available directly from France Bike Trips at a cost of 70 euros, plus postage.
Personal Gear & Packing List
Luggage
All your belongings should be divided into two bags: a backpack and a travel bag.
1/ Backpack or Small Bag (to be kept in the support vehicle or on the bike)
This is the bag you use every day while cycling. It is kept in the support vehicle (accessible during the lunch stop or carried along on the bike (frame, seat or handlebar bag). This bag should not be too large (up to 15 litres).
It will contain: snack food, camera, waterproof and extra clothing, sunglasses, etc.
2/ Travel bag
This bag will be transported by vehicle from one accommodation to the next. It should contain all the items you won’t need during the day. You can expect to find it at your accommodation in the evening (generally not accessible during lunch).
Packing list
For your head
- A cap or other head protection against the sun
- A hat or sweat band
- A bike helmet
For your upper body
- Two or more cycling jerseys (or technical t-shirts made of synthetic or natural breathable fabrics)
- A warm and long cycling jersey or shirt; alternatively: arm warmers
- A sweatsheart and t-shirts (for the evenings)
- A wind & waterproof jacket
- A pair of cycling gloves
For your legs
- Two or more good quality bib shorts with seat pad (chamois)
- A pair of long and warm cycling tights or leg warmers
- A casual short (for the evenings)
- A swimsuit
For your feet
- A pair of cycling shoes
- A pair of shoes suitable for the evening
- Sandals (not compulsory, but nice for warm evenings...)
- Cycling socks
For your bike
- Adapted gearing: if in doubt ask us our your local cycle dealer
- Bike lights with batteries (or charger)
- 2 spare tubes
- Puncture repair kit or tubeless repair kit
- Spare brake pads (except if you start with new pads)
- Chain lube
- A small pump
- A multi tool
Other
- 2 bike bottles 75 cl (or camelbak)
- A toiletry kit and towel
- A bike lock (not compulsory)
- A small individual pharmacy: sunscreen (face and lips); band aids + double skin (Compeed); Immodium; pain killers, earplugs, other personal medication.
Dates
Ideal period: April, May, June, September, October
Possible period (but hot weather) : July and August
Costs and services self-guided tour
Price per person for a group of :
The price includes:
- 7 nights in hotels or typical Italian Agriturismo in double/twin rooms with en-suite facilities
- 7 breakfasts
- 5 dinners (3 to 4 course menu). Dinners on day 1 in Florence and on day 6 in Siena not included)
- Daily luggage transfers (day 2 to day 8)
- Carefully designed itineraries in 3 levels of difficulty
- Our navigation app for smartphones, a detailed road book including maps (digital format) and GPS tracks
What is not included:
- Lunch meals
- Dinners on day 1 in Florence and on day 6 in Siena
- International flights
- Your transfer to the meeting place (see useful information tab)
- Road bike rental
- All services mentioned in extensions
- Travel insurance
- Drinks at the accommodation
- Visits to museums, monuments and sites
- Additional travel related to change in the programme due to bad weather
- All personal expenses
- Everything not mentioned under “the price includes".
Extra services:
| Single room accommodation (7 nights) | 365 € / |
| Vélorizons cycling jersey (shipping not included) |
75 € / |
Road bike rental: not available.
Self-guided trips: what you should know
Pick a date of your choice and book for as few as 2 people. We take care of the reservation of your accommodation (with breakfast and dinners), the transport of your luggage for each stage and provide you with detailed travel documents (reservation list, detailed road book with highlighted maps, our navigation app for smartphones and GPS tracks).
Our promise
An adventure with support.
- perfect on-site logistics,
- a carefully planned route,
- ride on the most beautiful routes of a region without missing the highlights
Requirements
- Self-guided navigation with the help of our navigation tools (roadbook, navigation app and/or GPS tracks)
- Consideration of weather conditions and of the group's capacity with regard to the tour programme
- Arrival at the accommodation in due time
- Basic knowledge of equipment and bicycle technology for possible repairs
- First aid and emergency management
With our travel documents, our advice and a thorough travel preparation on your part, nothing should stand in the way of a wonderful, trouble-free cycling trip.
Note: On our self-guided tours you ride on your own and without a cycling guide. The tours are specifically aimed at people who want to be independent and have experience in navigation. We cannot be held liable for navigation errors, personal misconduct, carelessness, insufficient timing or misjudgement of weather conditions or emergency situations. Any change of itinerary on your part is your own responsibility.
Average tour rating:
A great memory!
Our guide Pierre-Rémi made our stay very pleasant, taking care of all the logistics and preparing delicious salads for our lunch breaks, all in a good mood.
Discovering Tuscany by bike, at your own pace, enjoying the landscapes, the towns and villages, the scents, the sun, the rain too, with a very friendly group, allowed us to combine sport, culture, nature, gastronomy, laughter and pleasure.
(customer review translated from our French website Vélorizons)"
