Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
Over 6,000 cyclists from around the world traveled to Italy for the 2025 Tuscany Trail event, following a 440-kilometer route through enchanted forests and centuries-old towns and villages. Find a recap from this year’s event here…
Words by Francesco Nguyen/AdventureLab, photos by Matteo Dunchi/Bike Adventure Series
The Tuscany Trail is one of the world’s most beloved bikepacking events, offering cyclists of all levels the chance to explore the best of Tuscany’s landscapes. What began as a quest for the “perfect” route in 2007 has evolved into an inclusive adventure that welcomes everyone, from beginners to experts, thanks to a route designed without technical obstacles and with total freedom of pace. In 2014, just 68 riders set off on this journey; in 2025, over 6,100 lined up at Campiglia Marittima, a testament to the growing hunger for authentic cycling experiences that prioritize discovery over competition.
For Sherry Cardona, an ultra-endurance cyclist known for pushing her limits in events like the Atlas Mountain Race, joining the Tuscany Trail and Bike Adventure Series, thanks to Toscana Promozione, meant stepping out of her comfort zone. What happens when a racer, trained to count every watt and optimize every minute, is set loose on a “no-race” adventure?
The First Day: Old Habits Die Hard
“The first day, I went full gas,” Sherry laughs, a familiar glint in her eye. “I’m so used to ultra racing. It was hard to let go of that mindset.”
Like many competitive cyclists, Sherry carried with her the habits and the guilt of racing: every coffee break meant more pressure later, and every pause demanded a mental calculation. “In a race, you feel guilty because you worked so hard: skipping sleep, pushing through the night—that if you stop for too long, you feel like you’re wasting all that effort.”
But Tuscany had other plans. The crowd thinned, the road opened, and gradually, the competitive urgency faded. “I started to relax and enter ‘bikepacking mode,’” she remembers. “What I enjoy most about ultra races is not the racing but discovering new places and having an adventure. Here, I could finally stop when I wanted, enjoy the view, interact with the locals, and not feel guilty for doing so.”
Tuscany’s Flow: From Gravel to Art Cities
The route itself was a revelation. “Every day, the trail surprised me. One moment, you’re riding on red gravel, then black, then white. It’s never boring. If it were all just white roads, you’d get tired after a day or two, but here, the landscape keeps changing,” Sherry explains.
From coastal stretches kissed by sea breeze, through the legendary “strade bianche” near Siena, and into hills so silent you can hear your breath, every kilometer felt new. “The best part of bikepacking is the adventure, going where others don’t go, discovering a place deeply, not just passing through.”
These constant changes made every stop a celebration, not a failure. “You could stop in a tiny village, sample the local wine that tastes like the soil you’re riding through, or chat with people at the little stands along the way. You’re not just a tourist here, you’re part of the experience.”
Riding Solo, Never Alone
Ultra racing is often a solitary test. The Tuscany Trail, by contrast, blurs the line between solitude and community. “I liked that I could ride at my own pace, solo, but I was never really alone,” Sherry says. “You bump into riders, have a chat, sometimes they drop you, then you meet again at a café or the end of the day. It’s community without competition.”
What emerged was a unique camaraderie. “You see people from everywhere: randonneurs, Gran Fondo guys, ‘Girona’ types, folks on e-bikes, people you recognize from the internet, and people you’ve never met. Everyone is here for the same thing: not to win, but to experience.”
And for women, that sense of belonging is powerful. “I saw women riding alone, in pairs, or with friends. If you’re new or a bit hesitant to try bikepacking solo, this is the safest and most supportive way to get started. You’re never truly alone here.”
Beyond Suffering: Redefining What It Means to Be a Cyclist
A recurring theme in endurance cycling is the glorification of suffering. For Sherry, the Tuscany Trail offered a new narrative. “In other events, there’s almost a pressure to show how hard you’ve suffered: lying on the ground, tears, pushing through pain. I get it, but that’s not the only story. I want people to see that you don’t have to be superhuman. You can be scared, take breaks, enjoy yourself, and still have an incredible adventure.”
Her videos and social media are filled with honest moments: fear, laughter, slow mornings, breakdowns, and breakthroughs. “I started cycling four years ago, and I make videos for people like me, to show that it’s possible, that you don’t have to fit a specific mold. The Tuscany Trail is incredibly inclusive, accommodating e-bikes, traditional bikes, and all levels of riders, from beginners to pros. Everyone is welcome.”
Inclusivity isn’t just a slogan here; it’s the heart of the event. The founder, Andrea, wanted the event to grow while keeping it open to all: “If you want to do it with your dad on an e-bike, you’re welcome. It’s not about being the fastest.”
Achievement, Redefined
Asked what she liked most, Sherry doesn’t mention stats, trophies, or leaderboards. “It’s the vibe, the community, the way you become part of the place, not just pass through. Climbing into a tiny town and seeing the view, smelling the flowers, hearing the birds; it’s a complete experience. No other way of traveling gives you all this at once.”
By the end, Sherry found herself slowing down, trying to stretch the adventure. “I was actually trying to make it last longer. I didn’t want it to end.”
The Future: From Race to Adventure
The fact that the Tuscany Trail has grown from 68 to over 6,000 participants in little more than a decade says something about how people want to experience cycling today. The “no race” format doesn’t promise glory, but freedom; a rare space where each rider can set their own rhythm and measure their journey by memories, not results. As Sherry puts it, “I do races not to compete against others, but to challenge myself. Here, I could finally just enjoy, connect, and be present.”
Maybe that’s why the finish line at Tuscany Trail feels different. For many, it’s not about ticking off another event or chasing a result, but about soaking up what the road has offered; small conversations, unexpected landscapes, a sense of being part of something. “I already know I’ll come back,” Sherry says, smiling. “It’s the kind of adventure that stays with you, and changes how you think about cycling.”
Learn more about the Tuscany Trail at TuscanyTrail.it
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