The defiant road to Alpe di Poti
Italy, europe
8.6 km
827 m
moderate
Year-round
# Alpe di Poti: Tuscany's Gritty Mountain Challenge
Ready for some authentic Tuscan climbing? Alpe di Poti sits pretty at 827m (2,713ft) in the Arezzo region of Tuscany, and it's absolutely worth the effort to get there.
This beauty gained serious bragging rights when the Giro d'Italia tackled it back in 2016. Starting from San Paolo, you're looking at an 8.6km climb that'll definitely test your legs—especially that first kilometer where the gradient kicks up past 14%. The overall average hovers around 9-10%, so yeah, it's legit steep.
Here's what makes it special: about 6.4km of the route is unpaved, and we're talking proper gravel roads that'll have you feeling like a real Italian cyclist. The Strade Bianche (white roads) vibe is strong here—it's actually the inspiration behind the famous gravel classic that happens in Tuscany every March. Most of the road is paved, but those gravel sections? That's where the magic happens.
If you're hunting for an authentic Tuscan experience that combines climbing punishment with jaw-dropping scenery, Alpe di Poti delivers on all fronts. Just bring your A-game and embrace the dust.
Where is it?
The defiant road to Alpe di Poti is located in Italy (europe). Coordinates: 41.4482, 12.9696
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 8.6 km
- Max Elevation
- 827 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 41.4482, 12.9696
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