The Eroica Cuba cycling race begins
Pinar del Río’s Viñales Valley is the starting point
Posted by Sol de Cuba, 14/11/2025
Photo: Archive, Paolo Rinaldi, website https://www.eroica.cc/gallery-cuba/
The Eroica Cuba cycling race began its second edition today in the Viñales Valley, a natural landscape declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. The event organizers invited all those interested, professional or not, who wished to join the adventure of traveling through the western part of the island, including towns in northern Pinar del Río and the mountainous region of Minas de Matahambre, until reaching Cayo Jutías, one of the main keys that make up the Los Colorados archipelago.
As a unique feature, one of its beaches boasts a rare treasure: a wealth of beautiful starfish. At sunset, the water turns pink.
The Eroica Cuba route covers 115km with an elevation gain of 740 meters. Its creation follows a tradition dating back to 1997 in Italy and consists of an out-and-back ride. The main requirement is the use of bicycles, clothing and accessories manufactured before 1987 (except for helmets), according to the specialized publication TTC.
Similar Eroica events exist in the Netherlands, Britain, Spain, Japan, Uruguay and South Africa. However, the first edition in Cuba took place in February 2024. In statements to the press, Giancarlo Brocci, founder and president of this cycling tour, stated that he first arrived on the island in the late 1980s as part of a brigade to do volunteer work at the Julio Antonio Mella International Camp in Caimito.
