The beauty of suffering. The thrill of the challenge. That is how the 92 “emotion seekers” who dreamed up Eroica in 1997 describe the ride that has since become one of the most eagerly anticipated — and eccentric — gatherings for vintage cycling enthusiasts.

It’s not a race, but a “commemorative ride” open to anyone 13 and older. The secret lies in the rules. No carbon fiber or aluminum: Bikes must have steel frames dating to before 1987 or otherwise meet the specifications of bikes from a bygone era. No disc brakes. Shifters must be mounted on the downtube, not the handlebars. Pedals must have toe clips; clipless pedals are banned. Even the clothing must be vintage, or at least vintage inspired. In other words, synthetic fabrics give way to wool.

The only modern concession — for obvious safety reasons — is the helmet.

This weekend, Gaiole in Chianti welcomed nearly 9,000 riders for the 29th edition, filling the town with colorful jerseys and the buzz of thousands of cyclists. Five routes wound through the white gravel roads north of Siena, ranging from 29 to 130 miles. The longest is strictly for experienced riders, with a dawn start, at least 15 hours in the saddle and more than 12,400 feet of elevation gain.

“We counted 8,988 registered riders on Saturday, with 47% coming from abroad,” says Franco Rossi, President of Eroica Italia. “It’s an important figure, and it comes alongside another record: the number of women taking part. There were 1,132 female cyclists, or 12.6% of the total. That’s no small achievement.”

Ten members of Italy’s National Cycling Team also took to the dusty roads, to the delight of Saverio Metti, Vice Ppresident of the Italian Cycling Federation.

“They’re all 17 years old, and it’s wonderful that they, too, are experiencing such a unique event, one that represents the soul of our sport,” Metti says. “They’ll ride like everyone else, on vintage bikes and in wool jerseys. The white roads around Siena have produced great champions in the past.”

But Eroica has long since moved beyond the hills of Chianti. Today, it is a global movement capable of attracting thousands of cyclists and enthusiasts from around the world. Over time, it has expanded beyond its traditional vintage spirit to include competitive events featuring modern bikes.

That is how Nova Eroica was born: Gran Fondo punctuated by timed sections, still held on unpaved roads but using modern bikes.

So once again this year, the beauty of suffering and the thrill of the challenge have traveled beyond Tuscany to other regions and countries. On May 2, Eroica came to Conegliano and Valdobbiadene in the Treviso area. From June 5 to 7, there were two events, one in Gran Sasso National Park in Abruzzo and another in Valkenburg, the Netherlands. From June 11 to 13, the tour continued to Novigrad, Croatia, and Switzerland’s Valposchiavo Valley. On Aug. 22, it was Germany’s turn, with Eroica Rheingau. On Sept. 4 and 6, the event returned to Val Pusteria in the Dolomites, followed by Ivrea, near Turin, on Sept. 12 and 13.

But the most evocative event is still to come. It will take place in late October and early November, with Japan as the destination — specifically Ibaraki prefecture, north of Tokyo.

It will not be an entirely new adventure, however. The Eroica legend arrived in Japan 13 years ago.