- Oct 7, 2012
- 21
- 0
- 8,580
Stage 1 is from Makarska to Split. It is 156 kilometers in length
The climb leading to Stara Podgora after only eight kilometers is pretty stressful and problematic. It's the moment which could be compared to first rounds of a boxing match when boxers try to find their rhythm. Every trip and a change of a micro location is stressful for an organism and you need to adjust as soon as possible. After that climb, it is pretty fluid uptil the downhill into the Cetina canyon. At that point, it is important to be in the first part of the group in order to avoid hard braking and accidents because the road is narrow and it will be pretty stressful all the way to Omiš. After the climb from Omiš, the riders need to conserve their energy. There aren't technically challenging parts until the downhill from Dugopolje to Split, and then it's important to be in front in order to be optimally prepared for the finishing sprint. In case there will be rain, a better position will be even more important because group fragmentation is almost sure to happen. A sprint of the whole group or a very small selected group is expected at the end of the stage. The last ten kilometers through the Marijan park-forest will be a true attraction to watch, especially since it is leading up to the final sprint. Riders who will be better off are those who will be more careful, since the road grip is not that good, and the front position in the last few turns and the roundabouts are the key factors to win this stage.
Stage 2
The second stage is from Šibenik to Zadar. 204 kilometers in length
The riders would be happier if it was the first stage. There aren't any especially demanding parts all up to the entrance to Zadar. The two uphill parts in Rogoznica and Skradin shouldn't pose problems to any participant. Only thing which could counter sprint in the end is team strategy. The teams will need to be careful to not let any larger group of riders separate because the route is, aside from the parts going through coastal towns, really fast. Especially interesting parts will be those when the riders will be entering the towns of Rogoznica, Vodice, Pirovac, Pakoštane, Biograd and Sv. Filip Jakov. The finish, which includes two laps leading around the Zadar walls, is a global rarity and can be hardly matched when it comes to attractiveness and technical complexity. The position which the rider has on the entrance to those laps is key to the victory and you must have assistance from rest of the team. The team compactness in the final part, but also during the whole stage, is important if there will be a need for a breakout. To take the win in front of Sv. Donat would be a lasting memory of any rider.
Stage 3
The third stage is from NP Plitvička jezera to Učka. It is 230 kilometers in length
It is the Queen Stage in every sense. Just the length of 230 kilometers asks for respect. There is also the 3700 meters elevation difference to be conquered and that is challenging even for the best professional riders. The intention behind this whole tour and this stage is to make a stage which could be in Giro d'Italia, Tour de France or any other bigger cycling race. This stage should be a Croatian brand in some way. Coming up to the climb from Meja towards Gornje Jelenje there shouldn't be any notable selection and the average speed could be pretty high. Jelenje part will serve as a filter and mostly those cyclists who don't have mountain experience will fall back. It is also expected that the tempo of the race will be set by a team such as CCC Sprandija. From Jelenje to Rijeka there will be enough time for cyclists who were two minutes behind the leading group on top to join at front. They will only be able to ride along uptil Ičići, where agony begins for some and for others it will be a perfect time for selection. The climb to the top of Učka is 22 kilometers long and the record for that part was set by Robert Kišerlovski and Vladimir Miholjević on training prior to Giro d'Italia in 2011 - 1h00m32s. Thats an average of 385W for a body weight of 68kg. Will it be broken? A really steep part begins at the eight kilometer and that part will segment out the winner. Anyone who attacks to early must be careful since the last two kilometers of the climb are really long and stressful. Whoever comes to the top of Učka first should be the final winner of Tour of Croatia.
Stage 4
The fourth stage is from Pula to Umag and it is 155 kilometers in length
This stage will definitely start with attacks from a distance, while the teams that managed to keep sprinters from the previous day should take control of the race and bring their group to the final sprint. The finish in Umag is always interesting because the downhill from Sv. Marija na Krasu towards Umag always tricks the riders. They feel assured in the leeward even at higher speeds and so many riders who really aren't up to the task try to contend for the top positions. We hope there won't be any incidents. The passing through the Umag downtown will elongate the convoy and ease the fight for positions before the final sprint.
Stage 5
The fifth stage is from Sveti Martin na Muri to Zagreb and it's 177 kilometers in length
Except the different surrounding from the previous days, this route to Zagreb doesn't have any especially tricky parts all the way to the first crossing across the Sv. Marko square. The stone pavement of the Mesnička ulica will be really stressful on the legs of the riders when they sprint. The technique of pedaling and seat position when on this kind of surface is very important. The lighter riders will be in disadvantage because their bicycles will start to bounce and they won't be able to transfer all the power to the surface. Even though the finish is on top of the climb, more explosive riders will be in advantage. These kinds of finishes can often wear out the riders more than some medium length hill.
Competing Teams
1. CCC Sprandi Polkowice (Bole, Paterski)
2. ActiveJet Team (Gradek, Bernas)
3. Cyclingteam Join's - De Rijke (Vermeltfoort)
4. Cycling Academy Team (Warchoł, Bear)
5. Adria Mobil (Rogina, Roglič)
6. d'Amico - Bottecchia (Parrinello)
7. LKT Team Brandenburg (Willwohl)
9. Verandas Willems Cycling Team (Bille, Claeys, Pardini)
10. Meridiana Kamen Team (Maltar, Kiserlovski)
11. Team Novo Nordisk (Henttala)
12. Team Felbermayr - Simplon Wels (Kvasina, Mühlberger, Golcer)
15. MG.Kvis Vega (Gaffurini)
16. GM Cycling Team (Fortin)
19. RusVelo (Firsanov, Maikin, Balykin)
20. Team Frøy Oslo (Evensen, Lunder)
21. Team Idea 2010 ASD (Vigano)
22. Team Ecuador (Guama)
startlist
http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/Tour_of_Croatia_2015-startlist
The climb leading to Stara Podgora after only eight kilometers is pretty stressful and problematic. It's the moment which could be compared to first rounds of a boxing match when boxers try to find their rhythm. Every trip and a change of a micro location is stressful for an organism and you need to adjust as soon as possible. After that climb, it is pretty fluid uptil the downhill into the Cetina canyon. At that point, it is important to be in the first part of the group in order to avoid hard braking and accidents because the road is narrow and it will be pretty stressful all the way to Omiš. After the climb from Omiš, the riders need to conserve their energy. There aren't technically challenging parts until the downhill from Dugopolje to Split, and then it's important to be in front in order to be optimally prepared for the finishing sprint. In case there will be rain, a better position will be even more important because group fragmentation is almost sure to happen. A sprint of the whole group or a very small selected group is expected at the end of the stage. The last ten kilometers through the Marijan park-forest will be a true attraction to watch, especially since it is leading up to the final sprint. Riders who will be better off are those who will be more careful, since the road grip is not that good, and the front position in the last few turns and the roundabouts are the key factors to win this stage.
Stage 2
The second stage is from Šibenik to Zadar. 204 kilometers in length
The riders would be happier if it was the first stage. There aren't any especially demanding parts all up to the entrance to Zadar. The two uphill parts in Rogoznica and Skradin shouldn't pose problems to any participant. Only thing which could counter sprint in the end is team strategy. The teams will need to be careful to not let any larger group of riders separate because the route is, aside from the parts going through coastal towns, really fast. Especially interesting parts will be those when the riders will be entering the towns of Rogoznica, Vodice, Pirovac, Pakoštane, Biograd and Sv. Filip Jakov. The finish, which includes two laps leading around the Zadar walls, is a global rarity and can be hardly matched when it comes to attractiveness and technical complexity. The position which the rider has on the entrance to those laps is key to the victory and you must have assistance from rest of the team. The team compactness in the final part, but also during the whole stage, is important if there will be a need for a breakout. To take the win in front of Sv. Donat would be a lasting memory of any rider.
Stage 3
The third stage is from NP Plitvička jezera to Učka. It is 230 kilometers in length
It is the Queen Stage in every sense. Just the length of 230 kilometers asks for respect. There is also the 3700 meters elevation difference to be conquered and that is challenging even for the best professional riders. The intention behind this whole tour and this stage is to make a stage which could be in Giro d'Italia, Tour de France or any other bigger cycling race. This stage should be a Croatian brand in some way. Coming up to the climb from Meja towards Gornje Jelenje there shouldn't be any notable selection and the average speed could be pretty high. Jelenje part will serve as a filter and mostly those cyclists who don't have mountain experience will fall back. It is also expected that the tempo of the race will be set by a team such as CCC Sprandija. From Jelenje to Rijeka there will be enough time for cyclists who were two minutes behind the leading group on top to join at front. They will only be able to ride along uptil Ičići, where agony begins for some and for others it will be a perfect time for selection. The climb to the top of Učka is 22 kilometers long and the record for that part was set by Robert Kišerlovski and Vladimir Miholjević on training prior to Giro d'Italia in 2011 - 1h00m32s. Thats an average of 385W for a body weight of 68kg. Will it be broken? A really steep part begins at the eight kilometer and that part will segment out the winner. Anyone who attacks to early must be careful since the last two kilometers of the climb are really long and stressful. Whoever comes to the top of Učka first should be the final winner of Tour of Croatia.
Stage 4
The fourth stage is from Pula to Umag and it is 155 kilometers in length
This stage will definitely start with attacks from a distance, while the teams that managed to keep sprinters from the previous day should take control of the race and bring their group to the final sprint. The finish in Umag is always interesting because the downhill from Sv. Marija na Krasu towards Umag always tricks the riders. They feel assured in the leeward even at higher speeds and so many riders who really aren't up to the task try to contend for the top positions. We hope there won't be any incidents. The passing through the Umag downtown will elongate the convoy and ease the fight for positions before the final sprint.
Stage 5
The fifth stage is from Sveti Martin na Muri to Zagreb and it's 177 kilometers in length
Except the different surrounding from the previous days, this route to Zagreb doesn't have any especially tricky parts all the way to the first crossing across the Sv. Marko square. The stone pavement of the Mesnička ulica will be really stressful on the legs of the riders when they sprint. The technique of pedaling and seat position when on this kind of surface is very important. The lighter riders will be in disadvantage because their bicycles will start to bounce and they won't be able to transfer all the power to the surface. Even though the finish is on top of the climb, more explosive riders will be in advantage. These kinds of finishes can often wear out the riders more than some medium length hill.
Competing Teams
1. CCC Sprandi Polkowice (Bole, Paterski)
2. ActiveJet Team (Gradek, Bernas)
3. Cyclingteam Join's - De Rijke (Vermeltfoort)
4. Cycling Academy Team (Warchoł, Bear)
5. Adria Mobil (Rogina, Roglič)
6. d'Amico - Bottecchia (Parrinello)
7. LKT Team Brandenburg (Willwohl)
9. Verandas Willems Cycling Team (Bille, Claeys, Pardini)
10. Meridiana Kamen Team (Maltar, Kiserlovski)
11. Team Novo Nordisk (Henttala)
12. Team Felbermayr - Simplon Wels (Kvasina, Mühlberger, Golcer)
15. MG.Kvis Vega (Gaffurini)
16. GM Cycling Team (Fortin)
19. RusVelo (Firsanov, Maikin, Balykin)
20. Team Frøy Oslo (Evensen, Lunder)
21. Team Idea 2010 ASD (Vigano)
22. Team Ecuador (Guama)
startlist
http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/Tour_of_Croatia_2015-startlist
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