Giro io ti amo (Fantasy Giro)

[Lupetto]

Hey guys,

I'm currently developing a route for a Giro d'Italia. It is complete fantasy and no rumors for upcoming editions are included. I will post a new stage every day. If "Professional road racing" isn't the right place for this, please remove this thread to the right forum.

My focus for this Giro is to create a course, which differs a little bit from the normal Giro courses. I tried to minimize the transfers and to mix unknown locations with classic parts.

 

[Lupetto]

Tappa 1 Isola d'Ischia, 116 km

First day, fresh legs. The Giro kicks off on the volcanic island in the Gulf of Naples. As you can see, it is almost entirely mountainous and so this short starter will challenge the contenders for the overall immediately.
Four identical laps with a second category climb are awaiting the riders. Almost the same course was used as a time trial in 1959, won by the sicilian rider Antonino Catalano, beating the legendary frenchman "Monsieur Chrono" Jacques Anquetil by 52 seconds.

It is a course with some narrow roads and a technical demanding descent. This is classic italian road cycling to start these three weeks.

GPM 2a categoria - Serrara Fontana (452m), 8,7k / 4.9%.
Traguardo Volante - Casamicciola Terme (km 62)

 

[will10]

Should be interesting

 

[Eric8-A]

^ Indeed it shall

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I like this starting point. I did something similar when designing a fantasy Vuelta some time ago, starting with a hilly circuit race in Ceúta.

 

[icefire]

Doesn't this thread belong to the Fantasy Cycling forum?

 

[greenedge]

This looks very good, great idea.

 

[Lupetto]

Tappa 2 Napoli - Agropoli, 192 km

Planimetria
Last 30 kilometers

Back on the mainland of Italy, the second stage starts from Piazza del Plebiscito in Napoli. From the capital of Campania the race stays at seaside for almost the whole day, circuling the Sorrentine Peninsula and crossing Salerno with an intermediate sprint.

After reaching the finish line in Agropoli, the peloton hits the hilly outskirts. A lap of 27 kilometers with a tricky climb is waiting to challenge the sprinters legs.

Agropoli is no stranger to the Giro. In 1984 Urs Freuler won a stage here.

GPM 3a categoria - Sant' Agata sui Due Golfi (475 m), 10 km / 4,7%
Traguardo Volante - Salerno (km 113)
GPM 2a categoria - Finocchito (480m), 7 km / 6,1% (max 16%)

 

[Anonymous]

i have often thought of doing a fantasy tour of britain.

 

[Anonymous]

Tappa 1 Isola d'Ischia, 116 km

out of intrest, what are you using to do your profiles?

 

[Lupetto]

out of intrest, what are you using to do your profiles?

http://www.tracks4bikers.com/build

It is very user-friendly.

 

[Eric8-A]

I was playing around with the site to create a profile, but when I do the route and click the button to create the actual profile, the box is blank.

 

[Eric8-A]

This website's neat. I finally got the hang of it. I can see this coming in handy for people to create some fantasy races during the off season.

 

[Lupetto]

Tappa 3 Agropoli – Trebisacce, 223 km

Last 23 kilometers
Planimetria

The third race day brings us the first mountains. Nothing spectacular, but it is going to be a long day.

The start will take place in Agropoli. From there the race heads west, but stays nearby the sea for 80 kilometers. In Sapri we will experience an intermediate sprint, before the Giro leaves the Campania region and goes upcountry.

So the climbing starts. Two third and one second categorized climbs with spectacular views are waiting for the peloton, as they cross the Basilicata. On the third GPM the race reaches Calabria. From here it is downhill and afterwards flat along the coast to the finish in Trebisacce.

Traguardo Volante - Sapri (km 78)
GPM 3a categoria - Il Palazzo (615 m), 16 km / 4%
GPM 3a categoria - Prestieri (839m), 14 km / 4%
GPM 2a categoria - Moncerviero (1077m), 16 km / 4,5%

 

[Lupetto]

Tappa 4 Trebisacce – Crotone, 194 km

Planimetria

Again no transfers for the start of today's stage. The first of two total calabrian stages, as we head south and a stage with the first serious climbs. Not serious for the GC, but still tough to ride.

After a few flat kilometers the climbing into the Sila National Park starts. If ridden with an increased pace the sprinters will get some serious problems. So there might be not much time to enjoy the great landscape.

For a few more kilometers the peloton stays on a plateau, before climbing to almost 1900 meters. On the second part of the stage we lose those 1900 meters and reach the finish line in Crotone.

GPM 1a categoria - Via Sila (1012 m), 14 km / 7%
Traguardo Volante - Camigliatello Silano (km 85)
GPM 2a categoria - Monte Botte Donato (1881m), 23 km / 3%

 

[Midnightfright]

i have often thought of doing a fantasy tour of britain.

Would be quite interesting. I imagine it would just turn into a ATOC style tour of northumerbland

 

[Lupetto]

Tappa 5 Catanzaro – Villa San Giovanni, 172 km

Planimetria

Little transfer of 70 kilometers into Catanzaro. Another day for the sprinters, another day with some light climbing, another day to go south and to reach the Strait of Messina.

Next up is a transfer to Sicilia. Four stages on the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea are waiting.

GPM 3a categoria - Chiaravalle (569 m), 15 km / 3%
Traguardo Volante - Gioia Tauro (km 123)
GPM 3a categoria - Barriterri (543m), 11 km / 4,5%

 

[Lupetto]

Tappa 6 Messina – Ragusa, 240 km

Planimetria
Planimetria finale

The sicilian adventure starts in Messina. The race heads south along the coast for about 60 kilometers. In Giardini Naxos will be the intermediate sprint, before the long climb on the roads arount Etna start. This is the second GPM 1a categoria of this Giro. After downhill and a northern bypass of Catania, the race stays flat for a few more kilometeres.

Then the second part of this day starts with the long, but not steep climb to Monte Lauro. Downhill and another flat part before the short, final climb into Ragusa starts. The steeper parts will make a difference here. The final kilometer on Corso Italia has a gradient of 7-8%. So who will win this after six hours in the saddle?

Traguardo Volante - Giardini Naxos (km 53)
GPM 1a categoria - Etna-Rifugio Citelli (1631 m), 18 km / 6,1%
GPM 2a categoria - Monte Lauro (972 m), 23 km / 4%
GPM 2a categoria - Ragusa (563 m), 6,5 km / 4,5% (max 15 %)

 

[MartinGT]

Would be quite interesting. I imagine it would just turn into a ATOC style tour of northumerbland

Get it in the Peaks & Yorkshire Dales for some proper climbs

 

[Lupetto]

Tappa 7 Gela – Cefalù, 189 km

Planimetria

Things are getting more difficult, as the peloton crosses the island for a second time. This time we are heading north, starting the stage in the port town of Gela. The first 100 kilometers with an intermediate sprint in the province capital Caltanissetta will be a good warm up for a very hard climb.

The race hits Le Madonie mountain region and a 9 kilometer long, 9% steep climb, all on an unpaved road. From the top there a still a few kilometers to go, but there will be tricky downhills and another short climb.

The last descent into Cefalù also technical and difficult. Will be interesting, if someone can attack here or return after beeing dropped at the mountain.

Traguardo Volante - Caltanissetta (km 75)
GPM 2a categoria - Monte Catuso (868 m), 5,5 km / 6,3%
GPM 1a categoria - Madonna Dell'Alto (1699 m), 9,3 km / 9,1%
GPM 3a categoria - Santuario di Gibilmanna (754 m) 4,5 km / 4%

 

[Lupetto]

Tappa 8 Campofelice di Roccella – Erice, 204 km

Planimetria

Second saturday in the race and the first real mountain top finish on today's programm. The stage starts in Campofelice di Roccella, heading west along the sicilian coast. After crossing Bagheria (or Baarìa in sicilian), where they shot scenes for the Godfather III, the race hits the back country with a few hilly sections. This time the intermediate sprint will be in Corleone.

After another hundred kilometers we reach Milo. Here the final climb into the mountain village of Erice starts. 10 kilometers of climbing, with two brutal kilometers of 11,4%. Time for some serious gaps.

Traguardo Volante - Corleone (km 97)
GPM Arrivo - Erice (754 m) 10 km / 7,4%

 

[Lupetto]

Tappa 9 Marsala – Palermo, 117 km

Planimetria

Last day on Siciliy with a short stage from the port city of Marsala to the capital of the island. There is nothing particular about this stage, but that it could be a reduced masssprint in front of la Cattedrale di Palermo.

Next: the first rest day and a transfer to Roma by plane. So, what do you think about the first part of the race?

Traguardo Volante - Partinico (km 88)
GPM 2 - Ponte di Sagana (611 m) 7,3 km / 5,8 %

 

[nvpacchi]

Great stuff Lupetto! Big fan of stages 6 & 7

Don't know what you have in store for the 2nd half, but I'm hoping for a nice little tour through Abruzzo!

 

[Lupetto]

Great stuff Lupetto! Big fan of stages 6 & 7

Don't know what you have in store for the 2nd half, but I'm hoping for a nice little tour through Abruzzo!

Thanks for your feedback.

The course will feature two difficult stages in the Abruzzo region, before it heads north.

 

[Lupetto]

Tappa 10 Cinecittà – Castel del Monte, 198 km

Planimetria

After getting transferred to Roma, the peloton enjoys a well deserved rest day. Now it his time to hit the Abruzzo with a classical antipasto stage, before tomorrow we'll witness an italian version of the Amstel Gold Race.

Today's stage starts infront of the CineCittà Studios of Rome.

Some slight climbing waits for the peloton, as they ride through Lazio and Abruzzo. In Rocca di Cambio - famous for a ski station and for three Giro stage finishes - will be the first GPM of the day.
After a descent, the peloton will hit the last 21 cascaded kilometers to the stage finish. The mountain community of Castel del Monte hosts a stage finish for the first time. It became famous last year due to Anton Corbijn's film The American.

Traguardo Volante - Tagliacozzo (km 94)
GPM 3 - Rocca di Cambio (1390 m) 2,3 km / 5,1 % (max 14%)
GPM 2 - Castel del Monte (1326m) 21 km / 3,5% (max 12,5%)