- Mar 24, 2011
- 10,524
- 1,923
- 25,680
Here we are people, we got this. I'll start with stage 10 and post 11 and 12 later tonight. Keep posting stage 13 btw.
JUDGE 1:
Gigs_98 T: 3 C: 2
This is a very short stage by the standards of these routes but could be a very interesting final few kilometres. Not the most inspiring stage towns but strong possibilities coming up looking at the direction of the route.
Brullnux T: 4 C: 3
I really like this stage but off the back of the ultra stage it may cost you points in the weekly roundup - though using the ultra stage as a means to this stage as the end is an intriguing choice.
Rghysens T: 3 C: 3
The longest ITT thus far and a tough test which will be absolutely gruelling in the heat of Andalucía.
mb2612 T: 3 C: 5
A successful hilltop finish means this will, like Gigs' stage, come down to only a few km of action, but the cultural points for this one are almost unbeatable and easily the best of the day.
JUDGE 2:
Gigs_98 T: 3 C: 3
Not bad. not particularly good, either.
Brullnux T: 4 C: 4
Really cool profile and location
Rghysens T: 5 C: 4
This ITT has the proper length to compensate what came before, I love it.
mb2612 T: 3 C: 5
Carthage AND Zama? Automatic 5 cultural points.
JUDGE 3:
Gigs_98 T: 2 C: 2
Decent spot for a flat stage, but I think you actually made it a little too hard for them.
Brullnux T: 4 C: 3
I really like your mountain stage, but I don't really like the length of the flat before the last climb
Rghysens T: 3 C: 4
Though it is a good TT, I dislike it coming after the mountains. The cultural heritage is very good though
mb2612 T: 3 C: 4
Decent hilly stage with a nice finish. Action will likely be less than the wars you described though
JUDGE 4:
Gigs_98 T: 3 C: 3
Flat stages get a hard time, but they are necessary and sometimes unavoidable. You have done what you need to do; make every effort for a bit of intrigue. Interesting enough stage from a cultural perspective, without shooting the lights out. Solid.
Brullnux T: 4 C: 2
You are right to highlight that this comes after the ultra stage. It could be a very interesting day, but the gap between the last two climbs means it is very possible to come down to the final climb and descent. Even if it does, it should be interesting to watch. This stage doesn’t really get me jazzed up from a cultural point of view.
Rghysens T: 4 C: 4
I like the long ITT, and I like the way you lobbed a few extra kilometres past Seville to ensure you finished somewhere more interesting. Nice tribute to the battles for Iberia in your write-up and in the places you visit in the stage.
mb2612 T: 3 C: 5
I like the long ITT, and I like the way you lobbed a few extra kilometres past Seville to ensure you finished somewhere more interesting. Nice tribute to the battles for Iberia in your write-up and in the places you visit in the stage.
CLASSIFICATION FOR STAGE 10
mb2612: 31
Rghysens: 30
Brullnux: 28
Gigs_98: 21
CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 10:
rghysens: 385
mb2612: 351
Brullnux: 336
Gigs_98: 320
JUDGE 1:
Gigs_98 T: 3 C: 2
This is a very short stage by the standards of these routes but could be a very interesting final few kilometres. Not the most inspiring stage towns but strong possibilities coming up looking at the direction of the route.
Brullnux T: 4 C: 3
I really like this stage but off the back of the ultra stage it may cost you points in the weekly roundup - though using the ultra stage as a means to this stage as the end is an intriguing choice.
Rghysens T: 3 C: 3
The longest ITT thus far and a tough test which will be absolutely gruelling in the heat of Andalucía.
mb2612 T: 3 C: 5
A successful hilltop finish means this will, like Gigs' stage, come down to only a few km of action, but the cultural points for this one are almost unbeatable and easily the best of the day.
JUDGE 2:
Gigs_98 T: 3 C: 3
Not bad. not particularly good, either.
Brullnux T: 4 C: 4
Really cool profile and location
Rghysens T: 5 C: 4
This ITT has the proper length to compensate what came before, I love it.
mb2612 T: 3 C: 5
Carthage AND Zama? Automatic 5 cultural points.
JUDGE 3:
Gigs_98 T: 2 C: 2
Decent spot for a flat stage, but I think you actually made it a little too hard for them.
Brullnux T: 4 C: 3
I really like your mountain stage, but I don't really like the length of the flat before the last climb
Rghysens T: 3 C: 4
Though it is a good TT, I dislike it coming after the mountains. The cultural heritage is very good though
mb2612 T: 3 C: 4
Decent hilly stage with a nice finish. Action will likely be less than the wars you described though
JUDGE 4:
Gigs_98 T: 3 C: 3
Flat stages get a hard time, but they are necessary and sometimes unavoidable. You have done what you need to do; make every effort for a bit of intrigue. Interesting enough stage from a cultural perspective, without shooting the lights out. Solid.
Brullnux T: 4 C: 2
You are right to highlight that this comes after the ultra stage. It could be a very interesting day, but the gap between the last two climbs means it is very possible to come down to the final climb and descent. Even if it does, it should be interesting to watch. This stage doesn’t really get me jazzed up from a cultural point of view.
Rghysens T: 4 C: 4
I like the long ITT, and I like the way you lobbed a few extra kilometres past Seville to ensure you finished somewhere more interesting. Nice tribute to the battles for Iberia in your write-up and in the places you visit in the stage.
mb2612 T: 3 C: 5
I like the long ITT, and I like the way you lobbed a few extra kilometres past Seville to ensure you finished somewhere more interesting. Nice tribute to the battles for Iberia in your write-up and in the places you visit in the stage.
CLASSIFICATION FOR STAGE 10
mb2612: 31
Rghysens: 30
Brullnux: 28
Gigs_98: 21
CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 10:
rghysens: 385
mb2612: 351
Brullnux: 336
Gigs_98: 320
- Mar 24, 2011
- 10,524
- 1,923
- 25,680
JUDGE 1:
Gigs_98 T: 3 C: 3
Good hilly stage, though it's unlikely to be hard enough to really create carnage
Brullnux T: 4 C: 4
Looked at the profile and thought 'meh, weakish breakaway stage', but echelons could make it amazing
Rghysens T: 2 C: 3
Probably a boring stage, but riders have deserved an easier day after what you've already put them through
mb2612 T: 3 C: 4
Nice stage, but I don't expect much more action than the last climb to be honest.
JUDGE 2:
Gigs_98 T: 4 C: 4
I really like these stages in GT's, and I think the racing will be tough. Interesting start and finish towns, too.
Brullnux T: 4 C: 3
This is a solid transitional stage. I like it a lot, especially its placement. Culturally, the start and finish towns are uninteresting, but good that you passed Tipasa (I admit I had never heard of it before, but it looks worth visiting.
Rghysens T: 2 C: 4
Merida is a great place for Roman culture; nice that you have visited this place. Overall the stage technically is very unexciting.
mb2612 T: 5 C: 3
I found it hard to decide which stage to give 5 techincal points to, and I picked you as you have picked a very interesting looking profile in an area of which I know nothing. Your historical facts make for interesting reading too.
JUDGE 3:
Gigs_98 T: 4 C: 4
So sorely tempted to give you maximum for the technical points. I really like this stage design and I really like Laon as a stage town. It's well suited for puncheurs and the more durable Classics types and (just) long enough. The finish is nicely designed and reminds me of some of the Chieti stages in Tirreno-Adriatico in recent years.
Brullnux T: 4 C: 3
This may become one for the break given the preceding days, but if so we'll at least have an interesting battle for the stage, and if we DO get GC action it could be a real potential banana skin.
Rghysens T: 2 C: 3
One of "those" Vuelta stages, perhaps even more so after such a brutal TT. Recovers a few points for the use of the Roman road, which I like.
mb2612 T: 5 C: 3
Here you go against type, sacrificing some cultural points (the Vandalic history rather superseding the Roman) but producing an awesome finish to create a real Lombardia-type route that could give us a good 40k of action at the end.
JUDGE 4:
Gigs_98 T: 5 C: 3
Awesome stage, quite simply.
Brullnux T: 3 C: 3
Very interesting finish.
Rghysens T: 2 C: 4
Well, a flat stage had to happen, right? Perhaps it is way too simple. Location is nice.
mb2612 T: 4 C: 4
It was very hard to choose between you and Gigs for the top technical points. You lost only because I found the first two thirds of your stage a bit underwhelming. The finish is great though.
CLASSIFICATION FOR STAGE 11
mb2612: 31
Gigs_98: 30
Brullnux: 28
Rghysens: 22
CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 11:
rghysens: 407
mb2612: 382
Brullnux: 364
Gigs_98: 350
Gigs_98 T: 3 C: 3
Good hilly stage, though it's unlikely to be hard enough to really create carnage
Brullnux T: 4 C: 4
Looked at the profile and thought 'meh, weakish breakaway stage', but echelons could make it amazing
Rghysens T: 2 C: 3
Probably a boring stage, but riders have deserved an easier day after what you've already put them through
mb2612 T: 3 C: 4
Nice stage, but I don't expect much more action than the last climb to be honest.
JUDGE 2:
Gigs_98 T: 4 C: 4
I really like these stages in GT's, and I think the racing will be tough. Interesting start and finish towns, too.
Brullnux T: 4 C: 3
This is a solid transitional stage. I like it a lot, especially its placement. Culturally, the start and finish towns are uninteresting, but good that you passed Tipasa (I admit I had never heard of it before, but it looks worth visiting.
Rghysens T: 2 C: 4
Merida is a great place for Roman culture; nice that you have visited this place. Overall the stage technically is very unexciting.
mb2612 T: 5 C: 3
I found it hard to decide which stage to give 5 techincal points to, and I picked you as you have picked a very interesting looking profile in an area of which I know nothing. Your historical facts make for interesting reading too.
JUDGE 3:
Gigs_98 T: 4 C: 4
So sorely tempted to give you maximum for the technical points. I really like this stage design and I really like Laon as a stage town. It's well suited for puncheurs and the more durable Classics types and (just) long enough. The finish is nicely designed and reminds me of some of the Chieti stages in Tirreno-Adriatico in recent years.
Brullnux T: 4 C: 3
This may become one for the break given the preceding days, but if so we'll at least have an interesting battle for the stage, and if we DO get GC action it could be a real potential banana skin.
Rghysens T: 2 C: 3
One of "those" Vuelta stages, perhaps even more so after such a brutal TT. Recovers a few points for the use of the Roman road, which I like.
mb2612 T: 5 C: 3
Here you go against type, sacrificing some cultural points (the Vandalic history rather superseding the Roman) but producing an awesome finish to create a real Lombardia-type route that could give us a good 40k of action at the end.
JUDGE 4:
Gigs_98 T: 5 C: 3
Awesome stage, quite simply.
Brullnux T: 3 C: 3
Very interesting finish.
Rghysens T: 2 C: 4
Well, a flat stage had to happen, right? Perhaps it is way too simple. Location is nice.
mb2612 T: 4 C: 4
It was very hard to choose between you and Gigs for the top technical points. You lost only because I found the first two thirds of your stage a bit underwhelming. The finish is great though.
CLASSIFICATION FOR STAGE 11
mb2612: 31
Gigs_98: 30
Brullnux: 28
Rghysens: 22
CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 11:
rghysens: 407
mb2612: 382
Brullnux: 364
Gigs_98: 350
Stage 13: Abila – Segovia: 194.5km; medium mountains
The 13th stage starts where the 12th ended, so no tedious transfers for the peloton. From Abila the course heads east for about 100km and then tracks back west and later north, to Cercedilla and Segovia.
When Eshnar announced his second race design challenge, I wondered which recent GT stages were attractive enough (with regards to design or racing) to incorporate in an eventual design. I thought the Vuelta stage to Cercedilla could claim a spot, but I didn’t know if Cercedilla was of Roman origin. According to Spanish Wikipedia, it was founded as a waypost on the Roman road from Titulcia to Segovia.
These claims seemed quite shabby to me, and I doubted between finishing in Cercedilla and Segovia. The former would result in a better technical design, while the latter would have a bigger cultural impact. No matter how, but my stage would borrow heavily from stage 20 of the 2015 Vuelta. And then I found a nice, but rather gimmicky, feature…
From the official start a bit outside Abila, the course follows a rolling road to the first, although minor, difficulty of the day: the Puerto de Guadarrama, climbed from its easy side. The descent is followed by another 40km on flat and false flat roads, leading to the south side of the Puerto de Morcuera. From here the course of that eventful vuelta stage will be followed for 60km, not only including the Puerto de Morcuera, but also the Puerto de los Cotos.
But where the Vuelta stage ended, this one will continue. First to the hamlet of las Dehesas, with the road climbing through the Valle de la Fuenfria for about 3km at a bit more than 6%. And then we arrive at our one and only Roman landmark sprint of the day. This time it isn’t a landmark to look at, it’s one to ride on, as the course will make use of a reputedly original Roman road, crossing a Roman bridge.
The Roman road of las Dehesas is a remainder of the secondary via Romana between Titulcia and Segovia and is about 2.5km long in its entirety. The quality of the surface doesn’t seem feasible for standard race bikes after the first 1000m or so, so I decided to include only this part (1km @ 11.5%, or one and a half Koppenberg). After the cobbled part, the Roman road connects to the Carretera de la Republica, a rather wide forest road on gravel that goes to the summit of the Puerto de Fuenfria, although it’s rather false flat than steep uphill (7.5km @ 3.5%). At some parts there’s even a second lane laid out in cobbles.
The descent starts with some gravel road, that changes in an asphalted road for about 1 km, and then turns back to gravel. With a bit more than 20km to go, just before the steepest part of the descent, the road becomes asphalted again, and this time for good on the way to Segovia with its iconic Roman aquaduct.
All in all, there’s about 16km of gravel roads in the final 35km, preceded by one steep kilometre on really difficult cobbles, all that after what already can be considered a medium mountain stage. So the winner of this stage should combine climbing prowess with sheer power, a daring mind and technical skill.
Climbs:
Puerto de Guadarrama: km47; 5km@ 5.2%; 3rd cat
Puerto de Morcuera: km103.5; 9.2km @ 6.6%; 2nd cat
Puerto de los Cotos: km134.5; 13km @ 5%; 2nd cat
Puerto de Fuenfria: km166.5; 11.2km @ 5%; 1st cat (1km cobbles, 7.5km gravel)
Roman Landmark sprint:
Calzada Romana de las Dehesas: km158.5
Total distance raced: 2601km
The 13th stage starts where the 12th ended, so no tedious transfers for the peloton. From Abila the course heads east for about 100km and then tracks back west and later north, to Cercedilla and Segovia.
When Eshnar announced his second race design challenge, I wondered which recent GT stages were attractive enough (with regards to design or racing) to incorporate in an eventual design. I thought the Vuelta stage to Cercedilla could claim a spot, but I didn’t know if Cercedilla was of Roman origin. According to Spanish Wikipedia, it was founded as a waypost on the Roman road from Titulcia to Segovia.
These claims seemed quite shabby to me, and I doubted between finishing in Cercedilla and Segovia. The former would result in a better technical design, while the latter would have a bigger cultural impact. No matter how, but my stage would borrow heavily from stage 20 of the 2015 Vuelta. And then I found a nice, but rather gimmicky, feature…
From the official start a bit outside Abila, the course follows a rolling road to the first, although minor, difficulty of the day: the Puerto de Guadarrama, climbed from its easy side. The descent is followed by another 40km on flat and false flat roads, leading to the south side of the Puerto de Morcuera. From here the course of that eventful vuelta stage will be followed for 60km, not only including the Puerto de Morcuera, but also the Puerto de los Cotos.
But where the Vuelta stage ended, this one will continue. First to the hamlet of las Dehesas, with the road climbing through the Valle de la Fuenfria for about 3km at a bit more than 6%. And then we arrive at our one and only Roman landmark sprint of the day. This time it isn’t a landmark to look at, it’s one to ride on, as the course will make use of a reputedly original Roman road, crossing a Roman bridge.
The Roman road of las Dehesas is a remainder of the secondary via Romana between Titulcia and Segovia and is about 2.5km long in its entirety. The quality of the surface doesn’t seem feasible for standard race bikes after the first 1000m or so, so I decided to include only this part (1km @ 11.5%, or one and a half Koppenberg). After the cobbled part, the Roman road connects to the Carretera de la Republica, a rather wide forest road on gravel that goes to the summit of the Puerto de Fuenfria, although it’s rather false flat than steep uphill (7.5km @ 3.5%). At some parts there’s even a second lane laid out in cobbles.
The descent starts with some gravel road, that changes in an asphalted road for about 1 km, and then turns back to gravel. With a bit more than 20km to go, just before the steepest part of the descent, the road becomes asphalted again, and this time for good on the way to Segovia with its iconic Roman aquaduct.
All in all, there’s about 16km of gravel roads in the final 35km, preceded by one steep kilometre on really difficult cobbles, all that after what already can be considered a medium mountain stage. So the winner of this stage should combine climbing prowess with sheer power, a daring mind and technical skill.
Climbs:
Puerto de Guadarrama: km47; 5km@ 5.2%; 3rd cat
Puerto de Morcuera: km103.5; 9.2km @ 6.6%; 2nd cat
Puerto de los Cotos: km134.5; 13km @ 5%; 2nd cat
Puerto de Fuenfria: km166.5; 11.2km @ 5%; 1st cat (1km cobbles, 7.5km gravel)
Roman Landmark sprint:
Calzada Romana de las Dehesas: km158.5
Total distance raced: 2601km
Iter per Imperium Romanum Stage 13: Aboula-Aurgi 300km
The stage starts off in Aboula, now a small town north of the Sierra Nevada called Abla. After not much flat, there is a climb straight off, the Calar Alto. However, the route turns off before the observatory (effectively the riders climb Collada Venta Luisa). This should offer up the break of the day, and maybe shed some domestiques.
The riders then encounter a very long stretch of difficult rolling terrain, until they get to Otinar, where the crucial climb of the day comes. The profile is almost the same as the one underneath, except instead of the kilometre at 9.3% and then 6%, we have one at 10+% and 85, on sterrato. Naturally this makes the climb 500m or so shorter, but noticeably more selective. This is the crucial part.
The next (uncategorised) climb is Puerto Viejo, used in the Vuelta in 2009, a fairly easy and wide climb that is there to make any further inroads into times. Same with the last rise, which peaks at 8%. The finish is fast and not that technical, at exactly 300km, in modern day Jaen, which was a small town. The finish in Jaen is mainly to honour the city of olive oil in the race where the people who built the empire used were perhaps the most prolific users in history.
The stage starts off in Aboula, now a small town north of the Sierra Nevada called Abla. After not much flat, there is a climb straight off, the Calar Alto. However, the route turns off before the observatory (effectively the riders climb Collada Venta Luisa). This should offer up the break of the day, and maybe shed some domestiques.
The riders then encounter a very long stretch of difficult rolling terrain, until they get to Otinar, where the crucial climb of the day comes. The profile is almost the same as the one underneath, except instead of the kilometre at 9.3% and then 6%, we have one at 10+% and 85, on sterrato. Naturally this makes the climb 500m or so shorter, but noticeably more selective. This is the crucial part.
The next (uncategorised) climb is Puerto Viejo, used in the Vuelta in 2009, a fairly easy and wide climb that is there to make any further inroads into times. Same with the last rise, which peaks at 8%. The finish is fast and not that technical, at exactly 300km, in modern day Jaen, which was a small town. The finish in Jaen is mainly to honour the city of olive oil in the race where the people who built the empire used were perhaps the most prolific users in history.
Via Roma Stage 13 Dafnai (Qantara) --> Lysa(Nahal Loz) 299km
To navigate is necessary, to live is not - Pompey
This long transition stage crosses the Sinai desert, forcing the peloton to traverse 300 km in potentially scalding heat. The stage starts in Dafnai, a settlement which had it's peak before the Roman times, with a large fort built in the 6th century BC, however after the founding of yesterday's finish, Naucratis, the town declined in relevance.
The stage starts of heading East, crossing the only bridge over the Suez Canal after 20km before heading North East towards the coast, and today's sprint point near the town of Pelusium (Tell el-Farama) the the provincial capital. It is here that Pompey ran, after being defeated by Caesar in Greece. Pompey had earlier backed Ptolemy XII in claiming the throne, including sending Mark Anthony to siege Pelusium 4 years earlier, however Ptolemy XIII's regents could see which way the Roman civil war was going, and assassinated and then decapitated Pompey, handing his head over to Caesar when he arrived in pursuit a few days later.
The stage the follows the coast for another 120 kilometres, flat as a pancake, and unfortunately, without much likelihood of wind, before reaching the town of Rhinocorura (Arish) a costal town, founded, legend has it, by an Ethiopian king for thieves, who he had punished by cutting of their nose. The name means "cut-off-noses" in the original Greek.
After this, the stage turns 90 degrees, and starts heading south through the desert. The road also begins to rise, slowly but steadily. it's really just a false flat, but for riders already with 180km in their legs it should be 90 more kilometres of wearing them down, before the final 8 kilometres up the ante slightly. First comes a 5 km segment at 3%, which is given third category status to tempt a rider or two into attacking. This stage will probably end in a sprint though, as 3 km of slight descent follow, and with this being the only opportunity for the sprinters before the next rest day, I imagine they will take it.
The stage itself finishes next to Lysa, which is an abandoned Roman caravan rest spot, which even in it's heyday, probably wasn't much more than a few guards and huts.
To navigate is necessary, to live is not - Pompey
This long transition stage crosses the Sinai desert, forcing the peloton to traverse 300 km in potentially scalding heat. The stage starts in Dafnai, a settlement which had it's peak before the Roman times, with a large fort built in the 6th century BC, however after the founding of yesterday's finish, Naucratis, the town declined in relevance.
The stage starts of heading East, crossing the only bridge over the Suez Canal after 20km before heading North East towards the coast, and today's sprint point near the town of Pelusium (Tell el-Farama) the the provincial capital. It is here that Pompey ran, after being defeated by Caesar in Greece. Pompey had earlier backed Ptolemy XII in claiming the throne, including sending Mark Anthony to siege Pelusium 4 years earlier, however Ptolemy XIII's regents could see which way the Roman civil war was going, and assassinated and then decapitated Pompey, handing his head over to Caesar when he arrived in pursuit a few days later.
The stage the follows the coast for another 120 kilometres, flat as a pancake, and unfortunately, without much likelihood of wind, before reaching the town of Rhinocorura (Arish) a costal town, founded, legend has it, by an Ethiopian king for thieves, who he had punished by cutting of their nose. The name means "cut-off-noses" in the original Greek.
After this, the stage turns 90 degrees, and starts heading south through the desert. The road also begins to rise, slowly but steadily. it's really just a false flat, but for riders already with 180km in their legs it should be 90 more kilometres of wearing them down, before the final 8 kilometres up the ante slightly. First comes a 5 km segment at 3%, which is given third category status to tempt a rider or two into attacking. This stage will probably end in a sprint though, as 3 km of slight descent follow, and with this being the only opportunity for the sprinters before the next rest day, I imagine they will take it.
The stage itself finishes next to Lysa, which is an abandoned Roman caravan rest spot, which even in it's heyday, probably wasn't much more than a few guards and huts.
- Mar 24, 2011
- 10,524
- 1,923
- 25,680
Here is stage 12... now if only we could have stage 13 votes before tomorrow morning we would be up to speed again 
JUDGE 1:
Gigs_98 T: 5 C: 3
I am in love with this stage. It would be epic. Culturally, Bavay is a great place to start it.
Brullnux T: 3 C: 2
This is another solid transitional stage. I like it a lot, especially its placement. There should be something of interest on the bike, but not the most interesting stage off the bike.
Rghysens T: 4 C: 2
Opposite of yesterday. Technically, this is a very good medium mountain stage. Culturally uninsipring.
mb2612 T: 3 C: 4
I like the idea of starting it in Alexandria, I would even have thought that the stage merited a loop finishing back in the city, such was its importance.
JUDGE 2:
Gigs_98 T: 5 C: 3
This is pure sadism. A 420km cobbled massacre. Gaps will be absurd. Astronomical. Obviously you've sacrificed some cultural points by picking a relatively obscure Roman town somewhere in the vicinity that it needs to be.
Brullnux T: 4 C: 2
The cultural value of this stage is somewhat limited but it's a very nice tough stage with the hard climbs far out to make the riders work for it. I would perhaps have preferred Conjuros before Haza del Lino via Rubite rather than the less interesting northern face via Camacho but that's nitpicking.
Rghysens T: 4 C: 3
This is not just a nice bit of Roman heritage but a cycling classic - if you'd done Mijáres instead of Pico to improve the connectivity of the climbs it would probably have been a 5 (plus Frank Vandenbroucke would smile down on you of course). The Ávila finish is an all time classic.
mb2612 T: 3 C: 5
Culturally this is almost worth breaking the scale for and giving 6.
JUDGE 3:
Gigs_98 T: 4 C: 2
I'm inclined to think this is really too much. I don't think this stage needed the circuits, or just half of them. There's a point at which I'd stop watching out of a sense of amazement and start watching out of a sense of duty here.
Brullnux T: 3 C: 2
Nice transitional stage. Breakaway should give all the action the GC guys refuse to give
Rghysens T: 2 C: 3
I've come to expect little form Avila stages, though the views are very nice.
mb2612 T: 4 C: 5
Good hard TT is a great spot. Nice pacing as well
JUDGE 4:
Gigs_98 T: 5 C: 4
The sadist in me just shed a tear :')
Brullnux T: 3 C: 3
Nice breakaway stage. Again.
Rghysens T: 3 C: 3
At least it is longer than your typical Vuelta stage
mb2612 T: 4 C: 5
Didn't you have another ITT just three stages before? I usually give 5 points to long ITTs but this one seems a bit overkill.
CLASSIFICATION FOR STAGE 12
mb2612: 33
Gigs_98: 31
Rghysens: 24
Brullnux: 22
CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 12:
rghysens: 431
mb2612: 415
Brullnux: 386
Gigs_98: 381
JUDGE 1:
Gigs_98 T: 5 C: 3
I am in love with this stage. It would be epic. Culturally, Bavay is a great place to start it.
Brullnux T: 3 C: 2
This is another solid transitional stage. I like it a lot, especially its placement. There should be something of interest on the bike, but not the most interesting stage off the bike.
Rghysens T: 4 C: 2
Opposite of yesterday. Technically, this is a very good medium mountain stage. Culturally uninsipring.
mb2612 T: 3 C: 4
I like the idea of starting it in Alexandria, I would even have thought that the stage merited a loop finishing back in the city, such was its importance.
JUDGE 2:
Gigs_98 T: 5 C: 3
This is pure sadism. A 420km cobbled massacre. Gaps will be absurd. Astronomical. Obviously you've sacrificed some cultural points by picking a relatively obscure Roman town somewhere in the vicinity that it needs to be.
Brullnux T: 4 C: 2
The cultural value of this stage is somewhat limited but it's a very nice tough stage with the hard climbs far out to make the riders work for it. I would perhaps have preferred Conjuros before Haza del Lino via Rubite rather than the less interesting northern face via Camacho but that's nitpicking.
Rghysens T: 4 C: 3
This is not just a nice bit of Roman heritage but a cycling classic - if you'd done Mijáres instead of Pico to improve the connectivity of the climbs it would probably have been a 5 (plus Frank Vandenbroucke would smile down on you of course). The Ávila finish is an all time classic.
mb2612 T: 3 C: 5
Culturally this is almost worth breaking the scale for and giving 6.
JUDGE 3:
Gigs_98 T: 4 C: 2
I'm inclined to think this is really too much. I don't think this stage needed the circuits, or just half of them. There's a point at which I'd stop watching out of a sense of amazement and start watching out of a sense of duty here.
Brullnux T: 3 C: 2
Nice transitional stage. Breakaway should give all the action the GC guys refuse to give
Rghysens T: 2 C: 3
I've come to expect little form Avila stages, though the views are very nice.
mb2612 T: 4 C: 5
Good hard TT is a great spot. Nice pacing as well
JUDGE 4:
Gigs_98 T: 5 C: 4
The sadist in me just shed a tear :')
Brullnux T: 3 C: 3
Nice breakaway stage. Again.
Rghysens T: 3 C: 3
At least it is longer than your typical Vuelta stage
mb2612 T: 4 C: 5
Didn't you have another ITT just three stages before? I usually give 5 points to long ITTs but this one seems a bit overkill.
CLASSIFICATION FOR STAGE 12
mb2612: 33
Gigs_98: 31
Rghysens: 24
Brullnux: 22
CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 12:
rghysens: 431
mb2612: 415
Brullnux: 386
Gigs_98: 381
- Mar 24, 2011
- 10,524
- 1,923
- 25,680
yeah... not gonna happen. Still waiting for votes and I'll be out of town for work tonight, so I'll post them tomorrow evening. Please post your stage 14 today, I don't want to fall back on the schedule too muchEshnar said:Here is stage 12... now if only we could have stage 13 votes before tomorrow morning we would be up to speed again
Eshnar said:yeah... not gonna happen. Still waiting for votes and I'll be out of town for work tonight, so I'll post them tomorrow evening. Please post your stage 14 today, I don't want to fall back on the schedule too muchEshnar said:Here is stage 12... now if only we could have stage 13 votes before tomorrow morning we would be up to speed again
A race so hard even the jury arrives outside time limit
- Feb 18, 2015
- 13,655
- 9,428
- 28,180
I know it's a little bit late to ask this question. But I'm currently doing a last minute change in my route but don't know how the distance between start and finish of my last and the start of my next stage is measured. I always assumed the 150 km's are measured on streets, so we have to look how long a car would have to drive from the finish to the next start. But guys like mb2612 made transfers over the sea therefore I wondered how that would be measured and if I maybe misundestood the rule.
- Feb 20, 2012
- 51,017
- 39,050
- 28,180
I guess we now know which jury member is the least sadisticEshnar said:Here is stage 12... now if only we could have stage 13 votes before tomorrow morning we would be up to speed again
JUDGE 1:
Gigs_98 T: 5 C: 3
I am in love with this stage. It would be epic. Culturally, Bavay is a great place to start it.
Brullnux T: 3 C: 2
This is another solid transitional stage. I like it a lot, especially its placement. There should be something of interest on the bike, but not the most interesting stage off the bike.
Rghysens T: 4 C: 2
Opposite of yesterday. Technically, this is a very good medium mountain stage. Culturally uninsipring.
mb2612 T: 3 C: 4
I like the idea of starting it in Alexandria, I would even have thought that the stage merited a loop finishing back in the city, such was its importance.
JUDGE 2:
Gigs_98 T: 5 C: 3
This is pure sadism. A 420km cobbled massacre. Gaps will be absurd. Astronomical. Obviously you've sacrificed some cultural points by picking a relatively obscure Roman town somewhere in the vicinity that it needs to be.
Brullnux T: 4 C: 2
The cultural value of this stage is somewhat limited but it's a very nice tough stage with the hard climbs far out to make the riders work for it. I would perhaps have preferred Conjuros before Haza del Lino via Rubite rather than the less interesting northern face via Camacho but that's nitpicking.
Rghysens T: 4 C: 3
This is not just a nice bit of Roman heritage but a cycling classic - if you'd done Mijáres instead of Pico to improve the connectivity of the climbs it would probably have been a 5 (plus Frank Vandenbroucke would smile down on you of course). The Ávila finish is an all time classic.
mb2612 T: 3 C: 5
Culturally this is almost worth breaking the scale for and giving 6.
JUDGE 3:
Gigs_98 T: 4 C: 2
I'm inclined to think this is really too much. I don't think this stage needed the circuits, or just half of them. There's a point at which I'd stop watching out of a sense of amazement and start watching out of a sense of duty here.
Brullnux T: 3 C: 2
Nice transitional stage. Breakaway should give all the action the GC guys refuse to give
Rghysens T: 2 C: 3
I've come to expect little form Avila stages, though the views are very nice.
mb2612 T: 4 C: 5
Good hard TT is a great spot. Nice pacing as well
JUDGE 4:
Gigs_98 T: 5 C: 4
The sadist in me just shed a tear :')
Brullnux T: 3 C: 3
Nice breakaway stage. Again.
Rghysens T: 3 C: 3
At least it is longer than your typical Vuelta stage
mb2612 T: 4 C: 5
Didn't you have another ITT just three stages before? I usually give 5 points to long ITTs but this one seems a bit overkill.
CLASSIFICATION FOR STAGE 12
mb2612: 33
Gigs_98: 31
Rghysens: 24
Brullnux: 22
CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 12:
rghysens: 431
mb2612: 415
Brullnux: 386
Gigs_98: 381
- Feb 18, 2015
- 13,655
- 9,428
- 28,180
CONSTANTINOPOLIS-ROMA stage 14: Duretie - Mediolanum (283 km)
There hasn't been a stage for absolutely pure sprinters and although these stages are rightfully not very popular, I think there should still be a few of them in my route. The start is in Duretie (Rieux) (Exactly 150 km away from Vorgium, measured on streets ), a Roman fortress which had an important location between Vorgium and Namnetum (Nantes). Due to it's location in a swamp the fortress was naturally protected and very difficult to conquer.
The very flat route continues along the coastline and passes a few Roman villages like Korbilon (Saint-Nazaire), Vetraria (Saint-Même-le-Tenu) and Becciacum (Bessay). Since the stage is so flat I decided to make 3 early intermediate sprints, so the riders try harder to get into the break and therefore make the stage more exciting. The finish is in Mediolanum (Saintes) besides a Roman stadium.
But also beside this arena, there are more impressive Roman landmarks in this city, like a triumphal arch and a thermae:
There hasn't been a stage for absolutely pure sprinters and although these stages are rightfully not very popular, I think there should still be a few of them in my route. The start is in Duretie (Rieux) (Exactly 150 km away from Vorgium, measured on streets
), a Roman fortress which had an important location between Vorgium and Namnetum (Nantes). Due to it's location in a swamp the fortress was naturally protected and very difficult to conquer.The very flat route continues along the coastline and passes a few Roman villages like Korbilon (Saint-Nazaire), Vetraria (Saint-Même-le-Tenu) and Becciacum (Bessay). Since the stage is so flat I decided to make 3 early intermediate sprints, so the riders try harder to get into the break and therefore make the stage more exciting. The finish is in Mediolanum (Saintes) besides a Roman stadium.
But also beside this arena, there are more impressive Roman landmarks in this city, like a triumphal arch and a thermae:
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