- Mar 24, 2011
- 10,525
- 1,923
- 25,680
JUDGE 1:
Gigs_98 T: 4 C: 3
A really, really nice medium mountain stage. If we'd given the half points for write ups, your bit about this laughable race in a made up country called "France" sure would've won it.
Brullnux T: 3 C: 4
I think you could've done better with your ultra stage from a technical standpoint. Sure it's rolling and no doubt it's very tiring, but with this parcours I don't see much more action than the last climb. I do like a start in Carthage a lot though.
Rghysens T: 4 C: 4
Another monster stage. The riders won't like that. But I will. It's absolutely a great stage, but I don't really like that the hardest climb is the last one, so I can't imagine it giving more action than that. There's also a load to see beside the road as well.
mb2612 T: 5 C: 3
Really punishing day that will remain in those legs for a while. Will force the non specialists to desperate moves early on hopefully.
JUDGE 2:
Gigs_98 T: 4 C: 3
I kind of want to give this max technical points too, although the rules along with a second straight stage using the same trick with the golden mile gets you a slight reduction for going to the well again. Good point about this being used in a real-life short stage race.
Brullnux T: 2 C: 4
Carthage! Finally! If I had entered, this was where I would have started. It seems like a slightly benign way to use the ultra stage, although the altitude gain is astronomical. Surely there's more available for the mountains classification than just the one climb?
Rghysens T: 5 C: 4
Now this is what we're talking about. Serious mountain climbing in Lebanon, including some legit high altitude too.
mb2612 T: 3 C: 4
A difficult one to rate but given the ultra stages and so forth it would make sense that the TT distance would need to be increased, therefore I've bumped up the technical score for taking this into account - depending on the rest of the route however it may reflect negatively in the week scores.
JUDGE 3:
Gigs_98 T: 5 C: 3
Another really nice stage. There are some crackers today. The golden mile is beautifully placed again. The cultural aspect of the stage is not as nice as some of the others below, although I like the touch on the Roman road.
Brullnux T: 4 C: 5
I love that you have the ultra stage just after the ITT. I think the riders are going to be dying near the end. Carthage was a really important piece of the Roman jigsaw. Also, Constantine (Cirta) was a big centre in the region. This stage would be cool.
Rghysens T: 4 C: 4
I must say, it is amazing how you can take in so many splendid Roman sites on your route, and still make the course very raceable. After the brute yesterday, I bet a dollar to doughnuts that there is lots of GC on the last major climb.
mb2612 T: 3 C: 4
Other days this route would get a 4 or 5 technically. But there is too much competition today. I love the idea of an ITT over such a distance. I like the Punic war theme.
JUDGE 4:
Gigs_98 T: 4 C: 3
Great hilly stage
Brullnux T: 3 C: 4
I don't know... as an ultra stage this one risks being decided on the only classified climb, at 20 to go... it seems like a wasted opportunity. Of course they'll be edging the desert and it'll be very punishing, but it doesn't convince me at all.
Rghysens T: 4 C: 4
Second hard mountain stage in a row, both are very cool, unfortunately for you there has been an even better stage, technically.
mb2612 T: 5 C: 3
85 km ITT... I love it! Be careful though, as of now your route is the easiest, climbing-wise... I hope you're gonna step up your game now that the climbers need to gain time.
CLASSIFICATION FOR STAGE 9
Rghysens: 33
mb2612: 30
Gigs_98: 29
Brullnux: 29
CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 9:
rghysens: 355
mb2612: 320
Brullnux: 308
Gigs_98: 299
Gigs_98 T: 4 C: 3
A really, really nice medium mountain stage. If we'd given the half points for write ups, your bit about this laughable race in a made up country called "France" sure would've won it.
Brullnux T: 3 C: 4
I think you could've done better with your ultra stage from a technical standpoint. Sure it's rolling and no doubt it's very tiring, but with this parcours I don't see much more action than the last climb. I do like a start in Carthage a lot though.
Rghysens T: 4 C: 4
Another monster stage. The riders won't like that. But I will. It's absolutely a great stage, but I don't really like that the hardest climb is the last one, so I can't imagine it giving more action than that. There's also a load to see beside the road as well.
mb2612 T: 5 C: 3
Really punishing day that will remain in those legs for a while. Will force the non specialists to desperate moves early on hopefully.
JUDGE 2:
Gigs_98 T: 4 C: 3
I kind of want to give this max technical points too, although the rules along with a second straight stage using the same trick with the golden mile gets you a slight reduction for going to the well again. Good point about this being used in a real-life short stage race.
Brullnux T: 2 C: 4
Carthage! Finally! If I had entered, this was where I would have started. It seems like a slightly benign way to use the ultra stage, although the altitude gain is astronomical. Surely there's more available for the mountains classification than just the one climb?
Rghysens T: 5 C: 4
Now this is what we're talking about. Serious mountain climbing in Lebanon, including some legit high altitude too.
mb2612 T: 3 C: 4
A difficult one to rate but given the ultra stages and so forth it would make sense that the TT distance would need to be increased, therefore I've bumped up the technical score for taking this into account - depending on the rest of the route however it may reflect negatively in the week scores.
JUDGE 3:
Gigs_98 T: 5 C: 3
Another really nice stage. There are some crackers today. The golden mile is beautifully placed again. The cultural aspect of the stage is not as nice as some of the others below, although I like the touch on the Roman road.
Brullnux T: 4 C: 5
I love that you have the ultra stage just after the ITT. I think the riders are going to be dying near the end. Carthage was a really important piece of the Roman jigsaw. Also, Constantine (Cirta) was a big centre in the region. This stage would be cool.
Rghysens T: 4 C: 4
I must say, it is amazing how you can take in so many splendid Roman sites on your route, and still make the course very raceable. After the brute yesterday, I bet a dollar to doughnuts that there is lots of GC on the last major climb.
mb2612 T: 3 C: 4
Other days this route would get a 4 or 5 technically. But there is too much competition today. I love the idea of an ITT over such a distance. I like the Punic war theme.
JUDGE 4:
Gigs_98 T: 4 C: 3
Great hilly stage
Brullnux T: 3 C: 4
I don't know... as an ultra stage this one risks being decided on the only classified climb, at 20 to go... it seems like a wasted opportunity. Of course they'll be edging the desert and it'll be very punishing, but it doesn't convince me at all.
Rghysens T: 4 C: 4
Second hard mountain stage in a row, both are very cool, unfortunately for you there has been an even better stage, technically.
mb2612 T: 5 C: 3
85 km ITT... I love it! Be careful though, as of now your route is the easiest, climbing-wise... I hope you're gonna step up your game now that the climbers need to gain time.
CLASSIFICATION FOR STAGE 9
Rghysens: 33
mb2612: 30
Gigs_98: 29
Brullnux: 29
CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 9:
rghysens: 355
mb2612: 320
Brullnux: 308
Gigs_98: 299
- Feb 18, 2015
- 13,818
- 9,804
- 28,180
Am I right we are supposed to post our stages today? I'm a bit confused but anyway here is my stage 10.
CONSTANTINOPOLIS-ROMA stage 10: Brocomagus - Divodurum (152 km)
The last flat stage is already quite some time ago so I guess it's time to have a flat stage again. Todays stage starts in Brocomagus (Brumath) a city very close to yesterdays starting town Strasbourg. Actually in early Roman times this city was especially culturally clearly more important since Argentorate (Strasbourg) was only a military base, which later became famous because of the big battles in the region, which is why Strasbourg later became the bigger city.
The route goes westwards and for the last time the riders pass the Vosges, this time however only with an easy 4th category climb. However this climb called the Col de Saverne actually has some roman history since it has always been one of the most popular ways to cross the mountain range, and because already in the Roman era it was on the street between Brocomagus and Divodurum. A Roman town, called Tres Taberane (Saverne) was located at the eastern side of the pass and was originally built to protect it. Therefore the first intermediate sprint will also takes place here. I think this combination of a sprint and then the climb will also cause a strong break since, the peloton might try to control the race so the sprinters can win points and then the break will probably form on the first climb. There should also already be TV coverage at this point, since the stage isn't overly long and watching the break form is always exciting.
The next about 100 kilometers are mostly flat and there aren't any big Romans towns the route passes, only a few small ones like Grostenquin, where the 2nd intermediate sprint takes place. However the race doesn't stay uninteresting until the end, since after the riders have already reached Divodurum there is one last climb, to the town Plappeville. This city is already extremely old, but unfortunately built shortly after the end of the Roman Empire. Nevertheless from a technical standpoint this climb still makes sense. The profile unfortunately doesn't show the real difficulty of the ascent, but a profile I made on openrunner already looks completely different.
Yeah this is only a 2 kilometer long and 6.7% steep ascent, but there is a 500 meter long flat section in the middle so the climb is actually much harder. Especially the last half kilometer which is over 12% steep. Not the kind of climb a gc rider wants but thats not the point of such a stage anyway. Because these gradients are a perfect invitation for late attackers to try to snatch the win away from the sprinters. The descent is technical but on very good roads so that won't be a problem. Again, the sprinters have a chance, but they will have to work for it.
The town in which todays stage finishes is Divodurum (Metz), a place where the first settlements already developed 3000 BC. The Romans conquered the city in the first century AD, and the town quickly became one of the most important cities of Gaul, with over 40 000 inhabitants which is more than for example Lutetia (Paris).
The most famous Roman landmark of the city is probalby its aqueduct.
.
As you can see on the picture at the end of the post, which shows how Divodurum used to look like, there also once was a huge amphitheater outside the city, however although this stadium was the biggest one in Gaul and one of the 10 biggest of the whole Roman empire (room for 25 000 spectators) there isn't much left of it. I didn't find any articles about it which weren't french and since my only possibility to understand that language is google translate, I don't really know what happened to it. I think it was completely buried and right now there are excavations.
CONSTANTINOPOLIS-ROMA stage 10: Brocomagus - Divodurum (152 km)
The last flat stage is already quite some time ago so I guess it's time to have a flat stage again. Todays stage starts in Brocomagus (Brumath) a city very close to yesterdays starting town Strasbourg. Actually in early Roman times this city was especially culturally clearly more important since Argentorate (Strasbourg) was only a military base, which later became famous because of the big battles in the region, which is why Strasbourg later became the bigger city.
The route goes westwards and for the last time the riders pass the Vosges, this time however only with an easy 4th category climb. However this climb called the Col de Saverne actually has some roman history since it has always been one of the most popular ways to cross the mountain range, and because already in the Roman era it was on the street between Brocomagus and Divodurum. A Roman town, called Tres Taberane (Saverne) was located at the eastern side of the pass and was originally built to protect it. Therefore the first intermediate sprint will also takes place here. I think this combination of a sprint and then the climb will also cause a strong break since, the peloton might try to control the race so the sprinters can win points and then the break will probably form on the first climb. There should also already be TV coverage at this point, since the stage isn't overly long and watching the break form is always exciting.
The next about 100 kilometers are mostly flat and there aren't any big Romans towns the route passes, only a few small ones like Grostenquin, where the 2nd intermediate sprint takes place. However the race doesn't stay uninteresting until the end, since after the riders have already reached Divodurum there is one last climb, to the town Plappeville. This city is already extremely old, but unfortunately built shortly after the end of the Roman Empire. Nevertheless from a technical standpoint this climb still makes sense. The profile unfortunately doesn't show the real difficulty of the ascent, but a profile I made on openrunner already looks completely different.
Yeah this is only a 2 kilometer long and 6.7% steep ascent, but there is a 500 meter long flat section in the middle so the climb is actually much harder. Especially the last half kilometer which is over 12% steep. Not the kind of climb a gc rider wants but thats not the point of such a stage anyway. Because these gradients are a perfect invitation for late attackers to try to snatch the win away from the sprinters. The descent is technical but on very good roads so that won't be a problem. Again, the sprinters have a chance, but they will have to work for it.
The town in which todays stage finishes is Divodurum (Metz), a place where the first settlements already developed 3000 BC. The Romans conquered the city in the first century AD, and the town quickly became one of the most important cities of Gaul, with over 40 000 inhabitants which is more than for example Lutetia (Paris).
The most famous Roman landmark of the city is probalby its aqueduct.
As you can see on the picture at the end of the post, which shows how Divodurum used to look like, there also once was a huge amphitheater outside the city, however although this stadium was the biggest one in Gaul and one of the 10 biggest of the whole Roman empire (room for 25 000 spectators) there isn't much left of it. I didn't find any articles about it which weren't french and since my only possibility to understand that language is google translate, I don't really know what happened to it. I think it was completely buried and right now there are excavations.
Iter per Imperium Romanum Stage 10: Sitifis-Iomnium 226km
This stage heads north from Sitifis (Setif nowadays), one of the most prosperous Roman cities of Northern Africa, to Iomnium, a port town on the coast. Setif was genuinely a very important town, becoming capital of the Mauretania Sifitensis region, and Christian cathedrals in the late 4th Century were built. Unfortunately, it was hit by an earthquake in the next century, and then came under the rule of the Vandals, and its history has a gap until the Byzantine era.
The stage itself is pretty hard, and coming directly after the Ultra stage then it could cause significant gaps - riders with lesser recovery could start losing time on the 7km section at over 9% on the second, longer, climb of the day. The first one should just soften legs up. The third could, in an ideal world, be a springboard for attacks. It features a 4km section at over 12%, and is hard for the rest as well. The descent looks fairly straightforward, however, but because of the lack of street view I cannot tell whether it is wide or narrow. It seems fairly narrow, though, which is good news. The flat in the valley could be another reason not to attack, but it is only 10km long so hopefully riders won't be too put off by it. The last climb begins with a 10km false flat, then kicks up for the categorised bit. Its middle 3km are at 8.5%, but is fairly regular throughout. The descent this time is pretty technical, and a good descender could put time into others here.
The finish is in Iomnium, now Tigzirt, which is most famous for its Roman ruins. It was an efficient port town in those days.
This stage heads north from Sitifis (Setif nowadays), one of the most prosperous Roman cities of Northern Africa, to Iomnium, a port town on the coast. Setif was genuinely a very important town, becoming capital of the Mauretania Sifitensis region, and Christian cathedrals in the late 4th Century were built. Unfortunately, it was hit by an earthquake in the next century, and then came under the rule of the Vandals, and its history has a gap until the Byzantine era.
The stage itself is pretty hard, and coming directly after the Ultra stage then it could cause significant gaps - riders with lesser recovery could start losing time on the 7km section at over 9% on the second, longer, climb of the day. The first one should just soften legs up. The third could, in an ideal world, be a springboard for attacks. It features a 4km section at over 12%, and is hard for the rest as well. The descent looks fairly straightforward, however, but because of the lack of street view I cannot tell whether it is wide or narrow. It seems fairly narrow, though, which is good news. The flat in the valley could be another reason not to attack, but it is only 10km long so hopefully riders won't be too put off by it. The last climb begins with a 10km false flat, then kicks up for the categorised bit. Its middle 3km are at 8.5%, but is fairly regular throughout. The descent this time is pretty technical, and a good descender could put time into others here.
The finish is in Iomnium, now Tigzirt, which is most famous for its Roman ruins. It was an efficient port town in those days.
Re: MN stage 10
After stage 9 I said the riders would enjoy a rest day, but I changed my mind. They will enjoy a double restday (no-one said that wasn’t allowed). Well, to be honest one day will be a transportday from the eastern regions of the Roman empire to the western areas, the second day will be a proper rest day.
Over to today’s stage.
Stage 10: Ilipa – Italica: 91.5km, ITT
2222 Years ago the area of this stage saw one of the defining episodes in Roman history. After Hannibal took the war to Italy, some crushing and a whole bunch of less crushing defeats, the Roman senate decided to do just as Hannibal and take the war to Carthaginian territory. Since they already had a foothold in northern Hispania, while Carthage controlled the central and southern parts of the peninsula, it would seem a wise choice to take this powerbase away from Carthago, and expand their own. So, in 211BC, they sent an army under the joint command of the brothers Publius Cornelius Scipio and Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio, which resulted in another sound defeat and the death of the two commanders. Command was taken over by Publius Cornelius Scipio’s son, also named Publius Cornelius Scipio, and he was a lot more successful than his father and uncle.
In 209BC he took the local Carthaginian capital and renamed it Carthago Nova (present Carthagena), in 208BC he defeated Hannibal’s brother Hasdrubal in open combat, and in 206BC he completely annihilated the remaining Carthaginian armies in the battle of Ilipa, near present day Sevilla.
After the battle Scipio, who would later earn the nickname Africanus, founded the city of Italica to reward his Italian veterans (legionary veteran were usually rewarded with some piece of land), and to control the area.
So, one might say that the roman soldiers went from Ilipa to Italica, just as the riders will do today.
Later in history, the emperors Traianus and Hadrianus, two of the most succeful Roman emperors, were born in Italica.
Ilipa was on the site of modern day Alcala del Rio. Apart from some wall foundations and a recently unearthed mosaic, virtually nothing remains from the former Celtiberian and Roman settlement.
The course quickly crosses the Guadalquivir and heads east to Carmo, present Carmona, were it passes the remains of the Roman theatre and necropolis after 41km.
Then it turns west to Hispalis, the capital of the Roman province of Hispania Baetica. Not much can be seen in current Sevilla from its Roman heritage, as the city remained important during the course of history and Roman edifices were replaced by more recent architecture.
When leaving the historic center of Seville, there’s only eight more kilometres to go, in 2 almost straight lines.
The finish will be on the parking lot of the archaeological area of Italica, on the outskirts of present Santiponce. The excavations show amongst others the remains of an amphitheatre, a theatre and thermae.
Roman Landmarks:
Although Carmo and Hispalis definitely deserve a Roman landmark sprint, i decided not to do them in tt's.
Total distance raced: 1927km
After stage 9 I said the riders would enjoy a rest day, but I changed my mind. They will enjoy a double restday (no-one said that wasn’t allowed). Well, to be honest one day will be a transportday from the eastern regions of the Roman empire to the western areas, the second day will be a proper rest day.
Over to today’s stage.
Stage 10: Ilipa – Italica: 91.5km, ITT
2222 Years ago the area of this stage saw one of the defining episodes in Roman history. After Hannibal took the war to Italy, some crushing and a whole bunch of less crushing defeats, the Roman senate decided to do just as Hannibal and take the war to Carthaginian territory. Since they already had a foothold in northern Hispania, while Carthage controlled the central and southern parts of the peninsula, it would seem a wise choice to take this powerbase away from Carthago, and expand their own. So, in 211BC, they sent an army under the joint command of the brothers Publius Cornelius Scipio and Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio, which resulted in another sound defeat and the death of the two commanders. Command was taken over by Publius Cornelius Scipio’s son, also named Publius Cornelius Scipio, and he was a lot more successful than his father and uncle.
In 209BC he took the local Carthaginian capital and renamed it Carthago Nova (present Carthagena), in 208BC he defeated Hannibal’s brother Hasdrubal in open combat, and in 206BC he completely annihilated the remaining Carthaginian armies in the battle of Ilipa, near present day Sevilla.
After the battle Scipio, who would later earn the nickname Africanus, founded the city of Italica to reward his Italian veterans (legionary veteran were usually rewarded with some piece of land), and to control the area.
So, one might say that the roman soldiers went from Ilipa to Italica, just as the riders will do today.
Later in history, the emperors Traianus and Hadrianus, two of the most succeful Roman emperors, were born in Italica.
Ilipa was on the site of modern day Alcala del Rio. Apart from some wall foundations and a recently unearthed mosaic, virtually nothing remains from the former Celtiberian and Roman settlement.
The course quickly crosses the Guadalquivir and heads east to Carmo, present Carmona, were it passes the remains of the Roman theatre and necropolis after 41km.
Then it turns west to Hispalis, the capital of the Roman province of Hispania Baetica. Not much can be seen in current Sevilla from its Roman heritage, as the city remained important during the course of history and Roman edifices were replaced by more recent architecture.
When leaving the historic center of Seville, there’s only eight more kilometres to go, in 2 almost straight lines.
The finish will be on the parking lot of the archaeological area of Italica, on the outskirts of present Santiponce. The excavations show amongst others the remains of an amphitheatre, a theatre and thermae.
Roman Landmarks:
Although Carmo and Hispalis definitely deserve a Roman landmark sprint, i decided not to do them in tt's.
Total distance raced: 1927km
Via Roma Stage 10 Carthage (Carthage) --> Kbor Klib (Siliana) 187 km
Justice and the laws of hevan gave us victory - Scipio Africanus
The stage is the final one in the tribute to the Punic Wars, and it starts in the great city of Carthage itself. After defeat by Rome in the Second Punic War, Carthage following, apparently excellent administration from Hannibal, managed to pay off Rome's significant tribute, and started to increase in wealth again. This rise, and Rome's natural wariness of their greatest existential threat, caused the Third Punic War, under rather flimsy pretexts. After Carthage refused to give unconditional surrender, Rome put them under siege for over 2 years, before eventually breaking through the city walls. In the resulting slaughter, of the 400,000 Carthaginian citizens, 350,000 were killed, with the remainder sold into slavery. The city was then burnt to the ground. 100 years later Julius Caesar ordered the rebuilding of Carthage, as it's natural harbour, and location in the breadbasket of the empire, made it too good a location to ignore. The ruins remaining today are from Roman Carthage.
The stage heads south to the days first sprint point, at the town of Uthina (Oudna) after just 40km. This early sprint, plus the rest the sprinters would have yesterday, might give them the incentive to pull the break back here, giving some early excitement to the stage. Uthina is most famous today for its amphitheatre, which is still in excellent condition.
The stage then takes the first uncategorised climb, 7 km at 3%, before winding south for another 50km, through the town of Ziqua (Zaghouan) and into the foothills of the Atlas mountains. Another 7km 3% climb follows, but really for the next 40 kilometres it's just a constatly rising false flat before the first categorised climb starts. A cat 3, 4.2% for 4.6km, finishing after 143 kilometres, this climb is immediately followed by another third category climb, this time 3.85 for 4.4km, before a descent into the valley below.
The route the goes west, just south of Zama Regia, grinding steadily uphill for 20 kilometres, before a sharp final 2km at a gradient of 7.1% gives anyone who has the legs after yesterday the chance to take a few seconds. The stage finishes next to the Kbor Kalb, a Numidian arch, probably built to commemorate Numidia and Rome's victory over Carthage in the battle of Zama, looking down on the plain where the battle was fought.
There is some debate, about both where the battle of Zama was fought, and even whether it was fought at all, with some historians claiming that the battle was invented to give Rome the decisive victory they needed over Hannibal, thus avenging his 15 years spent ransacking Italy. The story of battle is also legendary, with Scipio and Hannibal meeting mano-a-mano on the field the previous day to negotiate peace, and when that wasn't possible, agreeing to fight. For a Tour celebrating the Roman empire, this battle has to be referenced for almost the same reasons it was revered by the Romans.
For the location, there were multiple towns called Zama, which causes some confusion, even among the more contempory sources, however I am guided by a recent study by Duncan Ross, which makes the case for Kbor Klib as the location for the battle. The reason that the Numidians built the triumphal arch, is that they were arguably the victors of the day. Their king, Masinissa, had betrayed Carthage earlier in the Punic War, siding with Rome, and his cavalry arrived just in time to save Scipio from defeat.
Victory at Zama functionally ended the Second Punic War, and Carthage as a threat, with much of their North African holdings being passed to Numidia, while Rome took the Carthaginian holdings in Iberia. With Carthage limited to a Navy of just 10 ships, victory here set Rome on its way to dominate the Mediterranean.
Justice and the laws of hevan gave us victory - Scipio Africanus
The stage is the final one in the tribute to the Punic Wars, and it starts in the great city of Carthage itself. After defeat by Rome in the Second Punic War, Carthage following, apparently excellent administration from Hannibal, managed to pay off Rome's significant tribute, and started to increase in wealth again. This rise, and Rome's natural wariness of their greatest existential threat, caused the Third Punic War, under rather flimsy pretexts. After Carthage refused to give unconditional surrender, Rome put them under siege for over 2 years, before eventually breaking through the city walls. In the resulting slaughter, of the 400,000 Carthaginian citizens, 350,000 were killed, with the remainder sold into slavery. The city was then burnt to the ground. 100 years later Julius Caesar ordered the rebuilding of Carthage, as it's natural harbour, and location in the breadbasket of the empire, made it too good a location to ignore. The ruins remaining today are from Roman Carthage.
The stage heads south to the days first sprint point, at the town of Uthina (Oudna) after just 40km. This early sprint, plus the rest the sprinters would have yesterday, might give them the incentive to pull the break back here, giving some early excitement to the stage. Uthina is most famous today for its amphitheatre, which is still in excellent condition.
The stage then takes the first uncategorised climb, 7 km at 3%, before winding south for another 50km, through the town of Ziqua (Zaghouan) and into the foothills of the Atlas mountains. Another 7km 3% climb follows, but really for the next 40 kilometres it's just a constatly rising false flat before the first categorised climb starts. A cat 3, 4.2% for 4.6km, finishing after 143 kilometres, this climb is immediately followed by another third category climb, this time 3.85 for 4.4km, before a descent into the valley below.
The route the goes west, just south of Zama Regia, grinding steadily uphill for 20 kilometres, before a sharp final 2km at a gradient of 7.1% gives anyone who has the legs after yesterday the chance to take a few seconds. The stage finishes next to the Kbor Kalb, a Numidian arch, probably built to commemorate Numidia and Rome's victory over Carthage in the battle of Zama, looking down on the plain where the battle was fought.
There is some debate, about both where the battle of Zama was fought, and even whether it was fought at all, with some historians claiming that the battle was invented to give Rome the decisive victory they needed over Hannibal, thus avenging his 15 years spent ransacking Italy. The story of battle is also legendary, with Scipio and Hannibal meeting mano-a-mano on the field the previous day to negotiate peace, and when that wasn't possible, agreeing to fight. For a Tour celebrating the Roman empire, this battle has to be referenced for almost the same reasons it was revered by the Romans.
For the location, there were multiple towns called Zama, which causes some confusion, even among the more contempory sources, however I am guided by a recent study by Duncan Ross, which makes the case for Kbor Klib as the location for the battle. The reason that the Numidians built the triumphal arch, is that they were arguably the victors of the day. Their king, Masinissa, had betrayed Carthage earlier in the Punic War, siding with Rome, and his cavalry arrived just in time to save Scipio from defeat.
Victory at Zama functionally ended the Second Punic War, and Carthage as a threat, with much of their North African holdings being passed to Numidia, while Rome took the Carthaginian holdings in Iberia. With Carthage limited to a Navy of just 10 ships, victory here set Rome on its way to dominate the Mediterranean.
I gues you mean stage 11?
Anyway, here it is.
Stage 11: Italica – Emerita Augusta: 197.5km, flat
After a long tt, there’s a rather calm day for the peloton.
The course heads north from Italica, crossing the rolling landscape of the Sierra Moreno. On their way the riders crest 3 minor climbs and contest one Roman landmark sprint, in Contributa Iulia Ugultunia, where, apart from some excavated wall foundations not much remains. The place was, according to the Itinerarium Antonini Augusti, one of the most important mansios (an official stopping place along a Roman road) along the Via Delapidata (the modern via de la plata), which will be followed for the whole day.
Today’s finishtown was was founded in 25 BC, with the name of Emerita Augusta (meaning the veterans of the army of Augustus) by order of Emperor Augustus, to protect a pass and a bridge over the Guadiana river. The city became the capital of Lusitania province, and one of the most important cities in the later Roman empire. Mérida preserves more important ancient Roman monuments than any other city in Spain, including a theatre, said bridge over the river Guadiana (which is the longest surviving bridge from antiquity), a circus, an aquaduct, an amphitheatre, some temples, and much more.
Climbs:
Km32; 1.4km @ 5.6%; 4th cat
Km44.5; 1.4km @ 5.5%; 4th cat
Km84.5; 2.8km @ 4.2%; 4th cat
Roman Landmark sprint:
Contributa Iulia Ugultunia: km 124.5
Total distance raced: 2124.5km
Anyway, here it is.
Stage 11: Italica – Emerita Augusta: 197.5km, flat
After a long tt, there’s a rather calm day for the peloton.
The course heads north from Italica, crossing the rolling landscape of the Sierra Moreno. On their way the riders crest 3 minor climbs and contest one Roman landmark sprint, in Contributa Iulia Ugultunia, where, apart from some excavated wall foundations not much remains. The place was, according to the Itinerarium Antonini Augusti, one of the most important mansios (an official stopping place along a Roman road) along the Via Delapidata (the modern via de la plata), which will be followed for the whole day.
Today’s finishtown was was founded in 25 BC, with the name of Emerita Augusta (meaning the veterans of the army of Augustus) by order of Emperor Augustus, to protect a pass and a bridge over the Guadiana river. The city became the capital of Lusitania province, and one of the most important cities in the later Roman empire. Mérida preserves more important ancient Roman monuments than any other city in Spain, including a theatre, said bridge over the river Guadiana (which is the longest surviving bridge from antiquity), a circus, an aquaduct, an amphitheatre, some temples, and much more.
Climbs:
Km32; 1.4km @ 5.6%; 4th cat
Km44.5; 1.4km @ 5.5%; 4th cat
Km84.5; 2.8km @ 4.2%; 4th cat
Roman Landmark sprint:
Contributa Iulia Ugultunia: km 124.5
Total distance raced: 2124.5km
- Feb 18, 2015
- 13,818
- 9,804
- 28,180
CONSTANTINOPOLIS-ROMA stage 11: Durocatalaunum - Laudunum (209 km)
Stage 11 starts in Durocatalaunum (Châlons-en-Champagne), a city where many big Roman battles took place, such as the battle of Chalons between Roman Emperor Aurelian and Emperor Tetricus I of the Gallic Empire. Later it was also the place were Attila was defeated by a coalition led by the Roman general Flavius Aetius and the Visigothic king Theodoric I.
The first 40 kilometers of the stage are flat, but then the two hardest climbs of the day start, though both are only 4th category climbs, after another uncategorized climb the route flattens out and there is the first intermediate sprint in Durocortorum (Reims). A legend says this town was built by Remus, which is definitely wrong but it shows, the importance this city once had. One of the most famous landmarks of the city is the Porte Mars, one of the most famous Roman monuments in the north of the Alps.
After this intermediate sprint the race gets really difficult. This is an Ardennes like race, so no big climbs but many small ones. Over the whole day there are 18 ascents and although not all of them are hard enough to get categorized this stage almost has 3000 meters of altitude difference, therefore this won't be an easy day. Most of these climbs aren't very difficult and tbh I could also just not categorize any of them, but that wouldn't show the real difficulty of the stage which isn't caused by the quality but the quantity of the ascents. Big parts of this stage are on narrow and twisting roads so this will make the stage even harder since positioning will play a big role. The big finale of the stage is in Laudanum (Laon), a beautiful city located on a hill. Because of the location it was always an important place since it was hard to siege the city, therefore the town successively checked the invasions of the Franks, Burgundians, Vandals, Alans and Huns.
The riders will climb the hill twice, first from the easier but very scenic southern side. To make this first climb a bit more interesting I decided to put the Golden mile here. Maybe it encourages some riders to attack, at this point of the race probably especially riders who want to win the points classification. Then the route goes downhill before the road goes up again, this time however much steeper. And when I write steep, I mean steep. Here is a profile of the last 7.5 kilometers so you get a better idea of the finale.
As you can see, there is a little bit of false flat before the finish, but I don't think that really matters. The part before it should be steep enough to at least cause some time gaps and I think after a rider has an advantage on someone else every extra meter of racing will probably make the final more interesting. I'd expect a rider like Gilbert to win, but the gc riders definitely have to be careful on this day. But not only on the last climb. On a day with so much up and down there is always the possibility of something unexpected happening.
Stage 11 starts in Durocatalaunum (Châlons-en-Champagne), a city where many big Roman battles took place, such as the battle of Chalons between Roman Emperor Aurelian and Emperor Tetricus I of the Gallic Empire. Later it was also the place were Attila was defeated by a coalition led by the Roman general Flavius Aetius and the Visigothic king Theodoric I.
The first 40 kilometers of the stage are flat, but then the two hardest climbs of the day start, though both are only 4th category climbs, after another uncategorized climb the route flattens out and there is the first intermediate sprint in Durocortorum (Reims). A legend says this town was built by Remus, which is definitely wrong but it shows, the importance this city once had. One of the most famous landmarks of the city is the Porte Mars, one of the most famous Roman monuments in the north of the Alps.
After this intermediate sprint the race gets really difficult. This is an Ardennes like race, so no big climbs but many small ones. Over the whole day there are 18 ascents and although not all of them are hard enough to get categorized this stage almost has 3000 meters of altitude difference, therefore this won't be an easy day. Most of these climbs aren't very difficult and tbh I could also just not categorize any of them, but that wouldn't show the real difficulty of the stage which isn't caused by the quality but the quantity of the ascents. Big parts of this stage are on narrow and twisting roads so this will make the stage even harder since positioning will play a big role. The big finale of the stage is in Laudanum (Laon), a beautiful city located on a hill. Because of the location it was always an important place since it was hard to siege the city, therefore the town successively checked the invasions of the Franks, Burgundians, Vandals, Alans and Huns.
The riders will climb the hill twice, first from the easier but very scenic southern side. To make this first climb a bit more interesting I decided to put the Golden mile here. Maybe it encourages some riders to attack, at this point of the race probably especially riders who want to win the points classification. Then the route goes downhill before the road goes up again, this time however much steeper. And when I write steep, I mean steep. Here is a profile of the last 7.5 kilometers so you get a better idea of the finale.
As you can see, there is a little bit of false flat before the finish, but I don't think that really matters. The part before it should be steep enough to at least cause some time gaps and I think after a rider has an advantage on someone else every extra meter of racing will probably make the final more interesting. I'd expect a rider like Gilbert to win, but the gc riders definitely have to be careful on this day. But not only on the last climb. On a day with so much up and down there is always the possibility of something unexpected happening.
Iter per Imperium Romanum Stage 11: Icosium-Tigava 216km
The stage starts in the titular see Icosium next to modern day Algiers. Subsequently, it follows the coast, passing Tipasa (which was the initial plan for the stage start but Eshnar's 150km rule became tricky to pass). Tipasa is one of the most important roman cities because of its very convenient positioning on the Roman coastal roads (all the roads used today were constructed during Roman times), and while its importance may have receded, the town has not, becoming a UNESCO world heritage site in 2002.
The stage is almost only on the coast, and this allows for a very high chance of echelons before the two climbs. Coming the day before the rest day (weird-ass structure but I wanted to get to Spain, and the Empire is enormous), I expect any chances to be taken if wind arises. The stage could become much more important and selective than it seemed. The final two hills could be taken with the riders already very tired, making them to be more selective than they actually are - the hardest bit is a 4km section at 7%. Hopefully, this turns out to be the case.
The stage ends in Tigava, a small but fairly important town due to its position.
The stage starts in the titular see Icosium next to modern day Algiers. Subsequently, it follows the coast, passing Tipasa (which was the initial plan for the stage start but Eshnar's 150km rule became tricky to pass). Tipasa is one of the most important roman cities because of its very convenient positioning on the Roman coastal roads (all the roads used today were constructed during Roman times), and while its importance may have receded, the town has not, becoming a UNESCO world heritage site in 2002.
The stage is almost only on the coast, and this allows for a very high chance of echelons before the two climbs. Coming the day before the rest day (weird-ass structure but I wanted to get to Spain, and the Empire is enormous), I expect any chances to be taken if wind arises. The stage could become much more important and selective than it seemed. The final two hills could be taken with the riders already very tired, making them to be more selective than they actually are - the hardest bit is a 4km section at 7%. Hopefully, this turns out to be the case.
The stage ends in Tigava, a small but fairly important town due to its position.
Via Roma Stage 11 Simitthu (Chemtou) --> Hippo Regius (Annaba) 245km
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. - Saint Augustine
The final stage before the second rest day, and it's a brutal stage with over 4200 metres of climbing over 245km of action. The race starts in Simitthu, an originally Numidian town, which came under direct Roman rule in 46 BC. It was known mostly for it's quarries, which yielded a yellow marble. The marble was particularly prized in the Roman empire, and after bringing Numidia into the fold, Julius Caesar's funeral contained a 20 foot column built out of yellow Numidian marble.
After 18 kilometres of flat to get the peloton going, the next 40km are a challenge. The official designation is a 42.4km climb at 2.2%, which doesn't seem to live up to it's category 2 nature, however as you can see from the below profile, that massively undersells the challenge of the variable gradient up the mountain.
After 20 kilometres of descending the climbing starts again, this time with a shorter more regular 8.4 km 5.8% category 2 climb. The race then follows the ridge road for a bit, before descending back to the valley floor to reach the stage's half way point. 10km of flat then follow, before the road starts rising to the base of the day's third climb, another category 2, but this one shorter and even sharper, at 6.2km and 7.8%, peaking with just under 100km left to race.
30 kilometres of descending follow before the stage crosses the a flat plain to reach the finishing town of Hippo Regius. On the way into town, with 40km to go, the stage has it's sprint point is it passes the site of Basilica Pacis, the original church of Saint Augustine. Saint Augustine was born slightly inland from here, but became the bishop of Hippo Regius. He was one of the great leaders of Christian philosophy, coming up with the concepts of heaven as a City of God, and also the concept of a Just War, even while Christians should be pacifists. He died while the city was under siege by the Vandals, a Germanic tribe who were attacking from Spain, to set up a kingdom in North Africa.
The Vandals, after Saint Augustine's death, made Hippo Regius the capital of their newly founded kingdom, until they later conquered Carthage. For 30 years the Vandal raided the coasts of the Roman Empire, and conquered many of the Mediterranean Islands, before the Roman Emperor tried to neutralise them by arranging his daughter to be married to a Vandal Prince. Before this could happen, the Emperor was assassinated, ultimately causing the Vandal's to carry out the second sack Rome, taking the Empress and her daughters back to North Africa. It is this sack that gives rise to the term vandalism.
However the stage isn't done yet, as it does a 40 kilometre loop through the nearby Bou Zizi mountain, the summit of which, provided the source for the acqueduct that fed Hippo Regia. The penultimate climb is 11 kilometres long, and at 7.6% is comfortably a first category climb, especially as its peak gradient is 16%. The climb is then followed by a 13km technical descent, back down to sea level.
The final climb of the day is also the shortest, another category 2, but this time 4.0km at 10.0%, with the second kilometre at 16%. Coming off the climb the climb the descent is again sharp, before the final 400m at 7% should split any riders coming in together. Given that this is the final stage before a rest day, I would expect some attacks on the penultimate climb, as the technical nature of the descents should give the advantage to a lone rider.
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. - Saint Augustine
The final stage before the second rest day, and it's a brutal stage with over 4200 metres of climbing over 245km of action. The race starts in Simitthu, an originally Numidian town, which came under direct Roman rule in 46 BC. It was known mostly for it's quarries, which yielded a yellow marble. The marble was particularly prized in the Roman empire, and after bringing Numidia into the fold, Julius Caesar's funeral contained a 20 foot column built out of yellow Numidian marble.
After 18 kilometres of flat to get the peloton going, the next 40km are a challenge. The official designation is a 42.4km climb at 2.2%, which doesn't seem to live up to it's category 2 nature, however as you can see from the below profile, that massively undersells the challenge of the variable gradient up the mountain.
After 20 kilometres of descending the climbing starts again, this time with a shorter more regular 8.4 km 5.8% category 2 climb. The race then follows the ridge road for a bit, before descending back to the valley floor to reach the stage's half way point. 10km of flat then follow, before the road starts rising to the base of the day's third climb, another category 2, but this one shorter and even sharper, at 6.2km and 7.8%, peaking with just under 100km left to race.
30 kilometres of descending follow before the stage crosses the a flat plain to reach the finishing town of Hippo Regius. On the way into town, with 40km to go, the stage has it's sprint point is it passes the site of Basilica Pacis, the original church of Saint Augustine. Saint Augustine was born slightly inland from here, but became the bishop of Hippo Regius. He was one of the great leaders of Christian philosophy, coming up with the concepts of heaven as a City of God, and also the concept of a Just War, even while Christians should be pacifists. He died while the city was under siege by the Vandals, a Germanic tribe who were attacking from Spain, to set up a kingdom in North Africa.
The Vandals, after Saint Augustine's death, made Hippo Regius the capital of their newly founded kingdom, until they later conquered Carthage. For 30 years the Vandal raided the coasts of the Roman Empire, and conquered many of the Mediterranean Islands, before the Roman Emperor tried to neutralise them by arranging his daughter to be married to a Vandal Prince. Before this could happen, the Emperor was assassinated, ultimately causing the Vandal's to carry out the second sack Rome, taking the Empress and her daughters back to North Africa. It is this sack that gives rise to the term vandalism.
However the stage isn't done yet, as it does a 40 kilometre loop through the nearby Bou Zizi mountain, the summit of which, provided the source for the acqueduct that fed Hippo Regia. The penultimate climb is 11 kilometres long, and at 7.6% is comfortably a first category climb, especially as its peak gradient is 16%. The climb is then followed by a 13km technical descent, back down to sea level.
The final climb of the day is also the shortest, another category 2, but this time 4.0km at 10.0%, with the second kilometre at 16%. Coming off the climb the climb the descent is again sharp, before the final 400m at 7% should split any riders coming in together. Given that this is the final stage before a rest day, I would expect some attacks on the penultimate climb, as the technical nature of the descents should give the advantage to a lone rider.
Time is catching up with me...
I didn't have too much time to write up my stage 12. Maybe i'll polish it a bit on Sunday morning.
Mare Nostrum stage 12: Norba Caesarina - Abila: 282km; medium mountains
A short transfer brings the caravan to Norba Caesarina, which was founded near the Roman army camp of Castra Caecilia. The site of the old camps will be passed after 1km and host a Roman landmark sprint.
Thereafter, the course more or less follows a secondary Roman road, as attested by the second Roman landmark sprint: an original section of a via romana near the summit of the first major climb of the day.
The next 30km the course follows some rolling roads, without real descent. The second and last major climb of the day, the well known Puerto de navalmoral, starts at km250 and tops out with 21km to go. A descent and some flat roads lead to the last difficulty of the day: the cobbled ascent to the walls of Abila. Although the walls itself date from the middle ages, their foundations are still Roman, and in some places there is still a little bit Roman masonry visible. The most distinctive Roman feature of Abila, however, is its layout: a rectangular walled city, with the two main arteries - the Cardo Maximus and Decumanus - intersecting perpendicularly at the forum (which is now the plaza del mercado chico).
Climbs
Puerto del Pico: km209; 15.6km @ 5.5%; 1390m; 1st cat
Puerto de Navalmoral: km261; 15.7km @ 4.3%; 1521m; 2nd cat
Roman landmark sprints
Castra Caecilia: km1
Via Romana del Puerto del Pico: km209
Total distance raced: 2406,5 km
I didn't have too much time to write up my stage 12. Maybe i'll polish it a bit on Sunday morning.
Mare Nostrum stage 12: Norba Caesarina - Abila: 282km; medium mountains
A short transfer brings the caravan to Norba Caesarina, which was founded near the Roman army camp of Castra Caecilia. The site of the old camps will be passed after 1km and host a Roman landmark sprint.
Thereafter, the course more or less follows a secondary Roman road, as attested by the second Roman landmark sprint: an original section of a via romana near the summit of the first major climb of the day.
The next 30km the course follows some rolling roads, without real descent. The second and last major climb of the day, the well known Puerto de navalmoral, starts at km250 and tops out with 21km to go. A descent and some flat roads lead to the last difficulty of the day: the cobbled ascent to the walls of Abila. Although the walls itself date from the middle ages, their foundations are still Roman, and in some places there is still a little bit Roman masonry visible. The most distinctive Roman feature of Abila, however, is its layout: a rectangular walled city, with the two main arteries - the Cardo Maximus and Decumanus - intersecting perpendicularly at the forum (which is now the plaza del mercado chico).
Climbs
Puerto del Pico: km209; 15.6km @ 5.5%; 1390m; 1st cat
Puerto de Navalmoral: km261; 15.7km @ 4.3%; 1521m; 2nd cat
Roman landmark sprints
Castra Caecilia: km1
Via Romana del Puerto del Pico: km209
Total distance raced: 2406,5 km
I have the same problem as gigs, I don't have access to a computer today and I can't do it from my phone. I can do it tomorrow morning, though... it might be hard though for the Stage 12 votes to come in the same day... Could they come in Monday, and we still post stage 13 on monday?
- Feb 18, 2015
- 13,818
- 9,804
- 28,180
Don't be surprised about the not very long write up, but I want to post this as quickly as possible and then make a longer write up later.
ULTRA STAGE
CONSTANTINOPOLIS-ROMA stage 12: Bagacum - Turnacum (422 km)
Yeah, this was a very short week before the 2nd restday (only 5 stages) but there really isn't that much more to do in this part of France. You also might be surprised to see my 2nd ultra stage so early, since I think 2 of the 4 participants haven't even had one, but I think these ultra stages are a good possibility to cause big time gaps early so the climbers have time to make up in the high mountains. I thought that if a super hard 500 km stages comes late in the race it would mean the riders would wait for these stages and don't attack in the first weeks.
The stage today is the first stage I thought about when I heard about the possibility of making very long stages in this challenge. Because I thought what if a cycling race would link the cobbles from paris roubaix and the Ronde Van Vlaanderen and make one incredibly difficult cobbles massacre?
You can split this stage into two parts. The Paris-Roubaix part, and the Ronde Van Vlaanderen. To make this stage a bit longer I have two lap circuits in this stage, again one for each part. The 4 PR laps include 8 cobbles sections, over 36 kilometers. However all these 8 sections come on only 24 kilometers before the riders have 12 easy km's to return to the start of the lap. The 8 sectors are 9300 meters long and include one 4* (Camphin-en-Pévèle) and one 5* (Carrefour de l’Arbre) sector from Paris Roubaix. However there are 9 more cobbles sections before the riders even arrive at the circuit, including Trouée d’Arenberg (as the first sector of the day) and Mons-en-Pévèle.
The Ronde Van Vlaanderen lap is a bit longer and only gets ridden twice. There we have 11 climbs, of which 8 are cobbled (some only partly though) + two more cobbled sectors without a climb, of which especially the first one, Hagenhoek, will be very difficult since it's over 2 kilometers long.
I decided to put this part after the PR part since I think the Paris-Roubaix cobbles are better to let the race explode early on, while the RVV cobbles and climbs are better to encourage attacks from different kind of riders later in the race.
The race doesn't finish immediately after the last climb, but I don't think thats a problem. This stage will be so hard that the race will be completely blown apart anyway and you really don't have to fear that it ends in a bunch sprint because nobody wants to attack. The time gaps between gc contenders will be huge, and riders who are good on cobbles might gain minutes.
The start of the stage is in Bagacum (Bavay)
Shortly after the start the route passes Fanum Martis (Famars), anothere Roman city
After the Paris-Roubaix part, the riders pass the finish town Turnacum (Tournai) for the first time, this time however there is only an intermediate sprint. Later there is another intermediate sprint in Rothnacum (Ronse) where remains of a Roman settlement have been found. As I wrote, the finish is in Turnacum the 2nd oldest city of Belgium. However as it is often the case the old buildings were destroyed and today only some Roman frescos and objects still exist.
ULTRA STAGE
CONSTANTINOPOLIS-ROMA stage 12: Bagacum - Turnacum (422 km)
Yeah, this was a very short week before the 2nd restday (only 5 stages) but there really isn't that much more to do in this part of France. You also might be surprised to see my 2nd ultra stage so early, since I think 2 of the 4 participants haven't even had one, but I think these ultra stages are a good possibility to cause big time gaps early so the climbers have time to make up in the high mountains. I thought that if a super hard 500 km stages comes late in the race it would mean the riders would wait for these stages and don't attack in the first weeks.
The stage today is the first stage I thought about when I heard about the possibility of making very long stages in this challenge. Because I thought what if a cycling race would link the cobbles from paris roubaix and the Ronde Van Vlaanderen and make one incredibly difficult cobbles massacre?
You can split this stage into two parts. The Paris-Roubaix part, and the Ronde Van Vlaanderen. To make this stage a bit longer I have two lap circuits in this stage, again one for each part. The 4 PR laps include 8 cobbles sections, over 36 kilometers. However all these 8 sections come on only 24 kilometers before the riders have 12 easy km's to return to the start of the lap. The 8 sectors are 9300 meters long and include one 4* (Camphin-en-Pévèle) and one 5* (Carrefour de l’Arbre) sector from Paris Roubaix. However there are 9 more cobbles sections before the riders even arrive at the circuit, including Trouée d’Arenberg (as the first sector of the day) and Mons-en-Pévèle.
The Ronde Van Vlaanderen lap is a bit longer and only gets ridden twice. There we have 11 climbs, of which 8 are cobbled (some only partly though) + two more cobbled sectors without a climb, of which especially the first one, Hagenhoek, will be very difficult since it's over 2 kilometers long.
I decided to put this part after the PR part since I think the Paris-Roubaix cobbles are better to let the race explode early on, while the RVV cobbles and climbs are better to encourage attacks from different kind of riders later in the race.
The race doesn't finish immediately after the last climb, but I don't think thats a problem. This stage will be so hard that the race will be completely blown apart anyway and you really don't have to fear that it ends in a bunch sprint because nobody wants to attack. The time gaps between gc contenders will be huge, and riders who are good on cobbles might gain minutes.
The start of the stage is in Bagacum (Bavay)
Shortly after the start the route passes Fanum Martis (Famars), anothere Roman city
After the Paris-Roubaix part, the riders pass the finish town Turnacum (Tournai) for the first time, this time however there is only an intermediate sprint. Later there is another intermediate sprint in Rothnacum (Ronse) where remains of a Roman settlement have been found. As I wrote, the finish is in Turnacum the 2nd oldest city of Belgium. However as it is often the case the old buildings were destroyed and today only some Roman frescos and objects still exist.
Via Roma Stage 12 Alexandria --> Naucratis (Ezbet Hasan Kassim) 91km ITT
All strange and terrible events are welcome, but comforts we despise - Shakespeare's Cleopatra
Following the second rest day, today's stage starts in the City of Alexandria. The second biggest city in the empire, Alexandria was vital for the Roman's for both the fertility of the Nile delta, and the strategic location for trade with India. It was home to two of the greatest buildings of the age, the Pharos of Alexandria, the tallest man-made structure in the world, as well as it's Great Library. While the lighthouse stood for millennia, the Library was burnt down on multiple occasions, first in 48 BC, during the siege of Alexandria.
The siege happened when Julius Caesar arrived in Alexandria to demand a large tribute from Ptolemy XIII, who at the time was just 12. His regents deliberated on this, before his elder sister Cleopatra seduced Caesar, and convinced him to back her claim. This lead to Caesar and Cleopatra being put under siege in the royal palace, before Roman reinforcements arrived, destroying the Ptolemaic army, and installing Cleopatra as queen. During the siege Caesar set fire to his own ships, which spread to the land, setting alight the library.
The stage then heads South East, through the delta, with nothing to change the rhythm of the riders. Another long time trial, this should give the specialists a large advantage over the purer climbers, and encourage them to make the race hard on the next week of mountain stages, as they will know how much time they will need to make up.
Today ends in the town of Naucratis, formerly a Greek city state before becoming part of the Ptolemaic kingdom, and then Roman Egypt. It was a major trading port, both in grain and pottery, as it was one the furthest places up the Canopic Nile passable by ocean going vessels. Naucratis was a major Roman town until it started to go into decline in the Second Century, due to a combination of the Nile changing course, and starting to silt up, as well as plague becoming endemic in Egypt, reducing the population my 20% and consequently grain production.
All strange and terrible events are welcome, but comforts we despise - Shakespeare's Cleopatra
Following the second rest day, today's stage starts in the City of Alexandria. The second biggest city in the empire, Alexandria was vital for the Roman's for both the fertility of the Nile delta, and the strategic location for trade with India. It was home to two of the greatest buildings of the age, the Pharos of Alexandria, the tallest man-made structure in the world, as well as it's Great Library. While the lighthouse stood for millennia, the Library was burnt down on multiple occasions, first in 48 BC, during the siege of Alexandria.
The siege happened when Julius Caesar arrived in Alexandria to demand a large tribute from Ptolemy XIII, who at the time was just 12. His regents deliberated on this, before his elder sister Cleopatra seduced Caesar, and convinced him to back her claim. This lead to Caesar and Cleopatra being put under siege in the royal palace, before Roman reinforcements arrived, destroying the Ptolemaic army, and installing Cleopatra as queen. During the siege Caesar set fire to his own ships, which spread to the land, setting alight the library.
The stage then heads South East, through the delta, with nothing to change the rhythm of the riders. Another long time trial, this should give the specialists a large advantage over the purer climbers, and encourage them to make the race hard on the next week of mountain stages, as they will know how much time they will need to make up.
Today ends in the town of Naucratis, formerly a Greek city state before becoming part of the Ptolemaic kingdom, and then Roman Egypt. It was a major trading port, both in grain and pottery, as it was one the furthest places up the Canopic Nile passable by ocean going vessels. Naucratis was a major Roman town until it started to go into decline in the Second Century, due to a combination of the Nile changing course, and starting to silt up, as well as plague becoming endemic in Egypt, reducing the population my 20% and consequently grain production.
Iter per Imperium Romanum Stage 12: Malaca-Murgi 240km
Another medium mountain transitional stage that should finish in a reduced bunch, or more likely a breakaway. The GC guys will probably rest up for tomorrow, which is a big day for them.
The riders begin in Malaga, where they will take a road along the coast for a long time, built under the romans, until Motril. Malaga (or Malaca as it was then called) in its Roman stage) showed great development. Transformed into a confederated city, it was under a special law, the Lex Flavia Malacitana. A Roman theatre was built at this time.
The riders encoutner a bit or rolling terrain before the first climb of the day, the Haza del Lino.
After a long descent the riders take on the Venta del Tarugo.
Another logn descent precedes a bti of rolling terrain before the finish in Murgi, now El Ejido.
Another medium mountain transitional stage that should finish in a reduced bunch, or more likely a breakaway. The GC guys will probably rest up for tomorrow, which is a big day for them.
The riders begin in Malaga, where they will take a road along the coast for a long time, built under the romans, until Motril. Malaga (or Malaca as it was then called) in its Roman stage) showed great development. Transformed into a confederated city, it was under a special law, the Lex Flavia Malacitana. A Roman theatre was built at this time.
The riders encoutner a bit or rolling terrain before the first climb of the day, the Haza del Lino.
After a long descent the riders take on the Venta del Tarugo.
Another logn descent precedes a bti of rolling terrain before the finish in Murgi, now El Ejido.
- Feb 18, 2015
- 13,818
- 9,804
- 28,180
CONSTANTINOPOLIS-ROMA stage 13: "Hogolo" - "Vorgium" (69 km ITT)
So finally after my short opening ITT, there is a 2nd one and this time it's by far longer. Like stage 12 this will be one of the most important days for the gc which will give allrounders another possibility to gain time and pure climbers another reason to attack later in the race, since they will probably have a very big disadvantage after this stage.
But the data of the day is actually not the most interesting aspect of this stage. This ITT is rather a homage to the Roman history, or rather the not Roman history. Let me explain.
The start of this stage is located in the Bretagne, so still in the northern part of France. The exact start location is beside a Roman thermae called "Hogolo" in todays town Locquirec. However what you won't find in any history books is that this thermae is actually FAKE.
I know it looks real, but thats absolutely impossible since the Romans never ever conquered this part of France. Now I hear you saying "But Gigs, France or as it was called back then, Gaul, was entirely occupied by the Romans"
Well, not entirely... One small village of indomitable Gauls still hold out against the invaders. And life was not easy for the Roman legionaries who garrisoned the fortified camps of Totorum, Aquarium, Laudanum and Compendium.
But let's return to the topic. Since this town has been described many times we even have good pictures of the Gaulish village.
Unfortunately all the buildings were mostly made of wood, so there are no real ruins of the town. The same counts for the 4 fortresses around the village, which were Aquarium, Totorum, Laudanum and Compendium. We don't know at all where the last 3 of these villages were located, but we can assume that the location of Aquarium is somewhere near to where todays city Morlaix is located. We can assume that because Morlaix is in the west of the small gaulish village and because there were Roman coins found in Morlaix which suggests that there was a Roman settlement at this location.
The riders ride through the town Huelgoat, where another Gaulish town was located, however in contrast to the small Gaulish village this town was occupied by the Romans. The finish of the ITT is in Vorgium (Carhaix-Plouguer). Once again people wrongly think this was a real Roman city, since there were ruins found in this area. As a big Asterix fan I know though that there definitely never was a big Roman city so close to the Gaulish village, the only explanation for these ruins is therefore that these are the remains of the Mansion of the Gods:
Here is what the Mansion of the Gods looks like today:
I didn't find any good pictures without any people on it
Asterix is probably my first association with the Roman empire, and the first time I heard about the Roman Empire was probably while reading an Asterix comic. To make it short, I love these books and right from the beginning it was a certainty for me that I have to pay homage to them in this race. (I even thought about a whole route with an Asterix theme, however decided against it since too many books are set in the same region and because I think such a route only works if you are an Asterix fan. And since I don't know how many people know this comic series and if all the judges and participants like it I decided to only make one Asterix special.) I hope you liked it
About the route. It isn't completely flat but has some false flat sections, not one single real climb though. Therefore this TT will really favor pure TT'ers and will be a pure test of power, which will cause huge time gaps between the gc riders. There haven't been that many climbing days yet but the mountains will start soon enough and the climbers will definitely have to go all out there. Moreover (obvious Spoiler alert!!!) this isn't the last ITT of the race.
So finally after my short opening ITT, there is a 2nd one and this time it's by far longer. Like stage 12 this will be one of the most important days for the gc which will give allrounders another possibility to gain time and pure climbers another reason to attack later in the race, since they will probably have a very big disadvantage after this stage.
But the data of the day is actually not the most interesting aspect of this stage. This ITT is rather a homage to the Roman history, or rather the not Roman history. Let me explain.
The start of this stage is located in the Bretagne, so still in the northern part of France. The exact start location is beside a Roman thermae called "Hogolo" in todays town Locquirec. However what you won't find in any history books is that this thermae is actually FAKE.
I know it looks real, but thats absolutely impossible since the Romans never ever conquered this part of France. Now I hear you saying "But Gigs, France or as it was called back then, Gaul, was entirely occupied by the Romans"
Well, not entirely... One small village of indomitable Gauls still hold out against the invaders. And life was not easy for the Roman legionaries who garrisoned the fortified camps of Totorum, Aquarium, Laudanum and Compendium.
But let's return to the topic. Since this town has been described many times we even have good pictures of the Gaulish village.
Unfortunately all the buildings were mostly made of wood, so there are no real ruins of the town. The same counts for the 4 fortresses around the village, which were Aquarium, Totorum, Laudanum and Compendium. We don't know at all where the last 3 of these villages were located, but we can assume that the location of Aquarium is somewhere near to where todays city Morlaix is located. We can assume that because Morlaix is in the west of the small gaulish village and because there were Roman coins found in Morlaix which suggests that there was a Roman settlement at this location.
The riders ride through the town Huelgoat, where another Gaulish town was located, however in contrast to the small Gaulish village this town was occupied by the Romans. The finish of the ITT is in Vorgium (Carhaix-Plouguer). Once again people wrongly think this was a real Roman city, since there were ruins found in this area. As a big Asterix fan I know though that there definitely never was a big Roman city so close to the Gaulish village, the only explanation for these ruins is therefore that these are the remains of the Mansion of the Gods:
Here is what the Mansion of the Gods looks like today:
I didn't find any good pictures without any people on it
Asterix is probably my first association with the Roman empire, and the first time I heard about the Roman Empire was probably while reading an Asterix comic. To make it short, I love these books and right from the beginning it was a certainty for me that I have to pay homage to them in this race. (I even thought about a whole route with an Asterix theme, however decided against it since too many books are set in the same region and because I think such a route only works if you are an Asterix fan. And since I don't know how many people know this comic series and if all the judges and participants like it I decided to only make one Asterix special.) I hope you liked it
About the route. It isn't completely flat but has some false flat sections, not one single real climb though. Therefore this TT will really favor pure TT'ers and will be a pure test of power, which will cause huge time gaps between the gc riders. There haven't been that many climbing days yet but the mountains will start soon enough and the climbers will definitely have to go all out there. Moreover (obvious Spoiler alert!!!) this isn't the last ITT of the race.
- Feb 20, 2010
- 33,064
- 15,264
- 28,180
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