• The Cycling News forum is still looking to add volunteer moderators with. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to @SHaines here on the forum, or use the Contact Us form to message the Community Team.

    In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.

    Thanks!

Race Design Thread

Page 137 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
I am a big fan of one day races and I would love to see a one day race in the mountains. I designed many stages which would probably be too difficult for a stage race, but which would work pretty well if the race would only take place on one day. So I just want to know what you guys think about this course:
Morzine-Tignes (242 km)
NCkGeOvl.png

3D15Q1dl.png

The race would start in Morzine. The first pass comes almost directly after the start and is called "col de joux verte". This pass is not that famous and as far as i know also has only been used once in the tour de france and that was in combination with a mtf in avoriaz, a town only a few kilometers away of the pass. So the pass has never really been used. The second climb is much more famous. It is the col de joux plane which has been used numerous times in the tour although in this route it is used from the easier north side. After a short flat section the col di romme-col de la colombiere combination starts. A combination of two steep passes which was used in the tour de france 2009 in a stage that finished in Le grand bornand. This course won't do so, it will pass le grand bornand but directly after the town the next climb to the "Col des Aravis" will start (probably the easiest climb of the day). After that the climbs won't stop. The route stays brutal with the Col des Saisies and the Cormet de Roselend, the highest pass of the route. This climb isn't only famous, it was also part of a tour de france stage 2007 which had the same finish like this course. So the race will finish with the Montee d Hauteville and the mtf in tinges. Both of these climbs aren't that difficult but I think that wouldn't make the race worse. Maybe that would even lead to attacks far out the finish.
So my general question is what you think about such races? Do you think something like that would be boring? Do you think it could be extremely exciting? Maybe you even say that this stage isn't too difficult for a stage race. Whatever you think about it just post it.
 
Jun 30, 2014
7,060
2
0
Giro d' Italia

Stage 5 Reggio di Calabria - Lamezia Terme; 166,9km
7vzyipmgvzxy.png

jowa23w77wtj.png

After the first MTF we have an easier stage that should go to the more versatile sprinters or to a late attacker.
Today we have 2 categorized climbs and a very gentle uncategorised climb between them.
The first climb from Bagna Calabra to Barritteri is 8km at 5,2%, the uncategorised climb is 7,4km at 3,6% and the final climb of the day consists of 2 parts, the first one is 6,9km at 5,3%, then you have 1,5km of false flat and the 2nd climb is 3,6km at 4,2%. The climb ends with 10km to go and the real descent is 5km long, the final 5km are more of a false flat.
Someone could try to attack on the final climb or on the descent, but this one should go to the sprinters that can climb a little bit. A large part of the stage runs near the coast, so wind could be a factor.
 
Jun 30, 2014
7,060
2
0
Stage 6 Cetrano - Agropoli; 208km
The final 199,6km:
dry7z4jh84y2.png

czalmtakvngh.png

Another hilly stage.
The first 84km are flat, then we have a short uncategorized climb 3,3km at 6,2%, followed by another climb, 5km at 5,6%. Then we have another uncategorized climb 1,9km at 6,2%, followeb by a longer and more gentle climb, 7,4km at 4,3%.
After 16 rolling km the next climb starts, 3,1km at 6,4% and after 2,9km of false flat we have 1,75km at 5%.
Only 3,4km later the hardest climb of the day starts, Croce di Pruno, 7,3km at 7% with 800m at over 12%.
On the top of the climb we have 3km of false flat, then the descent starts.
Right after the descent the next climb starts, 6,1km at 6,4%. Then we have 25km of false flat and descents before the final climb of the day to Cicerale starts, 6,3km at 6,6%, but the 2nd part of the climb is way steeper and constantly above 8%. The climb ends with 14km to go, followed by a 4km long gentle descent, 4km of false flat and the final steeper descent that ends with 2km to go.
This one should go the the breakaway, I don't think that the gc-favourites will bother to chase, we could see some attacks, especially if we have bad weather but the stage win should go to the breakaway.
Agropoli:
agropoli-promontorio-foto-mazzafoto.jpg
 
Jul 2, 2012
343
0
0
Capdepera - Palma de Mallorca (177km)
We continue to island hop our way our way to the main land with a flat stage covering most of Mallorca except the northern Hills (we tackle those in the next one). On the way there really are no significant difficulties, so the only focal points are the intermediate sprints at Manacor and Inca. The run-in into Palma de Mallorca is pretty straightforward, so this is one for the fast men.
route02_1.png

profile02_2.png
 
Jul 2, 2012
343
0
0
Soller - Puig Major (108km)
In this short, but intense stage in the hills/mountains of Mallorca, we have a pretty linear progession of climbs. The climb to Can Costa early in the stage is rather easy (5.8km@4.5%, vat4), but the second climb of Font de sa Canelata is a little more interesting already (7.5km@5.3%, cat3) (the intermediate at Bunyola is on this climb). The final double of climbs ramps up the difficulty once more, the climb to Escorca is pretty long, but flatter (10.7km@4.8%, cat2), whereas the Puig major MTF is very steep with gradients of above 10% on the last 3km (7.8km@7.3%, cat1). Since this is a short stage, the riders should hopefully have lots of attacks in their legs here.
route03_1.png

profile03_2.png
 
Jun 30, 2014
7,060
2
0
Stage 7 Agropoli - Giffoni Valle Piana; 156,5km
rdhjs6bovdxi.png

df68sqlc6ry4.png

After a tricky hilly stage and right before ending the first week with 2 harder stages the sprinters get another chance, but they will have to work a little bit for it.
Only 2 categorised climbs, the first one is Timpone dei Rossi, 6,2km at 7,5%, the 2nd one is the climb to Senerchia, 6,2km at 6,2%.
Shortly before Timpone dei Rossi we have an uncategorised one, 3,3km at 4,5%.
The other uncategorised climbs are more of a false flat, they all have an average gradient under 4%, the final one of those is 4,4km at 3,4% and ends with 5km to go.
This should be a stage for the sprinters, maybe a harder final climb or a technical final descent would be nice, they'd give a late attacker a good chance, but you can't have everything and I think it's still ok to have something like this as a transitional stage.
Giffoni Valle Piana:
GIFFONI-VALLE-PIANA.jpg
 
Jun 30, 2014
7,060
2
0
Stage 8 Montecorvino Rovella – Amalfi; 188,8km
1hnn9hbupupo.png

52kkzkbyyntz.png

The stage starts with a climb right at the beginning, 9km at 5,2%, but the first km is at 9,2%, so the start of the stage could be pretty chaotic. After a short descent we have an uncategorised climb, 5km at 4,1%, then 16km of false flat before the next climb starts, 7,2km at 7,2%.
On top of the climb we have 8km that are more of a false flat, then a gentle 14,5km long descent starts. The next 23km are rolling,then the next climb starts, 6,7km at 4,8%. The following descent isn't too hard and the following 18km are slightly rolling and alongside the stunning Amalfi Coast.
The following climb is 10,4km at 5,8% and the first part of the descent is pretty technical.
After 8km of false flat the final climb of the day starts, 13km at 4,6%, but the final descent features a few very technical parts, the final 2km are pretty straightforward and will bring the riders to the stunning city Amalfi.
This should be a stage for the breakaway, but it could be pretty chaotic. With a hard ITT on the next day we won't see too many attacks from the gc-riders, but a good descender could really get a decent gap on the final descent.
 
After a longish break, i'm back in the Netherlands.

Ronde van Nederland Stage 4b (TT) Utrecht - Utrecht (13.5km)

Az3jjv1.png


OgwieLK.png


Climbs:
None

Primes:
None

Combined Competion:
Climbs and Primes combined with bonus seconds at primes and the finish. (Bonus seconds for the GC and CC will be handed out at the Intermediate Split.

The Intermediate Split.
At 7km in the stage.


The second part of stage four means a 60km hop from Apeldoorn to Utrecht for a TT. In my parallel universe, this would be the first edition that would take place in 2012, as a test event for the Tour bid in 2015 (Which they subsequently got). For more information on the route go to this page on Velowire further down that page. But for information on the route here is a quote from velowire:

From Velowire
This first stage will have a completely flat race route from the start ramp in front of the Jaarbeurs Utrecht, in the Overste den Oudenlaan. On the roundabout (taken on the outside in order to keep the other side of the road free for the riders going to the finish) the riders will turn left on the Koningin Wilhelminalaan / Balijelaan. On the Vondellaan they turn right to cross the canal and get on the Briljantlaan. They'll again turn right via the Venuslaan and Rubenslaan towards Herculeslaan where they'll pass in front of the Galgenwaard stadium, of FC Utrecht.

Via the Weg tot de Wetenschap (Road to Science) they'll go towards the Utrecht Science Park and turn back west via the Archimedeslaan. After a left-right-left they'll go via the Pythagoraslaan, Waterlinieweg and Biltstraat back to the canal via the Kruisstraat to follow the Maliesingel. The riders will probably not have the time to see it but they'll come close to the Maliebaan which is more or less the very first cycling lane in The Netherlands since the footpath was opened to cyclists on Sundays right from September 1885!

The riders will continue to follow the canals to get back on the Vondellaan and they'll then go in the opposite direction on the Balijelaan and Koningin Wilhelminalaan back to the roundabout they'll this time take on the other side to turn right on the Doctor M.A. Teilegenlaan / Van Zijstweg. A last left turn brings them on the Croeselaan where the finish line will be drawn close to the Utrecht Central Station!

Start:
jaarbeurs-standbouw_1.jpg


Finish:
01.-Huidige-station.jpg
 
Ronde van Nederland Stage 5 Nijmengen - Arnhem (154.1km)

PmEuNTs.png


MxgqdlW.png


Climbs:
Grebbeberg
Wageningscheberg
Boersberg
Seelbeckweg (last part)
Hemelscheberg
Het Dorp
Menthenberg
*Hullekesberg
*Zijpenberg
*Kluizenaarsweg
*Paasberg
*Monnikensteeg


*Climbs climbed twice (two loops of a circuit)

Primes:
Elst
Kesteren
Wageningen
Arnhem (first passage of the finish)
Arnhem (second passage of the finish)

Combined Competion:
Climbs and Primes combined with bonus seconds at primes and the finish.

Today we have a hard stage. The stage is something like the Amstel Gold Race (Although a stage willl take place there later on). However, we are in the Gelderland region of the Netherlands today for stage five. What lined up for the riders is a flat opener where the first two primes at Elst and Kesteren and where the break will be let to escape up the road. Then after skirting Rhenen we hit the first climb. This is the Grebbeberg. Then the Wageningscheberg is ridden over. This is followed by the Boersberg, the last part of the Seelbeckweg and the Hemelscheberg. In the middle of those the third prime is at Wageningen. After that and those climbs their are the climbs of the Het Dorp and the Menthenberg. A descent to the finish line follows, where the fourth and fifth prime are (the Velperplein). It is also where the to local loops start and finish. The riders will do this twice. After a bit of flat, they ride up the Hullekesberg then the Zijpenberg. These are followed by the Kluizenaarsweg, the Paasberg and the Monnikensteeg. A descent to the finish in The centre of Arnhem by the Musis Sacrum on the Veplerplein will lead to a second lap of of the local loop.

Start:
img_nijmegen.jpg


Finish:
41_Arnhem.jpg


This stage was made from inspiration of another race created in the same area.
 
I'm back for even more routes in the Netherlands:

Ronde van Nederland Stage 6 s-Hertogenbosch - Eindhoven (170.6km)

lqKaIj3.png


0nucbI2.png


Climbs:
None

Primes:
Oss
Gemert
Deurne
Valkenswaard
Oost en Middelbeers

Combined Competion:
Climbs and Primes combined with bonus seconds at primes and the finish.

Stage 6 is completely different to stage 5. Yesterday was the hilliest day so far, but today's is probably the flatest and will be the most boring. There's nothing much to say about the stage, but here we go! We start in s-hertogenbosch and head out to Oss for the first prime. The second is at Gemert which is home to a motocross national series round. The third is at Deurne. The fourth is at Valkenswaard which also has a motocross and rallycross circuit. The fifth is at Oost en Middelbeers. Then we finish in Eindhoven.

Start:
4town3.jpg


Finish
images
 
Jun 30, 2014
7,060
2
0
Stage 9 Torre Annunziata - Maiori ITT, 68,6km
Maybe this one is a little bit over the top, but i like it. :D
aj5sv96dh8w5.png

zn8xpoh25ka.png

The first week of my Giro ends with a bang, an over 68km long really hard TT that wa obviously inspired by the 2009 TT that was won by Menchov.
The UCI would have to approve such a long TT, but that shouldn't be a problem for RCS.
The stage starts in Torre Annunziata and after 6,4km the first climb starts, it's the same climb that was the last climb yesterday, 13km at 4,6% with a descent that features a few very technical parts.
After the descent there are 2km of false flat, then 2nd climb starts, Colle San Pietro, the climb looks harder on the profile, but it's 9,6km at 5,8%.
Then we have 7 rolling km on top of the climb before the descent starts, it's not too technical.
We should see huge gaps between the favourites, the climbs are very regular and real power climbs, so the pure climbers will loose a big amout of time. Being a great descender is of course another thing that will really help you in an ITT like this.
Maiori:
1156783881.jpg
 
Sep 28, 2014
96
0
3,680
lemon cheese cake said:
Ronde van Nederland Stage 5 Nijmengen - Arnhem (154.1km)

PmEuNTs.png


MxgqdlW.png


Climbs:
Grebbeberg
Wageningscheberg
Boersberg
Seelbeckweg (last part)
Hemelscheberg
Het Dorp
Menthenberg
*Hullekesberg
*Zijpenberg
*Kluizenaarsweg
*Paasberg
*Monnikensteeg


*Climbs climbed twice (two loops of a circuit)

Primes:
Elst
Kesteren
Wageningen
Arnhem (first passage of the finish)
Arnhem (second passage of the finish)

Combined Competion:
Climbs and Primes combined with bonus seconds at primes and the finish.

Today we have a hard stage. The stage is something like the Amstel Gold Race (Although a stage willl take place there later on). However, we are in the Gelderland region of the Netherlands today for stage five. What lined up for the riders is a flat opener where the first two primes at Elst and Kesteren and where the break will be let to escape up the road. Then after skirting Rhenen we hit the first climb. This is the Grebbeberg. Then the Wageningscheberg is ridden over. This is followed by the Boersberg, the last part of the Seelbeckweg and the Hemelscheberg. In the middle of those the third prime is at Wageningen. After that and those climbs their are the climbs of the Het Dorp and the Menthenberg. A descent to the finish line follows, where the fourth and fifth prime are (the Velperplein). It is also where the to local loops start and finish. The riders will do this twice. After a bit of flat, they ride up the Hullekesberg then the Zijpenberg. These are followed by the Kluizenaarsweg, the Paasberg and the Monnikensteeg. A descent to the finish in The centre of Arnhem by the Musis Sacrum on the Veplerplein will lead to a second lap of of the local loop.

Start:
img_nijmegen.jpg


Finish:
41_Arnhem.jpg


This stage was made from inspiration of another race created in the same area.

Hey, I regognize that finale :)
 
LPP68! said:
lemon cheese cake said:
Ronde van Nederland Stage 5 Nijmengen - Arnhem (154.1km)

PmEuNTs.png


MxgqdlW.png


Climbs:
Grebbeberg
Wageningscheberg
Boersberg
Seelbeckweg (last part)
Hemelscheberg
Het Dorp
Menthenberg
*Hullekesberg
*Zijpenberg
*Kluizenaarsweg
*Paasberg
*Monnikensteeg


*Climbs climbed twice (two loops of a circuit)

Primes:
Elst
Kesteren
Wageningen
Arnhem (first passage of the finish)
Arnhem (second passage of the finish)

Combined Competion:
Climbs and Primes combined with bonus seconds at primes and the finish.

Today we have a hard stage. The stage is something like the Amstel Gold Race (Although a stage willl take place there later on). However, we are in the Gelderland region of the Netherlands today for stage five. What lined up for the riders is a flat opener where the first two primes at Elst and Kesteren and where the break will be let to escape up the road. Then after skirting Rhenen we hit the first climb. This is the Grebbeberg. Then the Wageningscheberg is ridden over. This is followed by the Boersberg, the last part of the Seelbeckweg and the Hemelscheberg. In the middle of those the third prime is at Wageningen. After that and those climbs their are the climbs of the Het Dorp and the Menthenberg. A descent to the finish line follows, where the fourth and fifth prime are (the Velperplein). It is also where the to local loops start and finish. The riders will do this twice. After a bit of flat, they ride up the Hullekesberg then the Zijpenberg. These are followed by the Kluizenaarsweg, the Paasberg and the Monnikensteeg. A descent to the finish in The centre of Arnhem by the Musis Sacrum on the Veplerplein will lead to a second lap of of the local loop.

Start:
img_nijmegen.jpg


Finish:
41_Arnhem.jpg


This stage was made from inspiration of another race created in the same area.

Hey, I regognize that finale :)
Thats what I mean when I said it gave me inspiration. :) I liked it so borrowed it without asking. Sorry if you take any offense that I used it with asking. :b
 
I'm thinking of designing a new race. Perhaps a Tour de Suisse. The routes there are often rather disappointing considering the potential of the Swiss mountains.

And also some fictional one day races. If there is one thing I miss on the race calendar, it's more interesting hilly classics in the fall. Any suggestions on where? I'm thinking perhaps Italy or Switzerland.
 
tour de slovenie stage 1: Piran-Koper ITT (21 km)
After I posted my Österreich Rundfahrt I wanted to make a stage race in italy but because at the moment everyone is doing that, I wanted to prevent confusion and so now I post a Tour de slovenie. First of all, the tour de slovenie normally has only 4 stages but I think thats not enough for this country because it offers so many opportunities for interesting stages. My first stage is an ITT from Piran to Koper. Piran is in the very west of slovenia and both towns are located at the coast. The course itself doesn't have big difficulties, only some bumps in the first half, but the race could be affected by the wind.
IE7Nchp.png

5iyWBVo.png

Piran:
qX89ztzl.jpg

Koper:
0nW9VSVl.jpg