Race Design Thread

[Forever The Best]

Re: Re:

Strangely enough I can see bp92's stages till the TT and all of Olav's stages.
That Zapatero finish is similar to Vegarada-Riopinos, a false flat after a tough climb. I can also see your Güican stage which looks great.
@Mayo 230 km and a hilly stage is good but not sure if the final 2 climhs will bring action cause the stage looks pretty easy. But then again Contador exploded the race on Col de Manse in the 16th stage of TDF 2011 which looked like a very easy stage on paper for GC contenders.

Yes, it's not the hardest stage, but the fact that it's long and comes right after the 26.6km long ITT could change things up and frankly there aren't any climbs that you could use earlier on that stage.

Ah, since there is a state park and national park there are only a few usable roads, so yeah it is understandable that there aren't any climbs you can use beforehand. Also the altitude should be factor, with the stage being around 2000m all the time. The stage can be harder than expected.

Well, you could start the stage near Grand lake, climb the western side of Trail Ridge Road, then Rist Canyon Rd from South (the steep final 2km are still the same) the first time, then westwards on the Big Thompson Rd after the descent before the final Stove Prairie Rd-Rist Canyon Rd combination, but I already used the other side of Trail Ridge road in this version of my Tour of Colorado (and the western side in my first version), so I didn't want to do that.
The stage would feature over 3100m of altitude gain look like this:

That one is harder and I'd prefer that one but Trail Ridge Rd. would be overused then so I understand it. A great race though and diversity is what Tour of Colorado needs and you do it really well.
@mikii4567 Thanks a lot for the comments! Croce Arcana's descent needs some work but there are many possibilities for a brutal mountain stage in that area. Also, the 5th stage of your TDF looks good for stage hunters and may be harder than expected to control.

Giro d' Italia Stage 14 Varese-Santuario di Oropa 209,3 km Mountain
https://www.la-flamme-rouge.eu/maps/viewtrack/hd/120285
KOM SPRINTS:
Mottarone (1st Category, 1338 m, 19.8 Km at 5.8%, Km 70.3)
Passo della Colma (3rd Category, 923 m, 8.1 Km at 5.7%, Km 104.4)
Monte Tovo (1st Category, 1166 m, 7.6 Km at 10.2%, Km 125.9)
Alpe di Noveis (1st Category, 1101 m, 8.5 Km at 8.4%, Km 154.3)
Valico di Bielmonte (2nd Category, 1484 m, 18.3 Km at 5.5%, Km 182.2)
Galleria di Rosazza (1st Category, 1536 m, 7.9 Km at 8.5%, Km 203.7)

An extremely tough mountain stage. The intermediate sprints of the day are in Arona and Omegna.
Arona:

Omegna:

Mottarone: (the first kms may be on a different road)

Passo della Colma: (only the last 8k are categorized but all of this profile is ridden.)

Monte Tovo: (the last 1-1,3 km is missing)

Alpe di Noveis:

Valico di Bielmonte:

Galleria di Rosazza: (from the intersection with Bielmonte, only the last 7,9 km)

Varese:

Santuario di Oropa:

 

[May0maniac]

Wow, that's one hell of an Oropa stage.

 

[Forever The Best]

Re:

Wow, that's one hell of an Oropa stage.

Thanks a lot for the comment. And yes, another stage with 5500+m altitude gain.
The way that they used Oropa this year irritated me and Galleria di Rosazza was never used in Giro so I made a very tough stage ending downhill with Rosazza as the last climb.

 

[May0maniac]

Tour of Colorado stage 7: Fort Collins - Boulder; 156.5km

A closer look at the finishing circuit:

The final stage of my Tour of Colorado and it should be fun.
The stage starts in Fort Collins and the first 42km feature a lot of rolling terrain, after that we have the first short climb of the day, S Country Rd 31, 2km at 6.1%, nothing special, but still a decent warm-up.
The following descent is pretty easy and not very technical after that we have a lot of false flat/slightly rolling terrain and after 97km the ridiers will enter the finishing circuit in Boulder Colorado.
The riders will have to compete 4 laps and the main obstacle of the circuit is the climb up to Pine Brook Hill on the Linden Dr, 3.2km at 9.3% that the riders will have to climb 4 times (KOM points only at the first passage).
Yes, there's a short, steep climb really close to Boulder that is just perfect when you use it in a hard circuit, but of course we've never seen it in an actual race.
The following descent on Wagonwheel Gap Rd and Lee Hill Dr isn't bad either, it's more technical than the typical wide Colorado descent and it ends only 4.5km away from the finish line (those 4.5km are slightly downhill false flat), it's a perfect place to attack.
The stage finishes on Iris Ave near the Iris Field Baseball fields.
This should be a great stage, after a 26.6km long ITT and a +230km long hilly stage it's the 3rd consecutive hard stage (almost 2800m of altitude gain) and climbing Pine Brook Hill four times should shatter the field. If the pure climbers are so far behinfd the gc leader that they can't just attack on the last lap they can always send a teammate up on the road and attack on the penultimate lap, with a teammate pacing you on the false flat before the final ascent that shouldn't be a big problem.
We should get a great showdown in Boulder, a city that is known for having a large cycling community, they had great crowds when the USA Pro Challenge had a MTF on Flagstaff Road in 2012, that one was won by Rory Sutherland and a young Fabio Aru who rode his first stage race for Astana finished 2nd.
Boulder:

 

[mikii4567]

Re:

That's a great design for a medium mountain stage. Very tough!

Also, the 5th stage of your TDF looks good for stage hunters and may be harder than expected to control.

Thank you to both of you .

Tour de France
Stage 6: Villefranche-sur-Saone -> Romans-sur-Isère
169km

Flat stage

DISCLAIMER: This stage was initially created before this year's route's presentation, and then the original map sort of got a bit messed up. I'm not going on this year's TDF route, that would be pointless...

It's another flat(ish) stage that should end with a bunch sprint, I'm afraid. It may seem like my route is a bit backloaded, but I can assure you that [SPOILER ALERT] from now, things will get a bit more challenging, and the fast riders may start to winge.

Anyway, the peloton will leave from Villefranche-sur-Saone, where it finished racing on the previous day. From then, it's a ride south, through the outskirts of Lyon, and then some minor cat. 4s and 3s. Nothing that should be very decisive, but still, they're there. We're sticking in the Rhone valley for the majority of the day, and ending in Romans-sur-Isère, the rather large commune which neighbours Bourg-de-Pèage (located on the other side of the river). It's biggest pride seems to be a nuclear facility, and a rather historical church in the town centre.

Sprint number 3 it is then...

Start: Villefranche-sur-Saone, Boulevard Jean Jaurès
Finish: Romans-sur-Isère, Place Jean Jaurès
Intermediate sprints: Décines-Charpieu, Saint-Bonnet-de-Mure
Feed zone: Les Granges
Climbs:
Côte de Septème (4th Category, 356 m, 2.6 Km at 4.8%, Km 78.4)
Côte d'Ezyin-Pinet (3rd Category, 428 m, 2.8 Km at 6.0%, Km 89.8)
Côte de Monsteroux-Milieu (4th Category, 403 m, 1.8 Km at 7.0%, Km 98.6)
Côte de la Combe de Solin (4th Category, 419 m, 2.1 Km at 4.8%, Km 102.7)
Côte de Les Moillés (4th Category, 381 m, 2.1 Km at 4.5%, Km 135.5).

 

[bp92]

Re:

Strangely enough I can see bp92's stages till the TT and all of Olav's stages.
That Zapatero finish is similar to Vegarada-Riopinos, a false flat after a tough climb. I can also see your Güican stage which looks great.
@Mayo 230 km and a hilly stage is good but not sure if the final 2 climhs will bring action cause the stage looks pretty easy. But then again Contador exploded the race on Col de Manse in the 16th stage of TDF 2011 which looked like a very easy stage on paper for GC contenders.

That's reeeeally odd... all of them were updated to imgur all the same... (Zapatoca and Güicán were uploaded to imgur as well, and I can see everything just fine so it isn't a general thing...).

Working on some finishing rouches for the final stage right now.

 

[bp92]

Re:

Vuelta a Colombia Stage 21: Rionegro - Medellín, 147km

Climbs: Parque Arví (cat.3), Santa Elena (cat.4), Loma del Tesoro (cat.3, 5 passes)

This Vuelta ends with a circuit in Medellín's streets. It isn't a flat one, though. Riders start in Rionegro, to the east of the city, then climb up Parque Arví before taking the long descent down Santa Elena, a well-known cat.1 climb if taken from Medellín. After the descent, we take on five laps of a fairly hilly circuit, with the two-stepped climb to Loma del Tesoro; the gradient may seem mild, but the ascending parts both average over 7%, with the first section being slightly steeper than the second. If gaps between contenders are still small there's certainly a chance for an upset. The stage will probably go to a final breakaway, particularly of GC contenders agree to take it easy (plausible if gaps are already too large).

So yeah, that's it. Will make the library post later.

 

[Forever The Best]

Great final stage Mayo, should be great action there.

Giro d' Italia Stage 15 Aosta-Estoul 154 km
https://www.la-flamme-rouge.eu/maps/viewtrack/hd/120282

KOM SPRINTS:
Pila-Les Fleurs (2nd Category, 1411 m, 12.5 Km at 6.8%, Km 15.4)
Champremier (2nd Category, 1376 m, 12.8 Km at 6.6%, Km 51.0)
Colle di Saint-Pantaleon (1st Category, 1670 m, 16.3 Km at 7.3%, Km 80.2)
Colle Tzecore (1st Category, 1603 m, 16.6 Km at 7.4%, Km 128.1)
Colle di Joux (2nd Category, 1637 m, 7.0 Km at 6.8%, Km 141.4)
Estoul (2nd Category, 1834 m, 6.6 Km at 8.4%, Arrive)

An exremely tough stage with a 2C MTF at Estoul, a place never visited by Il Giro. The intermediate sprints of the day are in Saint-Vincent and Brusson. I expect the stage to explode on the final kilometers of Tzecore and then many riders attacking, getting dropped, riding away, some riders getting back after riding a great tempo and big gaps.
Saint-Vincent:

Brusson:

Pila-Les Fleurs: (till the intersection with Aosta, first 12,5 km)

Champremier: (till km 12,8)
http://www.salite.ch/11533.asp?Mappa=

Saint-Pantaleon:

Tzecore:

Joux: (from the intersection with Tzecore, the last 7 km)

Estoul: (from the intersection with Col de Joux)

Aosta:

Estoul:

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Looks like something I can approve of, a good collection of great Valdôtain climbs. The only shame is that from that direction it has to be the easier side of Champremier. Estoul is a great finish, however my ideal finish around there would be to descend fully from Tze Core on the SR7 to then climb all of Joux west, before probably a short downhill to finish in Brusson, probably for reasons of space (among others) finishing at the biathlon stadium (oops, Nordic Series spoiler)

 

[Forever The Best]

Re:

Looks like something I can approve of, a good collection of great Valdôtain climbs. The only shame is that from that direction it has to be the easier side of Champremier. Estoul is a great finish, however my ideal finish around there would be to descend fully from Tze Core on the SR7 to then climb all of Joux west, before probably a short downhill to finish in Brusson, probably for reasons of space (among others) finishing at the biathlon stadium (oops, Nordic Series spoiler)

Thanks a lot for the comment! The reason why I only took the last 7 kms of Joux was to provoke action on Tzecore and I forgot to say one thing, the finish on Estoul is the last uphill finish of the race. And it has a great name and can afford a finish so why not finish on Estoul.
Also it is extremely hard to find a profile for the easier side of Champremier.
There are many opportunities with Aosta valley and I am looking forward to your work about Brusson.

 

[anonymous_1]

You could also replace Champremier with the climb to Hers (from Nus), to avoid descending the hard side of Champremier. It's this profile until about 1000 m altitude, but going a bit higher (probably no profile for that part). It's 9,9 km @ 7,1%, with a false flat section in it, so it's a pretty hard climb.

 

[Forever The Best]

Re:

You could also replace Champremier with the climb to Hers (from Nus), to avoid descending the hard side of Champremier. It's this profile until about 1000 m altitude, but going a bit higher (probably no profile for that part). It's 9,9 km @ 7,1%, with a false flat section in it, so it's a pretty hard climb.

Seems like a tough climb, that one. And the road condition is very good. If the Champremier descent is a problem the B plan should be that climb. Also there are many roads and climbs in the Aosta valley and when I decided to not climb Saint-Barthelemy fully that part of Aosta completely went over my head. :lol:

Giro d' Italia Stage 16 Treviso-Tolmezzo 205.1 km
https://www.la-flamme-rouge.eu/maps/viewtrack/hd/120071

KOM SPRINTS:
Pradis di Sopra (3rd Category, 716 m, 8.3 Km at 5.8%, Km 110.2)
Sella Chianzutan (2nd Category, 960 m, 11.6 Km at 5.2%, Km 134.4)
Avaglio (3rd Category, 728 m, 5.5 Km at 6.4%, Km 160.9)
Ravascletto (3rd Category, 955 m, 7.8 Km at 5.5%, Km 182.1)

Sella Chainzutan:

Ravascletto:

Couldn't find any profiles for Pradis di Sopra and Avaglio but they are not very dificult climbs. A stage for the breakaway, this one.

 

[May0maniac]

I've designed a Giro queenstage that is pretty similar to the queenstage of the 2009 Giro, but takes place in Calabria.
It doesn't fit into any of the Giro route that I've designed, so I'll just post the single stage.
It would probably take place on saturday durning the 2nd week or after the 2nd restday.
Ardore Marina - Aspromonte Gambarie; 233.2km

The climbs:
San Nicola: 6.1km at 5%
Portella d'Orgaro: 8.2km at 8.2%
Tomba Rupestre Judario: 3.5km at 5.9%
Palizzi: 7.1km at 6.6%
Roccaforte del Greco: 9.2km at 10.3% (It's not all the way up to Roccaforte del Greco, just until we hit the crossroads to Sella Entrata)
Sella Entrata: 20km at 5% (not counting the false flat on top of the climb)
Orti: 4.9km at 10%, if you add the false flat that you have on top of the climb it's the first 12.6km of this climb.

After the descent we have 4km of false flat, then the final climb of the day starts.
Aspromonte Gambarie: 10.4km at 7.1%
Gambarie is a small town and the oldest ski station in southern Italy, founded in 1954.
Overall the stage would feature around 6,160m of altitude gain, that would be crazy hard, maybe a little bit over the top.
he next stage would be a 165km long hilly/medium mountain stage with a descent finish into Lamezia Terme after a Murito.

 

[mikii4567]

Re: Re:

Apologies for the delay, AS-Level exams have held me up.

Tour de France
Stage 7: Anneyron -> La Ruchère-en-Chartreuse
228km

Mountain stage

The first mountain stage, and it's up and down for 228 kilometres, with some painful gradients. Although things should only be interesting in the second half, it should, nonetheless, have an open field that is split with about 100 kms to go, and consequently feature an interesting battle for high places.

The start is in the little commune of Anneyron, with the peloton heading north-east, towards the southern Jura. The first real difficulty of the day will be the Col du Mont Tournier (9,4 km; 6%, cat. 2), which will only be an introduction though. It will be followed by the Col du Chat (4,6 km; 6,8%; cat. 2), leading onto the main challenge.

It's the mighty Mont du Chat, climbed from Le Bourget-du-Lac. No words can really describe this climb; it's red and black all the way, for over 13 kilometres (9,2%), and being located about half way through the stage, it should perfectly break the bunch. It won't be too selective, given that it's far from the line, but can really show someone's form.

After a descent, the riders then face the Col de l'Epine (5,3 km; 7,2%, cat. 2), before continuing to head downwards, into Chambéry. Afterwards it's yet another difficult ascent, the Col du Granier. 10,3 kilometres at 7,2% could see some long range attacks, possibly from the GC contenders. Neither of the stages either side of this one are two important, so today gives them an ideal chance to shine.

From then, there are two more climbs to go, the Col de la Cluse (5,2 Km; 6.6%, cat. 4) and the Col des Égaux (1.9 km; 6.1%, cat. 4). Neither of them is too challenging, but still, given what they follow, anything could really happen. After a descent into Les Échelles, the final challenge starts - La Ruchère-en-Chartreuse, our first true MTF. 10.3 kms at 7.4% should really be the highlight of the day, see GC attacks as those who didn't cope with earlier difficulties lose even more, and let the star climbers build up their lead. Used only once by Le Tour, in 1984 for an MTT, it should encourage more open racing, because (assuming that the Dauphiné doesn't use it [wait, if I was in charge of the Tour, I'd be in charge of the Dauphiné... it won't use it]) it's novelty should discourage waiting.

In a nutshell, no really long and dragging climbs, but shorter and steeper ascents, to invite attacks on the first day in the mountains. Sorry for putting this on a Friday, but... it works best here.

Start: Annyeron, Place Rambaud
Finish: La Ruchère-en-Chartreuse, Route de la Ruchère
Intermediate sprints: La Côte-Saint-André, Chambéry
Feed zone: Charpignan
Climbs:
Côte de La Côte-Saint-André (4th Category, 499 m, 2.6 Km at 5.6%, Km 32.5)
Côte de Montrevel (4th Category, 604 m, 2.6 Km at 5.5%, Km 51.7)
Col du Mont Tournier (2nd Category, 822 m, 9.4 Km at 6.0%, Km 89.1)
Col du Chat (2nd Category, 638 m, 4.6 Km at 6.8%, Km 108.8)
Mont du Chat (Hors Catégorie, 1504 m, 13.7 Km at 9.2%, Km 132.5)
Col de l'Épine (2nd Category, 987 m, 5.3 Km at 7.2%, Km 154.1)
Col du Granier (1st Category, 1134 m, 10.3 Km at 7.2%, Km 184.3)
Col de la Cluse (2nd Category, 1169 m, 5.2 Km at 6.6%, Km 194.4)
Col des Égaux (4th Category, 958 m, 1.9 Km at 6.1%, Km 203.2)
La Ruchère-en-Chartreuse (1st Category, 1165 m, 10.3 Km at 7.4%, Arrive).

 

[Red Rick]

Honestly think that stage would be so much better without the MTF.

 

[Forever The Best]

Brutal stages from Mayo and miki.

My stage isn't brutal though, but it should have some gaps.
Giro d' Italia Stage 17 Tolmezzo-Maniago 146,9km Mountain
https://www.la-flamme-rouge.eu/maps/viewtrack/hd/120064

KOM SPRINTS:
Forcella di Priuso (4th Category, 649 m, 2.9 Km at 6.8%, Km 21.3)
Forcella di Monte Rest (2nd Category, 1082 m, 7.9 Km at 7.2%, Km 32.8)
Piancavallo (1st Category, 1296 m, 14.5 Km at 7.9%, Km 104.1)
Forcella Pala Barzana (2nd Category, 836 m, 6.2 Km at 7.0%, Km 129.4)

The intermediate sprints of the day are in Tramonti di Sopra and Maniago, the latter is also the finish of the stage more than 85 kms later.
Tramonti di Sopra:

Forcella di Priuso+Forcella di Monte Rest:

Piancavallo:

Forcella di Pala Barzana:

Tolmezzo:

Maniago:

 

[Red Rick]

Ok, I'm not really dedicated enough to make a full GT in one go, so I though I'd drop this. Roads do need work probably, but there's loads and loads of options. Easy side of the Rosael is probably better to design stages with. Can precede it with hard side of the Madeleine, etc, follow up with Galibier, or Mont-Cenis-Finestre.

Hard side is basically #murderkilldeath followed by 40km of descent

https://www.la-flamme-rouge.eu/maps/maps/edit/125497

 

[Netserk]

Tsk, tsk, tsk... You went through the Galibier tunnel, and you opt for a downhill/flat finish in Briancon?!

Not to mention that you need to change your link to this (https://www.la-flamme-rouge.eu/maps/viewtrack/hd/125497), if you want others to view your route

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Tsk, tsk, tsk... You went through the Galibier tunnel, and you opt for a downhill/flat finish in Briancon?!

Not to mention that you need to change your link to this (https://www.la-flamme-rouge.eu/maps/viewtrack/hd/125497), if you want others to view your route

Probably my laziest attempt at any task this month. Had idea, clicked about 5 buttons on the map, that was it.

If you really have extreme hatred for the riders you descend the Lauteret the other way and send them up the Col de Jandri

 

[mikii4567]

Re: Re:

I used La Ruchère, simply because the other two Alpine stages are descent finishes, so I didn't want to have a visit to this area without an MTF. I did actually think about using
[edit ]: Les Échelles for a finish at first.

Tour de France
Stage 8: Grenoble -> Jausiers
200km

Mountain stage

Okay, first of all, some apologies. I know that this is a really lame stage, it will go to a breakaway and that I am an idiot for including it, particularly given that I'm in the Alps, but I have my excuses. First of all, the previous stage was difficult and meant to be GC related, and the same thing goes for the next stage. Therefore, I wanted to separate them with something easier, so that GC contenders would be encouraged to attack on both days. Also, I needed to get to the Alpes-Maritimes for the next stage, and so I needed to go through this territory.

Anyway, the start Is in Grenoble, from where the riders will head east, hitting the Col de Venon immediately after km0. This will increase the chances of the breakaway only including good climbers and consequently ensuring that it will be such a rider who will fight for glory on the day. From then, the ride east continues onto the climb despised by cycling fans - the Lautaret. It's not steep in the slightest (3,8%), but, being over 35 kilometres long, it is dragging. A descent leads into Briançon, for the first intermediate sprint.

The road is further downhill as the riders approach Guillestre, where the second sprint will be held, and also where the next climb will start - the Col du Vars. It's 19.5 Km at 5.8%, so not too steep, but remember that that includes the awkward false-flat part way through. Here, the breakaway riders should try and drop one another, so that a smaller group begins the descent and then enters Jausiers, for the stage finish.

In theory, we should get something like the Urdax stage from last year's Vuelta - a fight for glory, and then the peloton rolling in a loooooooong time afterwards. Sorry again, but I didn't really have a choice.

Start: Grenoble, Boulevard Jean Pain
Finish: Jausiers, Le Chef Lieu
Intermediate sprints: Briançon, Guillestre
Feed zone: Col du Lautaret
Climbs:
Col de Venon (2nd Category, 722 m, 6.8 Km at 7.2%, Km 8.7)
Col du Lautaret (1st Category, 2058 m, 35.0 Km at 3.8%, Km 97.6)
Côte de Queyrières (4th Category, 1226 m, 1.6 Km at 5.5%, Km 134.8)
Col de Vars (1st Category, 2108 m, 19.5 Km at 5.8%, Km 177.9).

 

[Netserk]

For the time, it's one of my favorite mapping areas. Typically with the start in either Grenoble or Le Bourg-d'Oisans and the finish in either SuperDévoluy, Orcières-Merlette, Gap, Chorges, or Embrun.

I know this is too tough for what you have in mind, but I really like a stage like this, especially the last 70km, which I have used in a couple of designs, though often from the east and with Saint-Apollinaire just before it. I do think however that if a stage like that is to be done, it is best with a flat stage or restday after it, so it is the conclusion of the Alpes.

BTW does anyone know the name of the climb just south of Crots?

 

[railxmig]

Re:

For the time, it's one of my favorite mapping areas. Typically with the start in either Grenoble or Le Bourg-d'Oisans and the finish in either SuperDévoluy, Orcières-Merlette, Gap, Chorges, or Embrun.

I know this is too tough for what you have in mind, but I really like a stage like this, especially the last 70km, which I have used in a couple of designs, though often from the east and with Saint-Apollinaire just before it. I do think however that if a stage like that is to be done, it is best with a flat stage or restday after it, so it is the conclusion of the Alpes.

BTW does anyone know the name of the climb just south of Crots?

In my early days od designing (circa 2012-2013) i've had a smilar idea, but i finished in Les Orres, either 1650 or 1800, i don't remember. From west you can try for something like that: https://www.la-flamme-rouge.eu/maps/viewtrack/hd/125986. These hills around Lac de Serre-Ponçon are a good playground for a hilly/medium mountain stage. If taken from the other side then they can made for an interesting finish to a mountain stage including Galibier and/or Izoard or Vars or even Agnel.

The only name i could find for this hill south of Crots is La Montagne de St. Jean de Crots. It seems to be asphalted, but the road is kinda dreadful. If these profiles below are correct then it seems the west side (D568) is tougher than it's west counterpart (D90).

West side from Montmirail via D568.

East side from Crots via D90.

 

[mikii4567]

Re: Re:

Ugh, life is still holding me up... I do apologise .

Tour de France
Stage 9: Barcelonette -> Sospel
157km

Mountain stage

Hopefully you will all accept this as compensation for stage 8 - a thriller stage through the Alpes-Maritimes, a territory that ASO just brutally wastes. This stage should be very relevant GC-wise, and coming up after two consecutive 200km+ mountain stages, it should encourage riders to be dropped pretty quickly, especially given that km0 effectively is where the first climb starts. Its length, meanwhile, should encourage attacks from reasonably far out - I'm not an opponent of short stages, today's Dauphiné showed that they can work, but only if places well.

Anyway, the start is in Barcelonette, from where the riders will go east, to Jausiers, where the first climb starts - the Col de la Bonnette. Painful and dragging over its 21 kilometres, it should split the peloton pretty quickly, and - hopefully - give us, once again, a very skilled breakaway. It will also give the Souvenir Henri Desgrange, for the highest climb in the Alps (and in this case the Tour), so this should hopefully encourage people to fight at the KOM sprint.

A veeeeeeery long descent leads the riders to the feed zone (the Bonette LITERALLY takes up half of the profile), where the second challenge starts - Col Saint-Martin. It's an ideal climb for the middle of a stage, not too demanding but not too easy either, to just give the competitors another challenge that they could potentially use to their advantage. Maybe, given the length of the whole stage, we'd see long range attacks here. Col Saint-Martin has only been used once by Le Tour, during that 1975 stage to Pra-Loup, where Merckx was dropped, though then it was climbed from the other side, which also hosted this year's Paris-Nice's stage 6, won by Richie Porte.

And then it's the final test, and a debuting HC climb - the Col de Turini. Known to rally fans, as it hosts a Monte Carlo rally super stage yearly, it has only been used thrice in Le Tour - in 1948, 1950 and 1973, when the category didn't exist. This time, we're climbing it from Le Puey, for a 7,2% average over 15,3kms. Challenging, steep at points (it hits 18,9% about halfway in), it should completely split the GC contenders and show everyone who really wants a victory in the race, and who really is in form. A descent brings the riders into Sospel, for the finish.

Technically, Turini could host an MTF, but I favoured a descent finish in this case, so not to backload the stage tooooo much. I know that that could close up the gaps a bit, but would still create quite and interesting stage (hopefully).

Start: Barcelonette, Avenue de la Libération
Finish: Sospel, Boulevard de Verdun
Intermediate sprints: Isola, Saint-Martin-Vésubie
Feed zone: Saint-Martin-Vésubie
Climbs:
Col de la Bonette (Hors Catégorie - Souvenir Henri Desgrange, 2694 m, 2.3 Km at 4.7%, Km 21.2)
Col Saint-Martin (1st Category, 1484 m, 16.6 Km at 6.0%, Km 96.6)
Col de Turini (Hors Catégorie, 1604 m, 15.2 Km at 7.2%, Km 132.1)

Oh, and disclaimer: I'm a fan of the system where the Souvenir HD goes to the highest climb in the Alps, and the Souvenir JG goes to the highest climb in the Pyrenees, like in 2012. So I'm doing it here, too.

Also, quick statement: at first, this stage was meant to start in Isola, and go Couillole -> Sinne -> Saint-Martin -> Turini, but then I saw the tarmac quality on Sinne and wasn't really left with a choice but to exclude it, in line with the fact that I'm being realistic (if I was Zomegan, I'd do it, but I'm not ).

 

[Netserk]

Would need resurfacing, agreed (https://www.google.com/maps/@44.0268559,7.078487,3a,66.8y,241h,79.68t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s1mWnH1iUIHLLELDxin1oyw!2e0), but they are also (partly) resurfacing the descent from Chat, so I guess they could do the same for Sinne (then again, I'm forever the optimist when it comes to what's possible). Anyways, what's truly marvelous is the descent from Turini <'3

All in all, very nice weekend, did I mention how much I hope we'll see Turini raced, sooner rather than later?

 

[mikii4567]

See, I'm a born pessimist, which probably explains things also, Turini is just sooooo wasted, it's a perfect HC waiting untouched for almost 40 years.