Race Design Thread

[Bavarianrider]

Stage 3

Stralsund-Lübeck 237km

Another long day of racing in the North of Germany. It's again an all flat stage, but we are riding on the coast line all day long. So riders better watch out for crosswinds. If you are not lucky, you might lose the Tour before it has properly started.
Again in Lübeck we'll have to see wich sprinter has the freshest legs after a long stage.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Stage 4

Lübeck--Hamburg 135km

WEll guys, we are in the North of Germany, so we have no mountains to expect. So it's another day for the sprinters. Unlike the last two days however, this stage is very short and sould be super fast. So maybe some other type of sprinter can win it today. Maybe Kittel?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Maybe a little controversial politically, but there have been occasional rumblings of trying to use this town in the Vuelta. This could be a stage to make good use of it, or it could be simply a one-day race.

Vuelta a Ceúta, 204km

For those of you unfamiliar with Ceúta, that border on the left is with Morocco, and this is a little Spanish exclave on the African mainland. There are a couple of hills that serve as the boundary between it and Morocco, and we're looping up one of these, as well as a smaller climb within the city.

The main climb of the day is the Mirador de la Reina, which is 4,1km long at an average of 6,4%. Its steepest point, about halfway up, reaches 13%. After descending down to Benzú, some rolling coastal roads and some flat in Ceúta itself send us to the base of the smaller climb, up to the Fortificaciónes on Monte Hacho. This is a shorter climb, at just 1,5km, but it averages 7,5%, including a final 200m at 15%. From there we descend down the side of Monte Hacho back into Ceúta where we finish by the Calle de Independencía.

The race should suit puncheurs, as long as they have the endurance to last out the Mirador de la Reina, but one of the main factors involved will undoubtedly be the heat, which can get extremely high, and so 200km+ in it may turn this into a real test of endurance. Potentially I'd shave a lap off the distance if I were to include this in the Vuelta.

A view of Ceúta from the Mediterranean:

Monte Hacho in the foreground; the start and finish are on the Playa de la Ribera, on the left hand side of the narrow section separating Monte Hacho and its peninsula from the African mainland.

The start-finish:

 

[auscyclefan94]

Bayerische Reiter, Deutschlandrundfahrt is looking very much like Frankreichrundfahrt

 

[uphillstruggle]

Stage of the Tour of Britain in the heart of the peak district, using all these climbs that the supposed Queen stage of the ToB (the Stoke on Trent stage) just doesn't use

MACCLESFIELD - MATLOCK
142.6km

Summit finish on Bank Road in Matlock, 1.1km climb, average 16% with sections at 22%

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA2hVmDsC3M&feature=related

Nice route but from Whaley Bridge you should carry on up to Glossop, then over Snakes Pass, turn back and go over Winnats pass then to Buxton to do the rest of your route. Nice 200 km+ race right there.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Stage 4

Lübeck--Hamburg 135km

WEll guys, we are in the North of Germany, so we have no mountains to expect. So it's another day for the sprinters. Unlike the last two days however, this stage is very short and sould be super fast. So maybe some other type of sprinter can win it today. Maybe Kittel?

Has there actually been a single KOM point given out yet? Don't think the Vuelta has anything to worry about just yet.

Though, as you say, pretty difficult to make an interesting parcours in the North of Germany. I seem to recall the Niedersachsenrundfahrt being one of the worst races ever devised by man.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Stage 5

TTT Elmshorn-Brunsbüttel 59km

I cut down this TTT so that it doesn't exclude the 60km barrier. This simply means than in Brunsbüttel we run straighter into the town then it can be seen on the map
The Queen discipline of cycling and a very important day for the GC. 65km is enough for good teams to open up some gaps.
The roud leads down the Elbe to the beautiful coast town of Brunsbüttel. Average speeds should be high on this flat course.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Has there actually been a single KOM point given out yet? Don't think the Vuelta has anything to worry about just yet.

Though, as you say, pretty difficult to make an interesting parcours in the North of Germany. I seem to recall the Niedersachsenrundfahrt being one of the worst races ever devised by man.

No, no mountain points so far, but don't worry they'll come
The north is the sprinters and big guys terrain.

 

[auscyclefan94]

This tour is very predictable so far, sprints that suit Marcel Kittel very well and so far time trials that suit Tony Martin. I bet the other stages will continue in this trend. (only jking)

 

[Bavarianrider]

Stage 6

Bremerhafen-Magdeburg 290km

Finally this is the last all flat stage of the first week. But it is a super long stage. 290km!! It will be very intersting to see wich sprinter takes it home in the city from Magdeburg.
Tomorrow different kind of riders will be upfront.

 

[hatcher]

OK, I'm not sure how to do the fancy profiles or maps, or embed pictures (if anyone can advise I'll try and edit), but I saw something saying GB might bid for the World Championships the other day, and it got me thinking about a fantasy world champs course in my hometown Bristol.

I reckon you could start next to the harbourside on Anchor Road, go up St Michael's Hill - which is about a kilometer that must be around 10% average gradient, with (considerably) steeper sections, through Clifton and across the Suspension bridge, then loop around the top of Ashton Court park (This is all fairly flat ) before the descent round the South of the Park (which is probably about three/four kilometers at an average of about -8% and not particularly technical).

Then back up Rownham Hill to the bridge - there's a link to a Strava profile below which says its 9% average with 16-17% section. Once you cross back into Bristol proper, turn left and descend down onto the Portway, which takes you underneath the Suspension bridge and back onto Anchor Road for the start finish - I reckon it's about 20 kilometers a lap, so eight laps, 16 kilometers of proper climbing, about 25 kilometers of fast descending, and the rest flat, all with a beautiful/historic back drop.

There might be a problem with using the bridge in two directions (and more to the point the approach roads, as the bridge itself is naturally split into two carriageways) especially if the field splits, but assuming you could overcome that I reckon it would be fantastic - no idea who would win either!

Some context:

Here's a map I made http://friendfit.com/routeview.php?rtnum=75596&from=fitblog

A photo of St Michaels Hill http://www.yourlocalweb.co.uk/images/pictures/16/38/st-michaels-hospital-161360.jpg)

A profile of the second climb http://www.strava.com/segments/rownham-hill-short-bristol-670831

Some images of the Suspension Bridge: http://www.google.co.uk/search?tbm=...1634l2774l0l4191l11l8l0l0l0l0l162l969l2.6l8l0

I'll meet you tomorrow for the inaugural GP Bristol. Make it one lap though, and if we could leave out St Michael's Hill too that'd be nice.

Would be a nice race that.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Stage 6

Bremerhafen-Magdeburg 290km

Finally this is the last all flat stage of the first week. But it is a super long stage. 290km!! It will be very intersting to see wich sprinter takes it home in the city from Magdeburg.

So what you're saying is, this should be a two week race. Gotcha.

Mammolshainer Berg or Meerane puncheur finishes coming up in week 2?

 

[Bavarianrider]

By the way i realised i haven't said anything about regulations and classements.

There are only3 jerseys.

1. Overall classification: The Golden Jersey
-real time counts, no time bonuses

2. Point classification: The Black Jersey

On every stage points are credited like this.
1. 50 Points, 2. 45, 3. 40, 4. 35, 5.30, 6. 25, 7. 20, 8. 19, 9. 18, 10.17,.....25. 2.

On each normal stage there is one intermidate sprint.

1. 15 Points, 2. 12, 3.10, 4, 7, 5.5

3. Mountain Classification: The Red Jersey

HC: 1. 50 Points, 2. 45, 3. 40.......... (like on flat stage finishes)
1: 1. 40 Points, 2. 35, 3. 30, 4... 25, 5.20......25, 2
2. 1. 30 Points 2. 25 3. 20 4. 15, 5, 14......15, 4
3. 1. 15 Points 2. 10 3. 5, 4. 4, ...7,1

No extra points if it is the last climb.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

How do you decide who wears the mountains jersey in week 1? Do you have a "mountain sprint" that doesn't award any points, like they did in the first road stage of the '09 Vuelta?

 

[Bavarianrider]

Stage 7

Leipzig- Fichtelberg 150km

Finally we have the first mountain stage of the Tour.
It's a medium mountain stage in the Erzgebirge wich features several cat 3 mountains and a nice upihll finish on a cat 2 mountain that features some very steep sections.
So a punchy climber should win this one. But it's certainly to difficult for somebody like Degenkolb. Gilbert, maybe, but he has to be in super duper shape. Normally a real climber should take it. Gaps for the overall classification won't be too big. However, time can be won and pure rolleurs will fall back and never come back in the GC.
In 2004 the Deutschland Tour finihsed here with this result.
1. Francisco Mancebo (ESP) - Illes Balears 5h42:49
2. Jens Voigt (GER) - Team CSC gl.Zeit
3. Patrik Sinkewitz (GER) - Quick Step gl.Zeit
4. Sergio Marinangeli (ITA) - Domina Vacanze +0:04
5. Andreas Klöden (GER) - T-Mobile Team gl.Zeit
6. Igor G. de Galdeano (ESP) - Liberty +0:06
7. Denis Menschow (RUS) - Illes Balears +0:09
8. Pieter Weening (NED) - Rabobank
9. Jan Hruska (CZE) - Liberty
10. José Gutierrez (ESP) - Illes Balears +0:31
...
11. Davide Rebellin (ITA) - Gerolsteiner +0:31
12. Jan Ullrich (GER) - T-Mobile +0:37
17. Rolf Aldag (GER) - T-Mobile +0:54

Final climb

 

[Bavarianrider]

How do you decide who wears the mountains jersey in week 1? Do you have a "mountain sprint" that doesn't award any points, like they did in the first road stage of the '09 Vuelta?

No, the jersey won't be handed out until the first mountain points are won.

 

[CasperVg]

No, the jersey won't be handed out until the first mountain points are won.

Not sure if the mountain jersey sponsor would agree with that

Looks like a great tour though, hope for some more big mountains to come.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Stage 8

Oberwiesenthal- Nürnberg 230km

A hilly stage with some cat 3 climbs.
Maybe this is the first stage for a succesfull breakaway? And of course there's this hill near the finish. Will a GC guy try to attack? Or will the sprinter teams try to bring everything together?
A very intersting stage wich could see many scenarios.

 

[rgmerk]

Distance limits

Hasn't the UCI imposed limits on length in stage races since the 1960s?

As such, I think you might be in trouble with the super-long stages in the first week.

 

[jens_attacks]

bavarianrider is heading slowly to the queen stage of this tour,to crans-montana in switzerland.from the easiest side.

 

[Richeypen]

At the moment its competing for this list

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=15514

 

[Bavarianrider]

Rest Day in Regensburg
Stage 9

Regensburg- Pancir(Czech Republique) 170km

We are back in the mountains and riders face the most difficult stage so far. It's an up and down all day long through the Bavarian/Bohemian Forest. There are 3 big cat 2 mountains on the way, one of them the stage finish on the Pancir, some kilometres behind the border. Not a very long climb, but rather steep. The GC should certainly change today. Although gaps shouldn't be too big. Rolleurs will try to limit their loses, will the pure climbs try to gain time the lost and will lose in the TTs

Final climb 5.4km

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Hasn't the UCI imposed limits on length in stage races since the 1960s?

As such, I think you might be in trouble with the super-long stages in the first week.

You're right. From the UCI's regulations:

Average length of a stage in a stage race must not exceed 180km (this also excludes prologues, so Bavarianrider has quite cleverly made his stage 1 ITT longer than 8km)

Race organisers may get special dispensation from the UCI to include stages over the maximum distance of 240km, but they are only allowed to use a maximum of two (in races of ten days or more).

ITTs and TTTs may not exceed 60km in length unless special dispensation is obtained from the UCI; in this case they will be limited to one per race, of either sort.

The maximum length of major tours cannot exceed 3500km without special dispensation from the UCI.


So basically, Bavarianrider's cutting it fine, going to need some shorter stages from here on in, and can't include an ITT over 60km in length either.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Stage 10

ITT Deggendorf-- Großer Arber 59.8km

We stay in the Bavarian Forest, and what a stage is waiting for the riders!!!
That's clearly what you call a Time Trial Royal. 60km including two difficult climbs, as well as "Starde Bianche" sections on the last kilometres up the Arber.
Only a complete rider can win this one. Both rolleur as well as climbing abilitites are needed to win this one. It will be a one big battle. Time gaps should be big. The winners of this epic TT will be heroes. A day to make legends.
Who can win it? Tony Martin? Or is there too much climbing? Evans or Menchov should be contenders too if they compete. How will pure rolleurs do? What about pure climbers? A very intersting day of racing is waiting for us!!

 

[Richeypen]

Christ thats a tough one. I imagine quite a few HDs