Race Design Thread

[SafeBet]

Stage 5: Murcia - Xorret de Cati (211 KM)

After a flat start along the coast it is time to enter the mountains of Allicante! Today's stage will feature the Puerto de Tudons, The Puerto Benafallim, The Puerto de Tibi, and this. It is really not necessary to add anything to that (ok, here's a profile). Today we will see which riders can win the Vuelta.

Nice stage.
First climb is Puerto de Tudons???

Do you know length and gradient by any chance?

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

Stage 6: Villena - Valencia (153 KM)

Today's stage is definately the most flat one of the whole route. Maybe you can cheer up with the idea that the finish is in one of the nicest cities of Spain, and that a weekend full of surpises is awaiting!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Nice stage.
First climb is Puerto de Tudons???

Do you know length and gradient by any chance?

First 16km of this:

I make it a shade under 16km at a shade under 5% total.

 

[SafeBet]

Thank you Libertine!

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

Nice stage.
First climb is Puerto de Tudons???

Do you know length and gradient by any chance?

You're right. The mentioned climbs are not really spectacular, but here are the profiles:Puerto de Tudons, Puerto de Benifallim and the Alto de Tibi

But let's continue with some GC related action!

Stage 7: Valencia - Sagunto (31 KM ITT)

Today is the first long time trial of the race. I am a big fan of including a ITT early on, since I believe the created time gaps will force the less skilled time triallist to attack. Luckily for them, this ITT is not very long, and even contains a small climb.

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

Stage 8: Castellon de la Plana - Mont Caro (188 KM)

After the ITT at Saturday, Sunday means MTF! The run-in along the coast is easy, but today's last 50 KM will be horrible because of the two time ascend of this:

Luckily the first accend will not lead the peloton to the top of this climb, but the second one does! This is by distance the hardest stage so far.

 

[Descender]

Nice stages!

Mont Caro would need to be resurfaced though.

In the Sagunt stage it looks like you climb El Garbí, which used to feature in the sadly defunct Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I'm now going to take this full circle, and take this thread right back to the start.

When this thread first began, the first race I posted was a Tour du Pays-Basque Français, or Iparraldeko Itzulia. Now that nearly a year has passed, it seems that the first edition was a success, and so a second one has been organised, this time hoping to make it so that there's more than one key GC stage.

Stage 1: Ustaritz - Mauléon-Licharre, 157km

Climbs:
Côte d'Elichelarria (cat.3) 2,7km @ 4,9%
Côte d'Isturits (cat.3) 2,3km @ 5,3%
Côte de Pagolle (cat.2) 2,5km @ 10,2%
Col de Larletta (cat.3) 4,1km @ 3,4%
Côte de Viodos (cat.4) 1,2km @ 6,3%
Col de Larletta (cat.3) 4,1km @ 3,4%
Côte de Viodos (cat.4) 1,2km @ 6,3%
Col de Larletta (cat.3) 4,1km @ 3,4%
Côte de Viodos (cat.4) 1,2km @ 6,3%

The first stage of the Tour is a relentlessly leg-breaking trek through the foothills beneath the Western Pyrénées, which never settles for a long flat stretch to provide respite, and features no fewer than nine points-paying climbs, although only one of these is really a major obstacle.

We begin in the historical capital of the French Basque Country, the small town of Ustaritz, and immediately we have a series of rolling uphills starting from the village of Itxassou. The third of these, beginning in Mendionde, is the first categorised climb of the day. After this it's a bit of rolling terrain through Hasparren to another small village, this time by the name of Isturits (Basque: Izturitze), from where the road heads uphill for another categorised climb topping out at 13%. Then, we have the nicest stretch of road for the riders - a full 35km of rolling and flat terrain, including the intermediate sprint in Saint Palais, before the toughest climb of the day.

The Côte de Pagolle lies on the same massif as the Col d'Osquich, but is significantly steeper than that, ramping up to a maximum of 20%. However, it is not so long that it will destroy any meaningful challengers, although it will certainly create a selection of some sort before our bumpy closing circuit.

The riders pass through Mauléon-Licharre and cross the finishing line adjacent to the old open-air frontón for the first time after 91km, with three laps of a 22km circuit to follow. Two climbs feature on this circuit, first the very gradual Larletta, and then the short but steeper (but still far from steep) Côte de Viodos, which maxes out at 10%, but which crests for the final time at 4km from the line. The continual up and down nature of the circuit means that there's a good chance attacks other than on that final climb can stick, but even so I would expect a small élite group contesting the sprint at the most.

Ustaritz:

Mauléon-Licharre:

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

After a well deserved rest day (for both me, and the peloton) it's time to continue with my Vuelta a Espana!

Stage 9: Zaragoza - Haro (229 KM)

With almost 230 kilometres in lenght, this is by far the longest stage this Vuelta. Luckily, the most of the parcours is rather straightforward. However, The ascend of the Puerto de Herrada, the Alto de Rivas and the slightly uphill finish may make this a very tricky day!

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

Stage 10: Vitoria Gasteiz - LLodio (169 KM)

It's time to visit the Basque Country! It would be inappropiate to not made the only stage finishing in this region as hard as possible. So therefore I present no less than 5 nasty climbs: The Karabieta, Arrate, Monte Oiz, Urkiola and Bikotx-Gane. As you can see, all these climbs feature some really steep sections. So despite the fact that Monte Oiz won't be climbed to the top, this stage could create a lot of damage!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Nice stage! Nice to see somebody else giving some love to Monte Oiz too - a real beast. Certainly some similarities to my queen stage in País Vasco (which did the same stretch from Karabieta to Iurreta after the Oiz descent)... to be slightly pedantic though, Arrate can't be climbed as a pass, what you've got there is the Alto de Ixua - at about 3km from the end of the Arrate stages, there's a left-hand turn towards Markina, and the road rears up a bit further there. You basically get all the good stuff about Arrate, then turn off while it flattens out, and descend down to Markina.

Bikotx-Gane is an underappreciated climb too.

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

Stage 11: Bilbao - Picon Blanco (168 KM)

After two finishes in the valley, this Vuelta desperately need another MTF. So here I present you the Picon Blanco! This sharp climb will be preceded by the Puerto de la Sia, and the Puerto de Alisas. This means that the last 50 kilometres no meter will be flat. Time for an early attack?

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

Haha, I was already a bit afraid for the comments of our Spain-specialist Libertine! Luckily the last 3 Kilometres of Arrate are not really spectacular, so we won't miss anything of real value.

Stage 14: Santander - Gijon (194 KM)

Well, the profile suggest something differently, but this is a very easy stage. Maybe the wind can be a factor today?

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

Stage 13: Oviedo - Pola de Somiedo (180 KM)

It's Saturday, so time for a ridiculous hard mountain stage . According to my computer software no less than 5540 height metres will be gained today! That might be reasonable, because today's stage features the Colladiela, the Cobertoria, the Cruz de Linares, the Maravio and the San Lorenzo. After all this firework, a crazy steep descent will bring the peloton to the last uphill strokes to Pola de Somiedo. This is definetely the hardest stage of this Vuelta.

 

[Descender]

Nice stages again!

Picón Blanco is a great climb, it's never been used in pro cycling since it used to have a military base on top until not long ago. Interestingly, it has a dirt road (5km long) that connects it to the Puerto de la Sía. If the road was asphalted we would have a heck of a mountain pass...

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

Stage 14: Villablino - El Sestil

Whereas yesterday's stage was the hardest of this Vuelta, today may prove to be the most decisive! The contenders will have yesterday's tortures in their legs, so it is very uncertain how they will react at today's three climbs in the last 35 Kilometres.

After an easy run-in towards Ponferrada the irregular Puerto de los Portillinos will definetely slash into the riders, but the real trouble will start with the steep ascend of the Collado de Piedrafita. From the top, it's only 25 Kilometres to the finish, but still two climbs are left! The Puerto de Governadas and the Alto El Sestil. Still, these climbs are hard, but not that hard as the first two of this stage. Hopefully, this will lead to some attacks early on.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Stage 2: Mauléon-Licharre - St. Jean Pied-de-Port, 180km

Climbs:
Côte d'Errecartia (cat.3) 3,6km @ 5,0%
Agueret Altia (cat.2) 4,5km @ 5,8%
Col d'Arangaitz (cat.1) 6,9km @ 8,5%
Col d'Osquich (cat.2) 5,3km @ 5,9%
Col d'Askonzabal (cat.2) 5,1km @ 6,6%
Col de Landerre (cat.1) 11,0km @ 7,4%
Col de Bilgossa (cat.2) 2,9km @ 10,1%
Col d'Arnostegi (HC) 17,6km @ 5,7%
Pas de Jara (cat.2) 3,0km @ 8,1%

The second stage of the Iparraldeko Itzulia takes us from the capital of the easternmost Basque province, Zuberoa, to the capital of Basse-Navarre, or Nafarroa Beherea, St. Jean Pied-de-Port (or, to give it its Basque name, Donibane Garazi). And it's a very, very tough route to get there too, with no fewer than nine different categorised climbs.

The early running is fairly easy-going, with two relatively unthreatening climbs to warm the engines up before passing through Tardets-Sorholus and beginning the suffering. The first warning shots are fired on the Col d'Arangaitz, which corresponds to the first 7km on this profile. As you can see, there are some very difficult stretches, but it's pretty consistent, in that the steepest gradients are just 12% despite long stretches at over 10%. After this it's more rolling terrain punctuated by some mid-difficulty climbs in Osquich (the important part being the section from 8km to 13km on this profile) and Askonzabal.

This is when the key part of the stage starts, however. Although the average gradient of the Col de Landerre isn't too extreme (I'm counting the climb from Mendive), it does have a brutal middle section. Yes, you read that right, 6km at over 10% in the middle of its uphill slog. The road's pretty open to the elements too. After this tricky climb, the riders take a short flattish loop to the Col d'Egurcé and take on a technical descent before the short, but very steep Col de Bilgossa - around 3km at 10%. In my Tour this came off the back of Errozate and ahead of the mid-length but even steeper Irey. Here, however, it serves as the warm-up for the biggest climb of the day, but strangely (especially given its reputation) one of the shallowest, the Esterençuby side of the Col d'Arnostegi.

Although the climb's stats are not super impressive compared to what's come before (average of 5,7%), it is worth noting how the climb breaks down. The first 5km are false flat, and then there is a very tough stretch of 8km at 8,6% with several stretches over 10%. After this there is a kilometre of descent before 2km at 9,5% before it flattens out again. Topping out 38km from the end, I can certainly see the bunch being thinned right out to a select few here, and also as this is a smaller race we could well see attacks for the win going. There's a bit of flat around the summit, although this is rolling up and down between the Col d'Arnostegi and the Col d'Elhursaro, before the descent, which gets progressively steeper. There is a 3km stretch in the middle of it that will test people's nerve as they head back into St Jean Pied-de-Port, crossing the finishing line for the first time at 19,5km to go.

After this there's just a short loop around the town, including a climb of the small pass on the edge of the Pic du Jara - maxing out at 15% and cresting at 12km remaining, though, this has ample opportunity to open up gaps in the event of things coming back together after the summit of Arnostegi. This is the toughest single day of the race, but this will not settle the GC comprehensively by any stretch of the imagination.

St. Jean Pied-de-Port:

Col d'Arnostegi:

 

[Netserk]

I have created a Giro that starts in Naples and ends 3596 km later in Milan. It covers all of Italy but the north-west (and the whole course is within Italy).

There have been a lot of inspiration from the '10 and '11 Giros. (Disclaimer!)

There will be 4 ITT (135 km), and no TTT. The ITT will be: An opening 9 km ITT, short climb but mostly flat 53 km ITT, 28 km MTT and finally a completely flat 45 km ITT.

There will be 5 MTF: Stage 7, 9, 15, 17 and 20.

This year's Cima Coppi will be Gavia from south (Stage 17).

Two stages will be longer than 240 km: Stage 2 and 10.

Just like in '11 the last flat stage will be stage 12.

All Weekend stages will (most probably) have GC action.

The two rest days will be on the last two Mondays.

Saturday, stage 1: Naples – Naples (ITT), 9 km
Sunday, stage 2: Cassino – Chieti, 255 km
Monday, stage 3: Chieti – Chieti, 210 km
Tuesday, stage 4: Ortona – Foggia, 185 km
Wednesday, stage 5: Foggia – Taranto, 237 km
Thursday, stage 6: Policoro – Quattromiglia, 176
Friday, stage 7: Nicastro-sambiase – Gambarie (MTF), 160 km
Saturday, stage 8: Messina – Messina (ITT), 53 km
Sunday, stage 9: Messina – Etna (MTF), 190 km
- REST DAY (Rome) -
Tuesday, stage 10: Viterbo – Montalcino, 257 km
Wednesday, stage 11: Florence – Padua, 223 km
Thursday, stage 12: Venice – Udine, 117 km
Friday, stage 13: Tualis – Ravascletto (MTT), 28 km
Saturday, stage 14: Tolmezzo – Belluno, 194 km
Sunday, stage 15: Belluno – Pordoi (MTF), 225 km
- REST DAY (Trento) -
Tuesday, stage 16: Trento – Bassano del Grappa, 190 km
Wednesday, stage 17: Rovereto – Bormio 2000 (MTF), 215 km
Thursday, stage 18: Bormio – Lovere, 211 km
Friday, stage 19: Alzano Lombardo – Bovegno, 192 km
Saturday, stage 20: Bergamo – Aprica (MTF), 221 km
Sunday, stage 21: Milan – Milan (ITT), 45 km

All the stages will be linked to this post

Meh, I totally forgot about this

Stage 1: Napoli -> Napoli, ITT 9 km

I have already posted the picture before, but nonetheless here it is:

It starts with a 3.5 km long climb @ 6 %, at the top there is a sharp bend to the right (~135 degrees) and 1.2 km of flat, and then there is the downhill! It consists of 5 switchbacks in ~1km, after which the steep downhill part comes @ 9 % ending with a switchback. After the switchback it flattens out, and there is 1 km to the finish.

It is more or less a beefed up version of the TdS Lugano Prologue, and should suit the same kind of riders.

 

[Netserk]

Stage 2: Cassino -> Chieti, 255 km

We all know the finish in Chieti, and most people was probably excited to see Passo Lanciano in this year's T-A, and was sadden when they skipped it, so I bring it to you!

Before Passo Lanciano, the riders will face three long uphill drags:
24 km of 4.8 %
11 km of 4.2 %
14 km of 4.7 %

After these and 180 km of riding, they will climb Passo Lanciano. After the descent there is still 40 km to go:

With the last 10 km identical with the last 2 years' T-A finish:

 

[Descender]

Stage 14: Villablino - El Sestil

Whereas yesterday's stage was the hardest of this Vuelta, today may prove to be the most decisive! The contenders will have yesterday's tortures in their legs, so it is very uncertain how they will react at today's three climbs in the last 35 Kilometres.

After an easy run-in towards Ponferrada the irregular Puerto de los Portillinos will definetely slash into the riders, but the real trouble will start with the steep ascend of the Collado de Piedrafita. From the top, it's only 25 Kilometres to the finish, but still two climbs are left! The Puerto de Governadas and the Alto El Sestil. Still, these climbs are hard, but not that hard as the first two of this stage. Hopefully, this will lead to some attacks early on.

Interesting! I'm working on a stage for my Vuelta that features some of those climbs as well, but tackled from the other side.

 

[Netserk]

Stage 3: Chieti -> Chieti, 210 km

Instead of the shown 3 loops, this stage will consist of 15 loops (the loops are raced clockwise).

The climb is 5.5 km of 3.7 % with the steepest o) part first.

Whereas yesterday's stage suited the strong one day racers, this circuit will suit those classic specialists with a strong sprint, or the capabilities to make an attack in the final stick. The likes who fancy Milan - San Remo.

Third stage in a row for Sagan?

 

[Netserk]

Stage 4: Ortona –> Foggia, 185 km

And it's time for the sprinters to have a go, but it won't be a walk in the park. The first 100 km is along the coast, and with 50 km to go (after 135 km of racing) starts the only climb of the day. 15 km of 4 %, and a descent with roughly the same figures. After this there is 20 km of flat, so it should all come back together for the sprinters to have their time in the sun.

 

[Netserk]

Stage 5: Foggia –> Taranto, 237 km

Another flat stage, though the length, and the fact that most of this stage is along the coast, might take it's toll on riders like Guardini, so that others will triumph.

 

[Netserk]

Stage 6: Policoro –> Quattromiglia, 176 km

Third stage in a row for the sprinters. Maybe the day's 20 km climb of 5.7 % will let the breakaway stay away? Perhaps not as there is 65 km to go, with the final 20 dead flat.

 

[Netserk]

stage 7: Nicastro-sambiase –> Gambarie (MTF), 160 km

Today we'll celebrate the race's first friday - and the beginning of the first weekend - with a MTF!

The finishing climb is twofold, so that it starts with 12 km of 4.5 %, then 4 km of flat, before the last 12 km of 6.3 %.

It should be both long and steep enough, so that it doesn't end with a 30 man bunch sprint. But perhaps a sprint of a reasonable sized group, as most of the riders will hold their powder dry for tomorrow's ITT.