Race Design Thread

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

Stage 17: Bejar - Avila (170 KM)

Just like yesterday, the Vuelta will visit one of it's most historic finish locations: Avila! The hilly terrain of today's stage should suit early attackers. However, GC wise today could be tricky as well. This because of the climbs of the Puerto de Chia, and especially the Alto el Mediano! The top of this climb is located just 25 kilometres before the finish line. If stil no selection is made, the last 4 kilometres of the Alto de Valdelavia, or the cobbled uphill finish could still create some damage.

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

Stage 18: San Lorenzo de El Escorial ITT (55 KM)

After the Valencia ITT, it's the second chance for the specialist around the clock! It will be very important to have a good strategy for today, since after the hilly start it is important to keep the strenght to gain speed for the more flat second half of the route. Furthermore, a lot of power needs to be preserved for the 25% climb up to San Lorenzo de El Escorial!

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

Stage 19: Segovia - Bola del Mundo (170 KM)

The last mountain stage of this Vuelta! And off course it finishes at the Bola del Mundo. Both in 2010 and 2010 this climb created a fantastic climax, so why replace that? In 2010 the run-in was relatively easy, in 2012 it was harder, but this year it's super-hard! Just like last month the climbing start with the Puerto de Navavria, and will be followed by the Puerto de Canencia, the Puerto de Morquera, and the Puerto de los Cotos.

However, instead of a detour through the valley this stage will continue with a new Climb: the Puerto de Fuenfria. This is a 6 KM at 10% climb with the top located just 25 kilometres before the finish. Unfortunately I'm not really sure about the condition of the road. According to some pictures it's smooth tarmac, according to others it's gravel. And I've even seen some cobbled pictures! Propably Libertine can tell something more about this really appealing, but mysterious climb...

Well, and then it's time for the Bola del Mundo! We all know this climb, so therefore it shouldn't be a problem that this profile is not really accurate. In this stage the part until the Puerto de Navacerrada is climbed from the northern side instead of the south.

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

Stage 20: Collada Villalba - Madrid (120 KM)

It's time to finish this Vuelta. And as tradition says, it will be with a parade to Madrid. We all know this stage, so let's summarize this edition. We had 8 mountain stages, from which 5 finished at a mountain (Mont Caro, Picon Blanco, El Sestil, la Covatilla and Bola del Mundo), and three finished after a short descent (Xorret de Cati, Llodio and Pola de Somiedo). Besides, there were three time trials (Toledo, Sagunto and San Lorenzo de El Escorial), and some medium mountain stages (Cordoba, Parador de Jaen, Haro and Avila). The sprinters were less lucky, with only 6 chances (Ciudad Real, Murcia, Valencia, Gijon, Zamora and Madrid.

Overall, I believe this course is not balanced at all! But I really wanted to show as much ideas as possible. Propably one MTF should be replaced by a flat or hilly stage. And it's even possible that the Queen stage should be changed dramatically! Please, let's hope that the Fuenfria is suited for bike racing. Otherwise, we should collect some money to make it possible!

 

[Descender]

Fuenfría is not completely paved on either side and therefore couldn't be used for a pro race.

Good Vuelta! I'm missing some descent finishes and there are perhaps one or two MTFs too many, but overall good route.

 

[SetonHallPirate]

Was thinking of a 2014 World Championships replacement:

Time Trial: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1773241

Road Race: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1773222 times 12

I should have mentioned...the TT starts and ends in front of UCI headquarters, and the entire event takes place in and around Aigle, Switzerland.

 

[Netserk]

stage 10: Viterbo – Montalcino, 263 km

After a rest day and transfer to Rome from Sicily, it's time for a Strade Bianche stage.

The last 80 km where the red colour = Strade bianche:

And the finish:

It's the same finish as in 2010, but the stage is much, much tougher. Today there will be massive gaps!

 

[Descender]

Here are the final stages of my

Vuelta a España


Stage 17, Solsona --> Port-Ainé (179 kms)

A coast-to-coast rollercoaster stage on the Spanish Pyrenees, finishing atop the ski resort of Port-Ainé.

Climbs:

Port del Comte, 1st Cat (26 kms at 4%)
http://www.altimetrias.net/Lleida/Compte.gif

Port del Cantó, 1st Cat (25 kms at 4,2%)
http://www.cyclingcols.com/profiles/CantoE.gif

Alto de Enviny, 2nd Cat (8kms at 6,4%)
http://www.cyclingcols.com/profiles/EnvinyS.gif

Port-Ainé, HC (18 kms at 6,8%)
http://www.cyclingcols.com/profiles/PortAine.gif



Stage 18, El Pont de Suert --> Sabiñánigo (191 kms)

This stage will probably end in a bunch sprint, but sprinters will certainly have to sweat it out on the 2nd Cat. Puerto del Serrablo.

Climbs:

Puerto de Serrablo, 2nd Cat (13 kms at 5,4%)
http://www.altimetrias.net/aspbk/verPuerto.asp?id=652



Stage 19, Jaca --> San Miguel de Aralar (198 kms)

The Catholic Santuario de San Miguel de Aralar is an iconic site in Navarra. It is a beautiful climb that has inexplicably never been used in the Vuelta. Here, it will feature as the last MTF of the race.

Climbs:

Santuario de San Miguel de Aralar, 1st Cat (11 kms at 8%)
http://www.altimetrias.net/Navarra/SMAralar.gif

 

[Descender]

Stage 20, Pamplona --> Eibar (223 kms)

This is it. The last chance for riders to make up for lost time before the final ITT in Madrid. This long stage will feature several known but also some obscure climbs before sending the riders up a new, unseen side of Arrate, through a cemented road through a veru Bola del Mundo-like surface. The riders will have plenty of chances to attack and tactical riding could play a key role.

These are the last 60 kms of the stage, with the climbs of Elosua + Azkarate + Azurtzamendi + Arrate.

Stage 21, Madrid ITT (23 kms)

The Vuelta will be decided in a lumpy ITT in the capital, Madrid.

I hoped you liked my Vuelta. I've certainly put a lot of effort into it. I look forward to your comments.



Here is the whole route, maybe I saved you some work Libertine.

Stages prologue to 3:

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=1011558&postcount=1702

Stages 5 to 8 (I just realised I forgot to post stage 4 :-D It was a boring flat stage anyway ;-) ):

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=1012521&postcount=1712

Stages 9 to 12:

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=1038775&postcount=1791

Stages 13 to 16:

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=1039351&postcount=1793

Stages 17 to 19:

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=1040425&postcount=1804

Stages 20 and 21:

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=1040441&postcount=1805

 

[icefire]

Fuenfría is not completely paved on either side and therefore couldn't be used for a pro race.

Indeed. A race through the Roman road of Fuenfría would put Roubaix and Flanders to shame

This is one of the best preserved sections:

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I think the side of "Arrate" you're climbing is this one, 4,5km @ 11% of concreted pain. Although it will need a bit of clearing up to make it raceable. It's more a climb to Ixua or Usartza, though I'm sure they can give it the Arrate name like they called the 2012 Giro climb the Mortirolo although it finished a little below that particular pass. That Basque stage is really hard, if you wanted to spice it up slightly you could use Azurki instead of taking the easier Azkarate road, which would then free you up to use the wider, slightly safer Karabieta than Azurtzamendi too, but still, that's one tough stage. Two steep concreted climbs in two stages too, after San Miguel de Áralar!

 

[Descender]

I think the side of "Arrate" you're climbing is this one, 4,5km @ 11% of concreted pain. Although it will need a bit of clearing up to make it raceable. It's more a climb to Ixua or Usartza, though I'm sure they can give it the Arrate name like they called the 2012 Giro climb the Mortirolo although it finished a little below that particular pass. That Basque stage is really hard, if you wanted to spice it up slightly you could use Azurki instead of taking the easier Azkarate road, which would then free you up to use the wider, slightly safer Karabieta than Azurtzamendi too, but still, that's one tough stage. Two steep concreted climbs in two stages too, after San Miguel de Áralar!

I'm not taking that side of Ixua, but rather another, easier concrete road further to the east. It's basically 5 kms at 9%. It might need some clearing up, but certainly less work than what they did with Cuitu Negru, for instance.

About your suggestion, I wanted to use the combination of Elosua + Azkarate + Azurtzamendi, I like the combination of regular, 7 kms at 8% climb + short continuation climb + 8 kms irregular climb with steep ramps. Azurtzamendi connects with Karabieta btw, the descent is the Karabieta road.

However, I'm not sure I understand correctly your alternative suggestion. Azurki cannot be climbed to the top if we want the stage to finish in Eibar, or else we'd have to do a long detour. Unless I missed something, connecting it to Karabieta requires us to go back to Bergara and Elgeta, which adds a significant amount of flat kms before Karabieta (which is easier than Azurtzamendi). This is what I get:

I might be missing something of course, you're much more experienced in Basque climbs than I am.

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

Indeed. A race through the Roman road of Fuenfría would put Roubaix and Flanders to shame

This is one of the best preserved sections:

Wow! I've seen there are more roads to the top. But indeed, if you check them by Bing (which has a very sharp sattelite mode!) it turns out that none of them are suitable to send a peloton up or down to.

So... I have to rewrite stage 19: El Escorial - Bola del Mundo (189 KM)

As you can see, I've kept the finish on the already legendary Bola del Mundo. That would be the only appropiate place nearby to finish the penultimate stage, isn't it?

Off course, I will not do the typical Unipublic run-in. While this one isn't that hard as the original post, it will still create many opportunities for early attacking. Right from the start the riders have to climb the alto de Escorial, followed by the famous Navacerrada. After a flat part halfway the stage, the last 100 kilometres will be constantly up en down with the Navafria, Canencia, the steep Morcuera, the Cotos and finally the steep meters up to the Bola! Will this stage lead to the last GC shake-up?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I'm not taking that side of Ixua, but rather another, easier concrete road further to the east. It's basically 5 kms at 9%. It might need some clearing up, but certainly less work than what they did with Cuitu Negru, for instance.

About your suggestion, I wanted to use the combination of Elosua + Azkarate + Azurtzamendi, I like the combination of regular, 7 kms at 8% climb + short continuation climb + 8 kms irregular climb with steep ramps. Azurtzamendi connects with Karabieta btw, the descent is the Karabieta road.

However, I'm not sure I understand correctly your alternative suggestion. Azurki cannot be climbed to the top if we want the stage to finish in Eibar, or else we'd have to do a long detour. Unless I missed something, connecting it to Karabieta requires us to go back to Bergara and Elgeta, which adds a significant amount of flat kms before Karabieta (which is easier than Azurtzamendi). This is what I get:

I might be missing something of course, you're much more experienced in Basque climbs than I am.

That is pretty much what I was suggesting. I was thinking of the way races seem to be, Azurtzamendi is more or less off limits. It's mostly an ok road, but Karabieta is in better condition and better for support vehicles and the race caravan, bearing in mind that realistically they aren't likely to be able to follow the péloton on the side of Arrate you're using (or rather, the one that I thought you were using). And because that would entail adding a flatter section that allows things to come back together, I therefore suggested using Azurki (or most of it, as you've detailed) as a harder preceding climb to make it harder for things to come back together accordingly.

If you're using a further side of Arrate that will be more accessible for the trappings of a race, then feel free to dismiss the idea as it would be unnecessary. Still, makes for a useful contingency plan should Basque weather derail original plans!

 

[Descender]

That is pretty much what I was suggesting. I was thinking of the way races seem to be, Azurtzamendi is more or less off limits. It's mostly an ok road, but Karabieta is in better condition and better for support vehicles and the race caravan, bearing in mind that realistically they aren't likely to be able to follow the péloton on the side of Arrate you're using (or rather, the one that I thought you were using). And because that would entail adding a flatter section that allows things to come back together, I therefore suggested using Azurki (or most of it, as you've detailed) as a harder preceding climb to make it harder for things to come back together accordingly.

If you're using a further side of Arrate that will be more accessible for the trappings of a race, then feel free to dismiss the idea as it would be unnecessary. Still, makes for a useful contingency plan should Basque weather derail original plans!

The director of the Itzulia mentioned they were considering including Azurtzamendi in the Arrate stage this year. That's where I got to know the climb. He said there were some 2 km that would need some road work, but nothing the Vuelta hasn't done.

However, you gave me an idea... what if we drop this whole Karabieta-Azurtzamendi business altogether and do something completely different? I came up with this:

From Tolosa to Eibar with Bidania + Elosua N + Elgeta + Kanpazar + Elosua S + Azurki + Arrate.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Another repost, or rather a do-over on one of my previous races.

Given that it would be a January-February race, it was perhaps a bit over-ambitious of me when drawing up the Vuelta a Bariloche to include stages with lengthy unsealed sections (although I am aware there are some in the Tour de San Luís) and full-size MTFs. I have therefore had a look at a shorter (5-day) race, to still take advantage of the beautiful scenery around Bariloche and show off some of Argentina's most breathtaking views, but also to make the race a bit more plausible as a genuine early-season race for those guys already heading to San Luís.

Therefore, please welcome the new, trimmed down, slicked up Vuelta a Bariloche.

Stage 1: San Carlos de Bariloche - El Bolsón, 157km

Climbs:
Paisaje del Tacuífi (cat.2) 9,7km @ 2,5%
Cañadón de la Mosca (cat.3) 3,7km @ 4,4%
Alto del Radal (cat.3) 4,1km @ 3,6%

We start the race in its hometown, the Patagonian resort town of San Carlos de Bariloche, and head southwards for almost the length of the stage. The first part of the stage is characterised by an introduction to something we'll see plenty of this week - a series of Andean lakes. The first is Lago Gutiérrez, with snow-capped mountains rising directly from its banks, with the road snaking between them. Next up is the deep blue Lago Mascardi, before the road turns down towards Lago Guillelmo. At this point the route starts to get rolling on its long downhill run towards the finish, with a couple of almost imperceptible rises over Tacuifí and Cañadón de la Mosca before a long and gradual downhill run as the road runs parallel to the river in the Valle Foyel. We then pass the Cascada de la Virgén before heading on the final downhill bends to our finishing town of El Bolsón.

Once we pass the finishing line, there are two 22km circuits remaining, on rolling terrain. First we leave the Ruta 40 and join the road to Lago Puelo, crossing the state borderline between Rio Negro and Chubut. Then, it's a very gradual uphill loop around the Cerro Radal, which maxes out at 5-6% near the bottom, so nothing too strenuous. This tops out about 8km from the finish, and with only one technical corner in the run-in, this promises to be a useful Classics tune-up for the more durable sprinters.

San Carlos de Bariloche:

El Bolsón:

EDIT:
Looks like I've been pre-empted by this rather cool-looking open event, which takes place in a couple of weeks' time. So maybe October is the better time for it!

 

[Mad Elephant Man]

How do get your profiles to display here?

 

[Eshnar]

Here's my new masterpiece

THE NO-MTFs GIRO D'ITALIA!
Tired of watching climbers waiting for the final 3 kms of the stage to make their move? This is your race! Here there won't be any mountain top finish! Here climbers will have to attack with more than 10 kms to go!

That doesn't mean I'll design stages made-in-Proudhommeland with 40+ kms of flat before the finish. It is still a race suited mostly for climbers, though TTers have a concrete chance. And let's not forget descenders...

DISCLAIMER! A few stages may end with a false flat (less than 4%). I don't count that as MTF.

A few facts about the route: 101 kms of ITTing, 3498 kms of total lenght, 0kms of transfers! Like the Giro 2013 it will start in Napoli and finish in Brescia.

The route: (the more stars a stage has, the more it is important)

1 Napoli - Torre Del Greco 13k * ITT
2 Torre Del Greco - Vico Equense 116k ***
3 Vico Equense - Cagnano Varano 246k **
4 Cagnano Varano - Vieste 60k ***** ITT
5 Vieste - Vasto 157k *
6 Vasto - Guardiagrele 176k ****
7 Guardiagrele - Ancona 200k **
8 Ancona - Villagrande 168k ****
9 Villagrande - Firenze 161k ***
10 Firenze - Pistoia 38k **** ITT
11 Pistoia - Sestri Levante 171k **
12 Sestri Levante - Bobbio 241k *****
13 Bobbio - Alba 154k *
14 Alba - Casteldelfino 173k *****
15 Casteldelfino - Pinerolo 239k ****
16 Pinerolo - Monza 207k *
17 Monza - Negrar 213k ****
18 Negrar - Conegliano 153k *
19 Conegliano - Misurina 173k *****
20 Misurina - Bormio 251k ****
21 Bormio - Brescia 188k ***

The profile will be posted asap...

 

[Eshnar]

STAGE 1 Napoli - Torre Del Greco ITT 13 kms.
Easy ITT as prologue.

STAGE 2 Torre Del Greco - Vico Equense 116 kms
First road stage, it's on Sunday so f*ck sprinters. This is the first descent finish of this Giro. It's short because otherwise I was gonna break the 3500 kms mark ._.
Two climbs on the menu:
Monte Di Chiunzi: 10 kms @ 6%
Monte Faito: 13 kms @ 7.2%

 

[Eshnar]

STAGE 3 Vico Equense - Cagnano Varano 246 kms
First chance for the sprinters. The stage is long so they'll have to work for this one.

STAGE 4 Cagnano Varano - Vieste 60 kms ITT
Terrible TT along the hilly coast of the Gargano area. Very technical.

 

[Eshnar]

STAGE 5 Vieste - Vasto 157 kms
Second chance for the sprinters. All on the coast so wind may be a problem.

STAGE 6 Vasto - Guardiagrele 176 kms
Second chance for the climbers to take time.
The HC of the day is the mighty Blockhaus (Roccamorice's side) though not all the way to the top (otherwise I couldn't descend it)
After the descent, 10 kms of false flats.
Blockhaus: 25 kms @ 6.5%

 

[rghysens]

Here's my new masterpiece

THE NO-MTFs GIRO D'ITALIA!
...

cr@p, you beat me to it. I wanted to make a no-mtf tour de france.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

How do get your profiles to display here?

I don't know about others, but I use print selection (Cmd+Shift+4 on a Mac) as opposed to print screen (though that would work, just be more time consuming), then upload to a specialist image hosting site like picasa, imageshack or tinypic.

 

[SetonHallPirate]

Working on a Giro d'Italia of my own...

Prologue: Reggio Calabria ITT, 3.9 km

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1738222

Stage 1: Melito di Porto Salvo to Cittanova, 216.5 km

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1738218

Whoever it is that is trying to fight against frontloading, THIS will do it. 10,786 meters of climbing on the opening road stage of the Giro within Aspromonte National Park. I can't get ridewithgps to declare any of these as climbs, but it's fairly obvious to anybody that many of the sprinters may well be HD on Stage 1, if their teams are stupid enough to enroll them in this tour. Amazing that you can find difficult climbs away from the Dolomites within Italy...and some of these climbs have TERRIBLE ramps of 30-35%.

Stage 2: Cittanova to Serra san Bruno, 205.9 km

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1738237

Another stage with nearly 10,000 meters of climbing (ignore that climb around 75 km, however, as that's inside a tunnel). Still about 9,600 meters of climbing, however, and still with quite a few ramps in the 25-30%+ range. Day 2 of Aspromonte National Park will make plenty of riders glad that this is the final day there.

Stage 3: Catanzaro to Azienda Forestale, 218.1 km

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1738267

A kindler, gentler mountain stage, with merely 8,348 meters of climbing. The most difficult part of the stage is early, on the entrance to Sila National Park, but it's difficult enough in the final 80k to be selective.

Stage 4: Castrovillari to San Chirico Raparo, 193.1 km

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1738277

"Only" 7,956 meters of climbing, but included in that is the first hilltop finish of the Giro, although it's a bit weak to call this an MTF. Most of the stage is spent in Pollino National Park, before ending at the entrance to the adjacent Ente Parco Nazionale dell'Appennino Lucano - Val d'Agri - Lagonegrese. Perhaps the best thing about Italy is that you can almost follow the dark green National Parks all the way up the ankle of the boot, and find difficult stages one after another without really looking all that hard.

Stage 5: San Chirico Raparo to Pietrapertosa (MTF), 222.5 km

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1738294

Not the direction I had planned on taking this route, but at 8,984 meters of climbing on the stage, and with ramps on the finishing climb of over 30%, this is not a stage for the faint of heart. It's up and down ALL day, and after these first six days, I may want to have armed guards at the race director's suite to make sure nobody tries to fulfill the bounty that a team director or 22 would place on my head!

Stage 6: Sala Consilina to Vallo della Lucania, 196.6 km

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1740116

Another stage with over 7,500 meters of climbing, this one grading at 7,646 meters. Much of it is early, but there's enough later in the stage to keep things interesting.

Stage 7: Montecorvino Rovella to Mount Vesuvius, 170 km

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1740139

The "easiest" stage yet, at 6,698 meters of climbing, but that's small consolation for those who actually have to do the climbing, including the finishing climb at Mount Vesuvius.

Stage 8: Pozzuoli to Naples ITT, 56.8 km

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1740173

A long time trial, but even this is not exempt from climbing, with the first half being up-and-down the entire way, and the second half having the one "major" climb along the outskirts of Vesuvio National Park. Nonetheless, a much needed rest day awaits.

Stage 9: Montesarchio to Lago del Matese, 218.3 km

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1741265

Another day with nearly 8,000 meters of climbing following the rest day, including two separate trips through the Parco del Matese. The hardest climb summits nearly 100 km before the finish, at the top of the Bocca della Selva, but overall, another very tough stage.

Stage 10: Abbateggio to Passo Lanciano MTT, 16.6 km

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1744753

Another very difficult day, although at least this one is short, but against the clock. 1,364 meters of climbing in just 16.6 km is not very easy, of course.

As if you thought I was done...

Stage 11: L'Aquila to Baita, 192.1 km

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1781395

Another 6,813 meters of climbing to an MTF.

Stage 12: Livorno to Marra, 218.3 km

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1781434

Another 8,436 meters of climbing, with a 24.7% ramp in the final three kilometers to the HTF. First 60km are along the Mediterranean, but once it goes uphill, it goes uphill.

Stage 13: Bovec, Slovenia to Monte Crostis, Italy, 234.1 km

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1781487

It's not just the 8,782 meters of climbing that makes this one noteworthy, but some of the climbs that make this stage so brutal as well. Right off the bat, the ride through Triglav National Park, and then into Austria, where they make the climb up to Sonnenalpe Nassfeld. Problem is, those climbs simply exist to compound the pain that will come later, in the final 45 kilometers, when the riders swing around to tackle the west side of the Zoncolan, followed immediately by the finishing climb up the infamous Monte Crostis. The riders would be begging for a rest day at this point, but a race director would have to be a total idiot to have a rest day be on a Sunday, so they get one more day of racing before their bodies get a rest.

Stage 14: Paluzza, Italy to Grossglockner, Austria, 152.8 km

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1781507

A ride up the east side of the Zoncolan this time, followed by a loop back across the Pie de Pecol back to Paluzza, and then a ride along the Austrian countryside, rolling through the Pass Iselsberg, before finishing at the Grossglockner. Edit: I had initially put in the rest day here, but I've decided I need to balance the route with a time trial here, before the rest day.

 

[Descender]

I don't know about others, but I use print selection (Cmd+Shift+4 on a Mac) as opposed to print screen (though that would work, just be more time consuming), then upload to a specialist image hosting site like picasa, imageshack or tinypic.

It was so easy and fast when I had a Mac. Now with Windows it takes a lot more steps...