Race Design Thread

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

Tour de france without Alps and Pyrenees

After a well deserved rest day, it's time to kick off the final week with a heavy time trial!

Stage 15: Loriol sur Drome - Vernoux en Vivairais (47 KM ITT)

As I've said before, I really liked the idea of including one flat and one hilly time trial in the race. Next to this, I've said that I preferred them being not too long. Well, it turned out that my principles are pretty wortless because I couldn't resist making this time trial as hard as possible.

The first climb towards Saint Cierge isn't too hard (7 KM, 5.5%), and shouldn't create to much trouble. However, the next climb is much more prestigious. The Col de la Mure (7.7 KM, 8.4%) was once included in Paris Nice in a stage turned out to be decisive. Ok, that was a very dull edition. But still, I really liked this climb and I would love to see this time trial one being included in the Tour.

 

[Ferminal]

Google ****wits.

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

Tour de France without Alps and Pyrenees

Very,very slowly I'm continueing my Tour without Alps and Pyrenees. I'm happy that the rest of you guys don't feel the need to hurry either

Stage 16: Tournon sur Rhone - Col du Beal (198 KM)

Again the race enters the mountains in the central part of France. After a tricky start with the Cote de Poulin (2.8 KM, 8.9%) the race will head towards Saint Etienne. Meanwhile the peloton will have to tackle the Col de la Croix-du-Chabouret (15 KM, 4%), but overall the route isn't too hard. After 100 kilometres, the race will enter the Forez Mountains. First, the Col de la Croix de l'Homme-Mort (14 KM, 5.1%), and the Col des Supeyres (13 KM, 3.2) are on the menu. However, the real action may be expected in the last 35 Kilometres of this stage, when the two hardest climbs of this region needs to be tackled in a row:

The Col du Chansert (10 KM, 6%)

And the Col du Beal (12 KM, 6.8%)

If raced properly, this can become a very interesting stage!

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

Tour de france without Alps and Pyrenees

Stage 17: Montbrison - Bourg en Bresse (150 KM)

I don't have anything special to say about this stage. The sprinters deserve some opportunities too!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Very,very slowly I'm continueing my Tour without Alps and Pyrenees. I'm happy that the rest of you guys don't feel the need to hurry either

I have a couple of races I'm almost up to posting, but a few tweaks here and there are needed and the current issues with tracks4bikers is waylaying me!

The question is, which to post? I have a pretty much complete Paris-Nice I could start off on, a Volta a Brasil that I could start as the stages needing tweaking are some way in, or another Vuelta where it's just a couple of opening stages that need sorting out?

I'm trying to work out whether you're going to go to Corsica or stay close at hand and finish in the Jura.

 

[rghysens]

I'm trying to work out whether you're going to go to Corsica or stay close at hand and finish in the Jura.

Probably Jura. I see Col de la Biche + Col du Grand Colombier + Mont Clergeon looming on the horizon.

 

[Netserk]

Probably Jura. I see Col de la Biche + Col du Grand Colombier + Mont Clergeon looming on the horizon.

Been there, done that

 

[rghysens]

Been there, done that

And so have I.

 

[Netserk]

And so have I.

How embarrasing I thought it was a truly original stage, when I made it.

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

Tour de france without Alps and Pyrenees

You guys are pretty close. I would have loved to include Corsica in my race, but couldn't find a right was to do so. So it's indeed time for the Jura now. The next two stages will be the queen stages of this Tour!

Stage 18: Bourg-en-Bresse - le Bourget-du-lac (183 KM)

I was very lucky to find out that the Mont du Chat was also part of the Jura Mountains. This gave me the possibility to create a second monster stage and a proper downhill finish. Both of the Jura stages are designed with the purpose to encourage early attacks. There is no time trial left, so these mountains are the last final opportunity to gain the yellow jersey.

After the start in Bourg-en-Bresse it doesn't take long to enter the mountains. The first half of this stage is characterized by three short but steep climbs. When the race enters the Rhone Valley the riders can enjoy a little moment of rest,before the final starts with 60 KM to go. First, it's time for the Col du Mont Tournier. Straight after the descend the Col de l'Epine appears. And then... then it's time for this:

The Mont du Chat is already included in a lot of fantasy Tours, and there is a reason for it. It is a monster of a climb which can be perfectly linked to other climbs and it has an awesome descend. Today, a lot of firework may be expected!

Climbs:
Boyeux-Saint-Jerome (5 KM, 7.4%)
Evosges (6.5 KM, 6.7%)
Col des Portes (7.7 KM, 6.2%)
Col du Mont-Tournier (9.3 KM, 6.2%)
Col de l'Epine (9.4 KM, 7.5%)
le Mont-du-Chat (9.4 KM, 9.7%)

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

Tour de france without Alps and Pyrenees

Stage 19: Aix les Bains - le Grand Colombier (125 KM)

The final mountain stage! I like to follow the despicable Tour tradition by making this a really short one. In first instance I created a much harder and longer stage. But afterwards I realized that by doing so, I would propably kill the rest of the stages. Luckily, this stage is short but not soft. Some of you were hoping for the Col de la Biche, Grand Colombier and le Mont-Clergeon. Well, you will get even more!

After leaving Aix les Bains the riders can cruize a bit along the Lac du Bourget. However, after 12 KM the fun has ended when the Col du Sapenay needs to be climbed. I was not really sure whether this climb belongs to the Alps or the Jura, but this site convinced me I was allowed to include it. The same holds for the Mont Clergeon, so I decided to include this climb as well. The third climb of the day is the Cote de Bezonne. Basically, it's the first part of the Grand Colombier ascend. Only halfway, the riders will go back to the valley. It would be a shame to already finish this stage, because that would prevent me for including the best couple of mountains outside the Alps and Pyrenees! The Col de la Biche and the Grand Colombier! I absolutely love both climbs. The col de la Biche is both long and pretty steep, and the Grand Colombier is just ridiculously steep! Halfway the climb is a section of 3 KM averaging 12%. Isn't this climb a great location to decide the GC Battle?

Climbs:
Col du Sapenay (9.5 KM, 6.8%)
le Mont-Clergeon (7.5 KM, 7.5%)
Cote de Bezonne (8 KM, 8.1%)
Col de la Biche (11.2 KM, 8.4%)

Col du Grand-Colombier (8.6 KM, 10%)

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

Tour de france without Alps and Pyrenees

Stage 20: Evry - Paris (126 KM)

Off course, even this strange Tour will finish with a parade stage on the Champs Elysees. Over here you can find an overview of this Tour. Even though it seemed hard to create a proper Tour without using the main mountain ranges, I think I quite succeeded in doing so. Despite nearly 90 KM of time trials, I really feel that I've created a balanced route which may even favour the climbers!

Even more interesting, I've created a lot of mountain stages which eventually even didn't made the final cut. For instance, I could have included a stage in the northern part of the Vosges, or one with the col du Chevreres and Planche des Belles filles. I also could have created some hilly stages through the Cantal Mountains. I could have decided to make a hilly stage around Saint Etienne, Mende or Lodeve. And as Libertine pointed out, Corse is full of possibilities as well. Even the Jura mountains provide a lot more opportunities as I already used. What about a spiced up version of the Tour de l'Ain stage towards Lelex?

Secretly I hope that the Tour de France directors will be inspired by this course. Off course, I don't want them to skip the Alps and the Pyrenees. But there are so many opportunities to make the stages in between more interesting. I hope you guys have enjoyed this Tour!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I've always thought a Corsica stage would be great with an MTF at the Gorges de la Restonica. 15km, 6,4%, some bits over 11%, great scenery with a car park at the summit that would hopefully be enough to host the Tour.

 

[roundabout]

http://tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/164339

option 2

http://tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/164360

Profile of the last climb

http://cyclingcols.com/profiles/CroixDeBoutieresE.gif

Not that difficult, but ok as an early GC stage

 

[fauniera]

Secretly I hope that the Tour de France directors will be inspired by this course. Of course, I don't want them to skip the Alps and the Pyrenees. But there are so many opportunities to make the stages in between more interesting. I hope you guys have enjoyed this Tour!

Oh yes, i have enjoyed it. Don't have much hope for ASO learning anything, though.

 

[rghysens]

Makes me want to go on holiday to Corsica.

 

[Netserk]

tracks4bikers is 'working' again (temporarily).

Screen dump of the beta version:

http://i.snag.gy/1Gtqr.jpg

 

[Netserk]

http://tracks4bikers.com/beta_tracks

 

[fauniera]

Thanks. This Beta is much worse than the old one though, let's hope they improve it.

 

[thehog]

1987 Giro downhill ITT off the Poggio.

Complete with Pat McQuaid commentary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOvoy3yrVeY&sns=em

What a ridiculous stage!

 

[Lupetto]

It's fantastic.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

In this cold winter months, I started designing my own race.
It's a tour of Belgium. Only the first stages are finished, but I'll post what I got so far.

It is a 6 day race, with 7 stages. First day is prologue+short stage. I think the one who wins this will have to be a true specialist of Belgian races. The whole country is used (not that hard for a country the size of a big football field), and I tried to visit some places with rich Cycling History.

Day 1: Prologue + Stage 1

Prologue - Bruges, 3km
The tour starts in Bruges, since this is the most scenic starting place for a cycling race ever.

The narrow streets could deliver a very technical course with lots of turns, but I didn't want to make it too dangerous. So right now it is basically 3km with 4 turns: http://goo.gl/maps/qkTMA

Stage 1: Bruges-Ypres, 104km
A short stage, just over 100km. From Bruges we head towards the coast, which we follow all the way west. From there we go back inland, and finish just in front of the Menen Gate in Ypres.
Under this gate they still have a daily memorial to honor the fallen soldiers in WWI which will have started exactly 100 years ago next year.

Apparently this was also the finish line of a 2011 Tour of Belgium stage. This also seems to b where the Roubaix stage of next years tour will start.
Full course: http://goo.gl/maps/cDNNL

Day 2, Stage 2: Ypres-Lokeren
This stage I wanted to use a lot of the Flemish cobbled roads, some are well known, but some are starting to be forgotten. But before we reach the cobbles, we will visit a place which is holy for all Belgian cyclingfans: Ploegsteert. This is where VDB was raised to be GOD, and this is where VDB will always remain GOD.

On our way to Ploegsteert, we pass by some nice hills in "Het Heuvelland": Rodeberg and Scherpenberg. Not very hard hills, and way too early in the stage to be of any impact (well maybe a first breakaway might form here), but I really like them (especially Rodeberg). I don't know the area that well though, and I'm sure there's a lot of hills there that are overlooked by Ghent-Wevelgem every year.
From Ploegsteert on, we continue to other places that every cycling fan will have heard of: we pass through Wevelgem, Kuurne & Harelbeke, and continue direction Oudenaarde.

This is where the cobbles start!
1. Huisepontweg 1500m
2. Doorn 1650m
3. Katteberg 1,3km
4. Ruiterstraat-Kerkgate 3,8km
5. Jagerij: 730m
6. Haaghoek: 2300m
7. Paddestraat: 2400m
8. Lippenhovestraat: 1300m
9. Lange Munte: 2470m
10. Laarne: 1200m
11. Krimineelstraat: 350m
12. Steenbeekstraat: 600m
13. Berringstraat: 500m
14. Koningsstraat: 900m
15. Vogelzangstraat 1300m

This is more than 20km of cobbles. Some of them (like the ones in Laarne) are no big deal, but others should have what it takes to make this a really cool stage.
As you can see, the last part, From Laarne onwards, is an exact copy of the old Omloop Het Volk finish! I don't think any pro race uses this cobbles anymore, which is a real shame. Vogelzangstraat is a real classic.

Last time they used it, Gilbert still looked like this:

Full course:
pt 1 http://goo.gl/maps/PJmOf
pt 2

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Day 3: Oudenaarde-Geraardsbergen ITT, 48km

This is my favorite. No more hiding, this is stuff for real Flandriens. It's an ITT, but I doubt you'd see any TT bikes here. 48 km between the current starting place of the RvV and the most legendary of all Flemish hills. There's a total of 9 hills in here, btw!
It's also a comeback of the temple of the Flandrien, the palace of every cycling lover: De Muur van Geraardsbergen. I can't imagine there any nicer place in the world to end a Time Trial

1. Volkegemberg. 1000m, 5% av. 12% max
2. Eikenberg. 1250m, 5,8% av. 10% max
3. Kapelleberg. 700m, 6% av. 14% max
4. Varent. 1220m, 5,6% av. 16% max
5. Leberg. 700m, 6% av. 14% max
6. Berendries. 930m, 7% av. 12,3% max
7. Valkenberg. 875m, 6% av. 15% max
8. Ten Bosse. 450m, 7% av 8,7% max
9. De Muur-Kapelmuur. 1075m, 9%av 19,2% max

Somehow bu coincidence I notice this is almost an exact copy of the 2010 RvV. I didn't mean to do this, I just wanted to use as much of the hills between the two cities, while avoiding the cobbles I used in stage 2.
http://goo.gl/maps/8oN10

 

[jsem94]

1987 Giro downhill ITT off the Poggio.

Complete with Pat McQuaid commentary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOvoy3yrVeY&sns=em

What a ridiculous stage!

Absolute madness.

 

[Lupetto]

This was a perfect GT opening. Prologue of 4 kms, then stage 1a was a mountain race to San Romolo of 31 kms and then we had stage 1b the Poggio Downhill race. Fantastic. Wish there were race organizers who have the guts to try something like this again. It's like rallye racing, packed with lots of action.

Rest of the race also fantastic.

http://www.podiumcafe.com/2011/6/6/2209374/Stephen-Roche

Tour of 87 and Vuelta 87, too. Fantastic races.