Race Design Thread

[Progsprach]

Montéllimar - Montpellier (160km)
Since I want to avoid getting slaughtered by an angry lynchmob of sprinters, I should end the first week with a little more usual fare. On the way from Montéllimar to Montpellier the riders will face no classified climbs, two intermediate sprints in Peierremar and Nimes and a pretty straightforward lead-in for the almost inevitable sprint.

 

[Progsprach]

Montpellier - Carcassone (151km)
With the Pyrenees looming for the weekend, the sprinters get one more stage for appeasement. No climbs are on the schedule, only two intermediate sprints in Beziers and Oblonzac. The lead-in into Carcassone contains a brief ascent and descent, but with the gradients barely going above 3%, they will not pose much of a challenge.

 

[Gigs_98]

1. why the hell is the first picture I posted deleted?
2. @ progsprach: The cobbles are in good conditions. I have a friend who is a triathlete and he uses this street for training (and he is only 16 years old) so I think it shouldn't be a big problem.

Do you havexany pictures of that descent/climb or any others?
Also what would you call it? The Klassiker von Wien sounds good.

1.) "Klassiker von Wien"? that doesn't sound really good In my opinion "Wiener Klassik" or something like that would be better. Im also not sure if a german or an english name would be better
2.) Here I also have some pictures. this is a picture of the last climb

by the way, with "big parts of the last climb and the last descent are cobbled" I meant that big parts of the ascent are cobbled. Only the first half of the descent has some cobbled sections
This is a picture of the finish-town

And here are three pictures which should show you how the finish would work
1.they will cycle up this rode until a left turn

2. After this left turn they will cycle on under the bridge you can see

3. Finally the finish line will be on the right side of the white statue you see in the distance of this picture

And finally here is a picture of Schönbrunn where the start would take place

 

[Progsprach]

Foix - Plateau de Beille (161km)
The first mountains stage (other than the MTT) is a little shorter, but the riders will be given very little respite. After the start in Foix, the rider will immediately begin ascending the Col de Marrous (8.5km@5.4%, cat3) and after the descent immediately tackle the ascent to Esplas-de-Serrou (3.9km@7.2%,cat3). After a few km of false flats the steep Col de la Crouzette will provide the first big challenge of the stage (7.4km@9%,cat1). The intermediate sprint in Massat is therefore very likely to go to a breakaway. The next climb to Port du Lers is more gradual (12.7km@5.9%,cat2). After the descent the riders get about 15km worth of flats before the climb to Savartes(4.8km@7.1%,cat3) serves as the harbinger to the MTF at Plataeu de Beille (15.2km@7.8%, HC).

 

[Progsprach]

1.) "Klassiker von Wien"? that doesn't sound really good In my opinion "Wiener Klassik" or something like that would be better. Im also not sure if a german or an english name would be better

Rund um Wien perhaps?

 

[Gigs_98]

1.) "Klassiker von Wien"? that doesn't sound really good In my opinion "Wiener Klassik" or something like that would be better. Im also not sure if a german or an english name would be better

Rund um Wien perhaps?

1.) Until now I really like your tour
2.) Rund um Wien would be perfect

 

[lemon cheese cake]

1.) "Klassiker von Wien"? that doesn't sound really good In my opinion "Wiener Klassik" or something like that would be better. Im also not sure if a german or an english name would be better

Rund um Wien perhaps?

1.) Until now I really like your tour
2.) Rund um Wien would be perfect

Yep thats a much better name. I'm just boring and unimaginative

Once i've finished designing my Giro della Campania, i'll post my Ronde van Nederland.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

1.) "Klassiker von Wien"? that doesn't sound really good In my opinion "Wiener Klassik" or something like that would be better. Im also not sure if a german or an english name would be better
2.) Here I also have some pictures. this is a picture of the last climb

by the way, with "big parts of the last climb and the last descent are cobbled" I meant that big parts of the ascent are cobbled. Only the first half of the descent has some cobbled sections
This is a picture of the finish-town

And here are three pictures which should show you how the finish would work
1.they will cycle up this rode until a left turn

2. After this left turn they will cycle on under the bridge you can see

3. Finally the finish line will be on the right side of the white statue you see in the distance of this picture

And finally here is a picture of Schönbrunn where the start would take place

The descent seems fine, and looks less rough than the at the Casselberg at the Tour last year.

 

[Progsprach]

Saint-Giros - Viros (231km)
After the strain of the last stage, many riders would probably wish for something easier, but life is not a picnic. The race begins at the Col de la Core (nominally 23.5km@3.5%, but really a three steps climb with gradients averaging 6-7%, cat 2). A couple of small climbs like to Portet-d'Aspet(5.8km@6.6%,cat4), the Col de Mente(7.8km@6.5%,cat3) and Col de Portillon(10.3km@5.7%,cat2) should make the race selective even before the intermediate sprint in Bagneres-de-Luchon. The Col de Peyresourde (13.6km@6.7%,cat1) is the first big name climb, supplemented by the Col d'Aspin(11.5km@6.1%,cat2) and the final Col de Tourmalet(17.7km@7.1%,HC). After the long descent the final 2.5km are slightly ascending at around 4%.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Good to see a hard stage followed by another tough one. The only way to not lose even more time after yesterday's stage is going on the offensive not the defensive. That would mean we might see something like the second Pyreneen stage in 2013 or last years final Dauphine stage.

 

[Gigs_98]

@Progsprach
Portillon as a 3rd category climb?
I mean you gave almost every climb an category which is lower than normally, but the portillon is definitely no 3rd category climb

 

[McLovin]

Weird profiles for flat stages and super weird categories for mountain stages.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

In 2005 the UCI Protour started. Also the first edition of the Eneco tour of the Benelux. However in 2004, the final Eneco tour of the Netherlands took place. The Ronde van Nederland first started on the 6th May 1948 and ran to 2004. Its final winner was Erik Dekker (NED) of Rabobank. In 2000 it was sponsored by Eneco Energie as the race was faltering. Due to it not being tough enough to be included into the Protour, and was turned into the Tour of the Benelux. It maybe called the Eneco tour of the Benelux, but the race actually hasn't been across the border, from Belgium or the Netherlands into Luxembourg. The first winner of the Eneco tour (of the Netherlands) was also Erik Dekker whereas the first winner of the Eneco tour (of the Benelux) was Bobby Julich.

However I shall focus on the original Eneco Tour. So I present to you, the Ronde van Nederland. This race has one or two stages that have had inspiration from the current Eneco Tour and other places, including other races from here. Enough of me rambling, so lets get on with the race!

Ronde van Nederland Prologue Breda - Breda (1.2km)

Climbs:
None

Primes:
None

Combined Competition:
Climbs and Primes combined with bonus seconds at primes and the finish.

The first day is a split stage. In the morning we have the Prologue. This route starts and finishes on a bridge by the wilhelminasingel. This is where the TT in the Eneco Tour started and finished aswell. They will then turn left and head along a canal parallel to the road. After a right turn they will head along a paved road towards a hairpin. After this the riders will just follow the route they just did, in reverse (hopefully not literally though ). This course is basically just an out and back, so pretty simple to start a race with. At 1.2km their shouldn't be too many time gaps, with the winner probably on the same time of at least another four riders. What it this stage is, is a chance to show all the riders on their own at full tilt.

Start/Finish:

Another view:

 

[Progsprach]

Re:

Weird profiles for flat stages and super weird categories for mountain stages.

The profiles for the flat stages are scaled to their maximum height. That has the disadvantage of making it look weird if one does not look at the scale, but the advantage of making the height differences, if existent, very visible. About the categories, yeah i was very stingy, but if look at my other races, there are some ridiculous climbs there, so i tried to keep it comparible. Might still need some adjusting, though

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I was simply thinking, if Portillon is a cat.3... we are in for one hell of a ride here.

 

[Progsprach]

Re:

I was simply thinking, if Portillon is a cat.3... we are in for one hell of a ride here.

Well, this tour is not actually that ridiculous, it is more about consistency with my Vuelta. Every climb looks a little less impressive when viewded in the shadow of Pico del Veleta.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Onto part two of the first day in the Netherlands:

Ronde van Nederland Stage 1 Breda - Terneuzen (116km)

Climbs:
None

Primes:
Wuustwezel
Brasschaat
Antwerp
Beveren
Axel

Combined Competition:
Climbs and Primes combined with bonus seconds at primes and the finish.

In the afternoon of the first stage, we have Stage 1 this starts in Breda. The riders will head out towards the N263. They will use this straight, flat road all the way to the belgium border, where it will turn into the N1. Shortly after they will reach the first of five primes that are scattered along today's route at Wuustwezel. After that the race will head to the second at Brasschaat. From here their is nothing until we reach the third prime at Antwerp. Here we will pass under the Schelde. Once on the other side, the riders will continue in Belgium to the border back into the Netherlands but in Zeeland this time, not Noord Brabant. The fourth prime is at Beveren in Belgium. Once back in the race's actual country, the riders will ride near Hulst, and onto the final prime at Axel. After that its just a short hop skip and a jump to the finish in Terneuzen.

Start:

Finish:

 

[Progsprach]

Pau - Bayonne (208km)
The reason why I called this the rouleur's GT, seemingly somewhat contradicting the two stages posted before, is that this tour has a format of two real mountain stages per Massif, similar to 2012 (except the stages actually are hard and aren't the only selective ones). Therefore we now leave the pyrenees and ourselves plenty of time for a nice round trip around France to the Alps. We transition through an early intermediate sprint at Arudy and the Col de Marie Blaque (7.5km@6.6%,cat2). After the climb to Larceveau(4.5km@5.8%,cat4) and the second intermediate at Hasparren the finish is slightly ascending, but the 3% slope shoudn't make much of difference for a rider who got over the earlier climbs.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re: Re:

I was simply thinking, if Portillon is a cat.3... we are in for one hell of a ride here.

Well, this tour is not actually that ridiculous, it is more about consistency with my Vuelta. Every climb looks a little less impressive when viewded in the shadow of Pico del Veleta.

I may have to make an exception...

 

[Progsprach]

Re: Re:

I may have to make an exception...

Yes, and the climb in my avatar, Mauna Kea via Hilo, may actually be little harder still (although there is an unpaved section of road in there somewhere, I believe). Let's just limit my statement to climbs somewhat possible to add to a European Race.

 

[Progsprach]

Bordeaux TTT (18km)
Not much to say about this one really, some love them, some hate them, I am in between. For this race I think it fits, because it is a rouleur's tour anyway, although I'd rather have this be double the length and just count only half the gaps. Anyways, I wouldn't expect any decisive gaps at either the time check in Villenave-d'Ornon or the finish, so this is mostly a duel for team prestige occuring just after the rest day.

 

[rghysens]

Since the thread seems to be revived, I'll post one of the races I designed the past months. I have 2 tours of Switzerland and another TdF. I'll start with a Schweiz Rundfahrt, where I'll try to make good use of the countless possibilities Switzerland offers, without exaggerating (so sprinters will have their chance too).

Tour de Suisse, prologue: Lugano - Lugano, 9.1km

I'll start my Tour de Suisse the way it started the last few years in reality: with a prologue (or short TT) in Ticino, the Italian speaking part of Switzerland. It's a pretty straightforward prologue: not too many corners and only a small bump instead of the 3rd category climb we saw the last years. Start and finish location are along the shore of Lago Maggiore, where a pure TT'er should take the stage.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Peter Sagan won a similar stage in 2012 I think.




The Ronde van Nederland will be back tomorrow.

 

[rghysens]

Tour de Suisse, stage 1: Bellinzona - Sankt-Gallen, 234km

The wearer of the Goldtrikot can immediately be tested in this first stage in line, which will be the longest of the whole tour. The race will set from the lovely town Bellinzona. Its three medieval castles earned it a spot on Unesco's world heritage list, but the official start will be a few km further up the road, in Arbedo. After 25km the foot of the Passo del San Bernardino will entice the daring into a breakaway. They'll have plenty of time to create and extend a gap, as the climb proper is 23km long, alternating long stretches of 8% and more with false flat and even a short descent in between. The real descent is steep in some places, but mostly quite shallow and followed by 100km of flat roads, very slowly descending while following the river Rhine until it debouches in the Bodensee (Lake Konstanz). For a few kilometres the course follows the shoreline but then turns southwest, to reach Sankt Gallen after a long false flat, where the sprinters will have their first chance on a stage victory and even to claim the leaders jersey as this is the only stage with bonifications: 20 - 12 - 4 seconds for the first three.

Map & Profile:

Climbs:
Passo San Bernardino: km48.5; 31.3km @ 5.3%; 2065m; HC

 

[rghysens]

Re:

Peter Sagan won a similar stage in 2012 I think.

That was with a decent climb a technical descent in it, iirc