- May 6, 2009
- 8,522
- 1
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I've been working on a Tour of Macedonia and I'm nearly finished, where we have some tough MTF and some passes well over 1100m, but the problem I'm having is the distance between passes, where on one stage I have nearly 80km of flat in between climbs, nullifying the first mountain pass.
I also go close to the borders of Albania and Greece, not sure if there is some political hot water there.
I also go close to the borders of Albania and Greece, not sure if there is some political hot water there.
- May 6, 2009
- 8,522
- 1
- 0
Tour of Macedonia
Ok boys and girls, here is my Tour of Macedonia, I'm going to post the prolouge for now, and then I'll have some breakfast.
Tour of Macedonia, Skopje prolouge - 3.5km (x 2 laps):
Map and profile
Starting and finishing in the Citadel Park in the Macedonian capital of Skopje, the riders will complete two laps of the 3.5km circuit, going past the US Embassy. For logistical purposes, no team cars will be used.
Ok boys and girls, here is my Tour of Macedonia, I'm going to post the prolouge for now, and then I'll have some breakfast.
Tour of Macedonia, Skopje prolouge - 3.5km (x 2 laps):
Map and profile
Starting and finishing in the Citadel Park in the Macedonian capital of Skopje, the riders will complete two laps of the 3.5km circuit, going past the US Embassy. For logistical purposes, no team cars will be used.
- Feb 20, 2010
- 33,057
- 15,237
- 28,180
- Mar 24, 2011
- 10,525
- 1,923
- 25,680
No Stage race this time. I just designed a good ITT in my city.
Genova - Genova 51 kms
As you can see, it's a really hard TT with a 1st category plus a bunch of short and quite steep climbs (with very irregular slopes that makes them seem gentler than they actually are). My legs can tell you that there are no easy climbs here.
First of all, the riders will go 14 kms mostly flat (though there are a few lesser "climbs" - let's say - 100m long here and there) before climbing the main difficulty of the race: the climb to Forte Begato
As you can see, very irregular slopes, a feature of all the roads here in Genova (where the flat doesn't exist actually)
After this thing long and very technical descent to reach the sea level, then the road goes up again for the climb of Castelletto (I live on the top of that). From the profile it seems a piece of cake but this is just due to the filter... the final part reach 10% for 200-300m.
then again, descending false flat to reach the climb of Oregina, with the first slopes that gets comfortably above 12%. From this area, the landscape is quite awesome.
After a fast descent, there's the shortest and steepest climb of the day, the road up to the Mura di Sant'Erasmo, with the first 100m above 20% (I can't do that by bike myself). Here's a picture from streetview
Other technical descent and there's the final bump of the day, the climb of Corso Monte Grappa (average 6% but sectors up to 10%).
Finally the riders will go down again 'til the finishing line.
Genova - Genova 51 kms
As you can see, it's a really hard TT with a 1st category plus a bunch of short and quite steep climbs (with very irregular slopes that makes them seem gentler than they actually are). My legs can tell you that there are no easy climbs here.
First of all, the riders will go 14 kms mostly flat (though there are a few lesser "climbs" - let's say - 100m long here and there) before climbing the main difficulty of the race: the climb to Forte Begato
As you can see, very irregular slopes, a feature of all the roads here in Genova (where the flat doesn't exist actually)
After this thing long and very technical descent to reach the sea level, then the road goes up again for the climb of Castelletto (I live on the top of that). From the profile it seems a piece of cake but this is just due to the filter... the final part reach 10% for 200-300m.
then again, descending false flat to reach the climb of Oregina, with the first slopes that gets comfortably above 12%. From this area, the landscape is quite awesome.
After a fast descent, there's the shortest and steepest climb of the day, the road up to the Mura di Sant'Erasmo, with the first 100m above 20% (I can't do that by bike myself). Here's a picture from streetview
Other technical descent and there's the final bump of the day, the climb of Corso Monte Grappa (average 6% but sectors up to 10%).
Finally the riders will go down again 'til the finishing line.
- May 6, 2009
- 8,522
- 1
- 0
Stage 1 - Skopje - Popova Sapka - 107.5km:
Map and profile
Stage 1 starts again in Skopje and despite being a short stage, does not have an easy finish with an 18km climb to the finish at the ski resort of Popova Sapka. Aside from some hills through Vodno (it looks like a a forest?), it's a flat run to go along the outskirts of Tetovo, before starting the climb at 89km. The max. gradient tops out at 16% and the finish is at 1735m above sea level. Unfortunately there are no profiles for climbs in Macedonia on climbbybike, but if any do, please refer them to me
Map and profile
Stage 1 starts again in Skopje and despite being a short stage, does not have an easy finish with an 18km climb to the finish at the ski resort of Popova Sapka. Aside from some hills through Vodno (it looks like a a forest?), it's a flat run to go along the outskirts of Tetovo, before starting the climb at 89km. The max. gradient tops out at 16% and the finish is at 1735m above sea level. Unfortunately there are no profiles for climbs in Macedonia on climbbybike, but if any do, please refer them to me
- May 6, 2009
- 8,522
- 1
- 0
Stage 2 - Gostivar - Struga - 144km:
Map and profile
Today is a day for the sprinters, but if you're a pure sprinter who gets dropped on a speed bump, best not to bother with this race. Starting in Gostivar, the peloton is climbing straight away with the bulk of the action going through the Mavroro National Park which will take them as high as 1709m, which goes past the Mavroro Lake, the Zare Lazarevski Ski resort, down past the town of Debar where we go close to the Albanian border, where it is a constant undulating run, until the final 16km which is flat where we finish in Struga on the shore of Lake Orhid, again not that far from Albania.
Mavrovo Lake:
Map and profile
Today is a day for the sprinters, but if you're a pure sprinter who gets dropped on a speed bump, best not to bother with this race. Starting in Gostivar, the peloton is climbing straight away with the bulk of the action going through the Mavroro National Park which will take them as high as 1709m, which goes past the Mavroro Lake, the Zare Lazarevski Ski resort, down past the town of Debar where we go close to the Albanian border, where it is a constant undulating run, until the final 16km which is flat where we finish in Struga on the shore of Lake Orhid, again not that far from Albania.
Mavrovo Lake:
- Feb 20, 2010
- 33,057
- 15,237
- 28,180
Just going by the numbers on the profile, that final climb is 18km @ 6,9%. In stage 1. The GC battle sure starts early, don't see any possibility for any "sprinters hold the jersey for the first few days" kind of nonsense with you!
- Feb 20, 2010
- 33,057
- 15,237
- 28,180
While we're doing the whole epic climbing thing, I'll crack on with the next stage of my Grand Basque race.
Stage 4: Mauléon-Licharre - Roncesvalles (Ortzanzurieta), 155km
One half of our twin queen stages, this stage partially retraces our steps from yesterday, starting in Iparralde and ending in Nafarroa with our first mountaintop finish, atop the imposing Ortzanzurieta on the southernmost tip of the Pyrénées.
The stage starts in Mauléon-Licharre, where we finished yesterday, and starts off with a period of typical hilliness, with two small lumps in the first 30km, before reaching Tardets-Sorhous, where we have a phase of false flat before the first of three big obstacles on the day - the Col de Bagargui. With the initial false flat taken out, this is 14,5km at an average of just 6,5%, but with the descent in the middle and long phases over 12%, this one will put a lot of pain into the legs.
After this, however, there is a long stretch of flat, during which Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port hosts its second intermediate sprint in as many days, before we hit the double-whammy of final climbs; first up is the difficult Col d'Arnostegi. This is actually the easier side of the climb, believe it or not, looking at all those vicious sections of 10%+. However, there is still plenty of opportunity to make a move on this climb, with its uneven nature, various little walls and platforms to attack on; even more so, the descent, which is fast, twisty and could be dramatic - especially with bonus seconds available at the intermediate sprint at Arnéguy, at the base of the descent and on the Franco-Spanish border. This also serves as the base of the final climb of the day, the long trek up to the camping place at the summit of Ortzanzurieta. The first part of this climb is not too strenuous; APM record it as 17km @ 4,5%, though that includes some false flat at the start. From kilometre 10 to 18 it is never below 5%, mostly averaging a high five or low six. At kilometre 18, we hit the Puerto de Ibañeta, and turn left off the main road onto the Calle de Nuestra Señora de Roncesvalles, which will take us up to the summit. And apart from a brief descent after the Collado de Lepoeder, it does not get below 8% for the last 6 and a half kilometres, with the steepest gradient being 20%, met 3,5km from home, and the road surface gets progressively worse the further you go up as well, owing to regular snow coverage and lack of usage and maintenance.
It may be that the riders choose to leave it late, or will rest back into the péloton if any attacks on Arnostegui or the descent fail, but there can be no resting up in that final few kilometres; riders will be coming in individually here.
Climbs:
Côte de Barcus (cat.3) 2,9km @ 7,3%
Uthurry (cat.3) 3,1km @ 7,5%
Col de Bagargui (cat.B) 14,5km @ 6,5%
Col d'Arnostegui (cat.B) 17,6km @ 5,7%
Ortzanzurieta (cat.B) 24,3km @ 5,4%
Esprinteanak:
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (88km)
Arnéguy (131km)
Ortzanzurieta:
The road to Ortzanzurieta:
Stage 4: Mauléon-Licharre - Roncesvalles (Ortzanzurieta), 155km
One half of our twin queen stages, this stage partially retraces our steps from yesterday, starting in Iparralde and ending in Nafarroa with our first mountaintop finish, atop the imposing Ortzanzurieta on the southernmost tip of the Pyrénées.
The stage starts in Mauléon-Licharre, where we finished yesterday, and starts off with a period of typical hilliness, with two small lumps in the first 30km, before reaching Tardets-Sorhous, where we have a phase of false flat before the first of three big obstacles on the day - the Col de Bagargui. With the initial false flat taken out, this is 14,5km at an average of just 6,5%, but with the descent in the middle and long phases over 12%, this one will put a lot of pain into the legs.
After this, however, there is a long stretch of flat, during which Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port hosts its second intermediate sprint in as many days, before we hit the double-whammy of final climbs; first up is the difficult Col d'Arnostegi. This is actually the easier side of the climb, believe it or not, looking at all those vicious sections of 10%+. However, there is still plenty of opportunity to make a move on this climb, with its uneven nature, various little walls and platforms to attack on; even more so, the descent, which is fast, twisty and could be dramatic - especially with bonus seconds available at the intermediate sprint at Arnéguy, at the base of the descent and on the Franco-Spanish border. This also serves as the base of the final climb of the day, the long trek up to the camping place at the summit of Ortzanzurieta. The first part of this climb is not too strenuous; APM record it as 17km @ 4,5%, though that includes some false flat at the start. From kilometre 10 to 18 it is never below 5%, mostly averaging a high five or low six. At kilometre 18, we hit the Puerto de Ibañeta, and turn left off the main road onto the Calle de Nuestra Señora de Roncesvalles, which will take us up to the summit. And apart from a brief descent after the Collado de Lepoeder, it does not get below 8% for the last 6 and a half kilometres, with the steepest gradient being 20%, met 3,5km from home, and the road surface gets progressively worse the further you go up as well, owing to regular snow coverage and lack of usage and maintenance.
It may be that the riders choose to leave it late, or will rest back into the péloton if any attacks on Arnostegui or the descent fail, but there can be no resting up in that final few kilometres; riders will be coming in individually here.
Climbs:
Côte de Barcus (cat.3) 2,9km @ 7,3%
Uthurry (cat.3) 3,1km @ 7,5%
Col de Bagargui (cat.B) 14,5km @ 6,5%
Col d'Arnostegui (cat.B) 17,6km @ 5,7%
Ortzanzurieta (cat.B) 24,3km @ 5,4%
Esprinteanak:
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (88km)
Arnéguy (131km)
Ortzanzurieta:
The road to Ortzanzurieta:
- Feb 20, 2010
- 33,057
- 15,237
- 28,180
After transferring back up to the coastline, it's time for an intermediate stage on the Sunday ahead of the rest day.
Stage 5: Bayonne - Saint-Jean-de-Luz, 173km
Our final day in Iparralde begins in the capital, and loops around, finishing just 30km from where it began, with a long, clockwise loop that crosses the border between Iparralde and Nafarroa four times, over a series of climbs. None of these climbs are especially challenging (though the first and smallest does get up to 17% at times) but they are continuous; seven climbs in total are categorised in today's stage, 4 at category 3 and 3 at category 2. The biggest obstacle of the day is the Col d'Izpeguy, which the péloton will already have seen, having climbed the easier Spanish side of it two days ago.
The final climb of the day is the Col d'Ibardin, a relatively unthreatening climb that nevertheless reaches a reasonable level of steepness near the top. It will be used as an MTF in the Vuelta al País Vasco next year, but here we're content to use it as the last climb of the day and have a run-in afterward; it crests 14 kilometres from the finish, and then it's a fast chase into Saint-Jean-de-Luz, where we will finish outside Cesta Punta Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the local Jai-Alai frontón, after an uncategorised grind up to the Tour de Bordagain in the neighbouring town of Ciboure; this is about 750m long, at an average of 9,1% and a maximum of 18%, and the riders will pass the tower at the top with 3,5km left; this is one where the sprinters will really, really have to be on a good day to contend; the puncheurs will see many, many opportunities for them to attack, and time could easily be made and lost on the narrow roads of Ciboure just as on the other mountain passes. The final straight, however, is long, flat and wide, and so the fighting for the win from an élite group could get very tactical.
Climbs:
Intchaurmendi (cat.3) 1,5km @ 7,7%
Mocorréta (cat.2) 5,2km @ 5,8%
Gastigarlepoa (cat.3) 4,3km @ 6,0%
Col d'Izpegui (cat.2) 8,8km @ 5,8%
Puerto de Otxondo (cat.3) 6,0km @ 4,7%
Puerto de Lizarrieta (cat.2) 5,3km @ 5,8%
Col d'Ibardin (cat.3) 6,0km @ 4,5%
Esprinteanak:
Hasparren (36km)
Ainhoa (118km)
Bayonne:
Saint-Jean-de-Luz:
Stage 5: Bayonne - Saint-Jean-de-Luz, 173km
Our final day in Iparralde begins in the capital, and loops around, finishing just 30km from where it began, with a long, clockwise loop that crosses the border between Iparralde and Nafarroa four times, over a series of climbs. None of these climbs are especially challenging (though the first and smallest does get up to 17% at times) but they are continuous; seven climbs in total are categorised in today's stage, 4 at category 3 and 3 at category 2. The biggest obstacle of the day is the Col d'Izpeguy, which the péloton will already have seen, having climbed the easier Spanish side of it two days ago.
The final climb of the day is the Col d'Ibardin, a relatively unthreatening climb that nevertheless reaches a reasonable level of steepness near the top. It will be used as an MTF in the Vuelta al País Vasco next year, but here we're content to use it as the last climb of the day and have a run-in afterward; it crests 14 kilometres from the finish, and then it's a fast chase into Saint-Jean-de-Luz, where we will finish outside Cesta Punta Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the local Jai-Alai frontón, after an uncategorised grind up to the Tour de Bordagain in the neighbouring town of Ciboure; this is about 750m long, at an average of 9,1% and a maximum of 18%, and the riders will pass the tower at the top with 3,5km left; this is one where the sprinters will really, really have to be on a good day to contend; the puncheurs will see many, many opportunities for them to attack, and time could easily be made and lost on the narrow roads of Ciboure just as on the other mountain passes. The final straight, however, is long, flat and wide, and so the fighting for the win from an élite group could get very tactical.
Climbs:
Intchaurmendi (cat.3) 1,5km @ 7,7%
Mocorréta (cat.2) 5,2km @ 5,8%
Gastigarlepoa (cat.3) 4,3km @ 6,0%
Col d'Izpegui (cat.2) 8,8km @ 5,8%
Puerto de Otxondo (cat.3) 6,0km @ 4,7%
Puerto de Lizarrieta (cat.2) 5,3km @ 5,8%
Col d'Ibardin (cat.3) 6,0km @ 4,5%
Esprinteanak:
Hasparren (36km)
Ainhoa (118km)
Bayonne:
Saint-Jean-de-Luz:
- Jul 5, 2011
- 3,348
- 1
- 13,480
Seeing as people have created races for Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man & Cornwall, I thought I'd have a go at one for another of the Celtic nations.
Tour of Wales
A hilly six-stage race covering most of the country. There should be a stage to suit most types of rider, from sprinters to climbers.
Stage 1
Cardiff - Carmarthen (136km). A short undulating stage which should end up with a sprint finish. The only notable climb is right at the beginning of the stage so its only significance may be as a launching pad for the days break.
Tour of Wales
A hilly six-stage race covering most of the country. There should be a stage to suit most types of rider, from sprinters to climbers.
Stage 1
Cardiff - Carmarthen (136km). A short undulating stage which should end up with a sprint finish. The only notable climb is right at the beginning of the stage so its only significance may be as a launching pad for the days break.
- Jul 5, 2011
- 3,348
- 1
- 13,480
Stage 2
Rhayader - Rhayader ITT (27km). A fairly technical time trial through the Elan Valley.
A bit of a fantasy stage really, Rhyader is a small town miles away from anywhere, but I had to include a stage in this part of Wales for the scenery.
Rhayader - Rhayader ITT (27km). A fairly technical time trial through the Elan Valley.
A bit of a fantasy stage really, Rhyader is a small town miles away from anywhere, but I had to include a stage in this part of Wales for the scenery.
- Jul 5, 2011
- 3,348
- 1
- 13,480
Stage 3
Aberystwyth - Caernarfon (176km). The first proper hilly stage.
Highlight of the day is undoubtedly Bwlch-y-Groes (Cat.2) (Profile) which lies in wait less than half way into the stage.
That's followed by the long drag up Dol-y-Moch and then there's a few short climbs (including a nasty little Cat.3) to keep things interesting before the finish down by Caernarfon Castle.
Aberystwyth - Caernarfon (176km). The first proper hilly stage.
Highlight of the day is undoubtedly Bwlch-y-Groes (Cat.2) (Profile) which lies in wait less than half way into the stage.
That's followed by the long drag up Dol-y-Moch and then there's a few short climbs (including a nasty little Cat.3) to keep things interesting before the finish down by Caernarfon Castle.
- Jul 5, 2011
- 3,348
- 1
- 13,480
Stage 4
Bangor - Bwlch Penbarras (197km). A 'mountain' top finish.
There are 6 climbs of varying difficulty spread throughout this stage. In order they are; Llanberis Pass(Cat.3), Ffynnon Eidda(Cat.2), Hirnant Pass(Cat.4), Milltir Cerrig(Cat.2), Horseshoe Pass(Cat.2) and finally the 'mountain' top finish at Bwlch Penbarras(Cat.2), which has some nice steep sections.
Bwlch Penbarras (Profile)
Llanberis Pass (Profile)
Bangor - Bwlch Penbarras (197km). A 'mountain' top finish.
There are 6 climbs of varying difficulty spread throughout this stage. In order they are; Llanberis Pass(Cat.3), Ffynnon Eidda(Cat.2), Hirnant Pass(Cat.4), Milltir Cerrig(Cat.2), Horseshoe Pass(Cat.2) and finally the 'mountain' top finish at Bwlch Penbarras(Cat.2), which has some nice steep sections.
Bwlch Penbarras (Profile)
Llanberis Pass (Profile)
- Jul 5, 2011
- 3,348
- 1
- 13,480
Stage 5
Wrexham - Newport (212km). A long, reasonably flat stage, weaving in and out of the Wales-England border as the race travels back to the South. Should be one for the sprinters.
Wrexham - Newport (212km). A long, reasonably flat stage, weaving in and out of the Wales-England border as the race travels back to the South. Should be one for the sprinters.
- Jul 5, 2011
- 3,348
- 1
- 13,480
Stage 6
Swansea - Cardiff (208km). The finale. Back to the hilly stuff as the race travels between the two biggest cities in Wales to finish.
I like to think of this stage in two parts. Part one leads the peleton in and out of the Brecon Beacons with the highlight being the ascent and descent of Black Mountain.
The second part of the stage takes the riders through the South Wales Valleys with back-to-back Cat.2 climbs; Bwlch-y-Clawdd & Rhigos, then the Cat.3, Maerdy Mountain/Bryn Du (Profile).
And if that wasn't enough, there's a small climb 15km from the finish to mix things up even further before the race concludes.
Swansea - Cardiff (208km). The finale. Back to the hilly stuff as the race travels between the two biggest cities in Wales to finish.
I like to think of this stage in two parts. Part one leads the peleton in and out of the Brecon Beacons with the highlight being the ascent and descent of Black Mountain.
The second part of the stage takes the riders through the South Wales Valleys with back-to-back Cat.2 climbs; Bwlch-y-Clawdd & Rhigos, then the Cat.3, Maerdy Mountain/Bryn Du (Profile).
And if that wasn't enough, there's a small climb 15km from the finish to mix things up even further before the race concludes.
- Feb 20, 2010
- 33,057
- 15,237
- 28,180
Although it might be predictable, I would perhaps have suggested running the final stage in reverse and putting the Constitution Hill climb that the Tour of Britain did in 2010 in there for the finale - that was a great little climb and could certainly make for a good finale if the race is close. The mountaintop/hilltop finish too - is there much room at the top there? It looks absolutely vicious and I hope the Tour of Britain can use it. Overall though, with tours of Scotland and Wales (and Cornwall and the Isle of Man in one-day race form) and some of the climbs in England the old Milk race used to do (there are some in the unknown climbs thread), it looks like there's plenty of terrain to make a really good Tour of Britain, which only serves to make it even more frustrating that it's essentially a low-rent version of the Eneco Tour in parcours at present.
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