Race Design Thread

[roundabout]

There's Thüringen Rundfahrt for the U23 and the ladies (does that one still exist?) so here's an attempt to add some difficulty for an elite race.

Warning, Guardinis, Galimzyanovs etc shoud not bother as the 3 "easier" stages (of the 5) are more suited to a Freire type sprinter.

Stage 1: Erfurt, 22.17km (x7), 155km in total

http://www.tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/84245

2 climbs per lap, the longer shallower one to Schloss Hubertus and the shorter sharper Arnstädter Hohle known from the finishing laps of the now sadly defunct Rund um die Hainleite.

Stage 2: Erfurt-Heilbad Heiligenstadt, 173km

http://www.tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/84268

A pretty uncomplicated stage until the last 30 with a few minor bumps along the way.

Kaltenebersche Klus with 25 to go and and a small climb to Flinsberg with 9 to go to complicate matters

Stage 3: Heilbad Heiligenstadt-Grosser Inselsberg, 186km

http://www.tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/84273

Pretty uncomplicated for the first 85km but from Eisenach onward it becomes more serious. Past the Wartburg castle the race enters the Thüringer Wald and for the next 300km it will all be about the riders capable of handling multiple small climbs.

Hohe Sonne, Ascherbrück and Glasbachwiese/Dreiherrenstein separate Eisenach from Brotterode which will be the start of the queen stage the next day.

At Brotterode the race enters a local circuit. The small climb of Wiebach, Heuberghaus and the pass of the Kleiner Inselsberg make up the first lap. The second lap is identical to the first until the small road leading to the summit of the Grosser Inselsberg is reached.

And this is the road that awaits for the final 1 and a bit km. With the average grade of over 10% and the cobbles it's far from an easy finish.

Stage 4: Kurort Brotterode-Cursdorf, 200km

Detail of the last 70km

http://www.tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/84305

Past the ski jump at Kanzlersgrund, the DKB ski arena and the luge track in the first 40km, the race loops around Oberhof taking the Grosser Beerberg leaving the Schneekopf to the right and continuing to the gunmaking town of Suhl where the climb of the Rindberg is next up. After a slight lull the climb of the Dreiherrenstein follows with it's steep initial section but after that it's the easiest part of the day with 20 easy km losing 450 meters before the entry to the brutal finishing circuit.

First up is the somewhat overly romantically named Falkenhügel. 4.4km @ 7% with sections up to 14% near the summit. Those with heavy legs may want to take the left turn at Mellenbach-Glassbach and take the Oberweissbacher Bergbahn instead. The second climb is the Barigauer Höhe. It's a highly irregular climb with the first 1.6km being over 10% on average with the maximum of 18%.

After 2 laps of this circuit the 3rd one includes only the Falkenhügel before making a right turn instead of left at Oberweissbach and continuing to Deesbach past the Fröbelturm for another 2 small climbs before the finish in Cursdorf.

Stage 5: Königsee-Jena, 154km

http://www.tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/84281

The final. A climb from the Mühltal at 7km to go sets up the final battle of finishers vs attackers.

 

[rghysens]

I could have made myself popular with the mont du chat lovers over here by going for this, but I'll choose something more unconventional.

Tour touristique de France, stage 9: Bourg-en-Bresse - Rumilly (172 km)

The 9th stage isn't the longest, but it sure is difficult.

After a short parade through Bourg-en-Bresse and its twin Brou, with some nice 16th century patrimony, like this church and monastery the peloton goes east, towards the little town of Ceyzériat, following a rolling road that will be an ideal warm-up for what's yet to come. When leaving the town, the 1.2km @ 6.1% côte de Ceyzériat will give those who attempt to establish a breakaway an ideal opportunity. The next 10km the côte de Bohas (2.4km @ 5%) and the côte de Hautecourt (1.0km @ 6.6%) are other opportunities to try to get away with a few companions. The main bunch will certainly save their energy. In this hilly landscape every year in august the tour de l'Ain is contested. The crossing of the Ain river marks the beginning of the col du Berthiand, a 6.2km @ 7.8% 2nd category climb.

A short but steep descent brings the peloton to the lake of Nantua and the town that gave the lake its name. We follow the main D1084 road for 8 more km, past the Lac de Sylans to the foot of the col de Bérentin. This 2nd category difficulty crests after a 9.5km climb @ 5.9%, 1144m above sea level. For a while the race stays on the plateau du retord, before descending into the valley of the Rhône. A 25km long false flat downhill will cause an armistice in the peloton.
The little village of Gignez marks the beginning of the col de la Biche, followed by a steep descent to Lochieu. Two flat kilometers later the scattered remains of what was once a peloton reach Virieu-le-Petit a the foot of le Grand Colombier, with some very steep pitches. From the top one has a very nice view on the Rhône river and the lake of Bourget and on a clear day even on the Alps and the Mont Blanc in particular.

The descent to Culoz and five flat kilometer to Ruffieux are a prelude to the last big climb of the day: le Mont Clergeon. The climb is a bit less than 9km long, with an average gradient of 8.2%. The summit is merely 975m above sea level and comes with just over 16km to go. This is the last opportunity today for the climbers to get rid of the time triallists.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Roundabout - quite interesting (and cool) that we've both gone for middle-mountain German short stage races at the same time, rebuilding that sadly now kaput calendar.

Cool designs too. I tried to get a profile for Großer Inselsberg, this was the best I could find, the stats at Quäldich are 7,0km @ 7,0%, which is definitely enough on a tough finishing circuit to open up some gaps.

I also have to admit that as a big biathlon fan I marked out for including the DKB arena on the way around Oberhof.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Stage 2: Rotenburg an der Fulda - Wasserkuppe, 193km

Climbs:
Ludwigseck (cat.3) 5,4km @ 3,7%
Eisenberg (cat.2) 4,7km @ 7,0%
Stoppelsberg (cat.3) 2,2km @ 7,2%
Hessisches Kegelspiel (cat.2) 3,5km @ 5,9%
Frankenheimer Berg (cat.1) 5,1km @ 7,1%
Mathesberg (cat.2) 4,6km @ 5,5%
Ebersberg (cat.2) 3,3km @ 7,6%
Wasserkuppe (cat.1) 6,0km @ 6,1%

The second stage of the Hessen Rundfahrt sees us move through the eastern part of the Land, to the biggest summit finish of the race.

The race today starts in the pretty town of Rotenburg, on the river Fulda (as the name would suggest) and sets off in a southwesterly direction, over a couple of easy rises before the first major challenge of the day, the cat.2 ascent of the Eisenberg, the highest point in the Knüll mountains, part of the East Hesse Highlands that we're spending the day exploring. After this it's some flat racing into Bad Hersfeld, before a series of small but insistent climbs punctuate the middle part of the stage; some of these are categorised, some not. The toughest of them is the Hessisches Kegelspiel, the gateway into the Hohe Rhön range that provides the key action in the final third of the stage, as we travel around the hills and mountains encircling Hessian native Patrik Sinkewitz's hometown of Fulda - today's summit finish is one of the main climbs the young Sinkewitz cut his teeth on.

Four key climbs are crammed into the final 60km of this stage. The first is the 5km rise to the Sendeturm outside Frankenheim; thisquaint little town actually lies just across the Land border in Thüringen, and the points will be given out under the watchful gaze of the former border guard tower, since Hesse was former BRD and Thüringen former DDR. The trip into Thüringen is short, however, and less than 5km later we're back in Hesse to take on the second of our key climbs, the Mathesberg. This is actually a stopping point on the Ehrenberg side of the Wasserkuppe, but we're not going all the way to the top of that just yet, so the riders will be able to look up and see where they're going to be going later. After the descent, some 10km of false flat around Ebersburg takes us to Weyhers, base of the climb of the Ebersberg, above the eponymous Feriendorf. Anybody wishing to make up serious time today could be tempted to go on this penultimate climb; the summit is 12km from the finish, and this is the steepest climb of the day, averaging 7,6% and with a maximum of 16%. The short descent places us ready for the climb up to the highest point in the East Hesse Highlands, the climb up to the Wasserkuppe. The Wasserkuppe itself reaches 950m, but roads stop at 910m. However this is still comfortably higher than anywhere else in the range and the ceiling of the race. From this approach, a couple of km of uphill false flat yield to a couple at easy climbing gradients before reaching Sieblos; after this, the final 4,2km are at 7,6%, as shown here. There is plenty of room at the Flugplatz at the summit to host racing and the race caravan, so expect a good atmosphere in the Hohe Rhön.

Rotenburg an der Fulda:

Wasserkuppe:

 

[rghysens]

Tour touristique de France, stage 10: Chambéry - Briançon (210 km)

A classic alpine stage

Todays stage starts in Chambéry, one of the biggest cities in the French Alps.
From the village départ in front of the medieval castle of the dukes of Savoye it goes to the outskirts of town, were the official start will be.
Near Montmélian the valley of the Isère river is joined and the peloton will follow this, and later the valley of the Arc, using the D1006 road.
After 61km the village of La Chambre marks the beginning of the first climb of the day: the col de la croix de Fer via the Col du Glandon. This steep but scenic road in a majestic mountain landscape, with splendid views on the massif des grandes rousses and the chaîne de Belledonne, culminates at 2067m above sea level. From the Croix de Fer it's back to the valley of the Arc, with a splendid view on the aiguilles d'Arves on the right and the combe Genin on the left. From Saint-Jean de Maurienne there's 15km false flat in the valley to Saint-Michel de Maurienne. At the left hand side of the peloton, the massif de la Vanoise rises more than 2000m above the valley floor. A sharp right hand turn and a bridge over the river Arc bring us at the foot of the col du télégraphe. From the top of the Télégraphe a short descent brings us to Valloire, where the Col du Galibier awaits the torn up peloton.

From Plan Lachat, 8km before the col, the air becomes thinner and thinner and the road steeper and steeper, making even the best labor themselves to the summit. The descent towards the col du Lautaret has some beautiful views towards la Meije, one of the highest mountains in the national park of les Ecrins.

From the col du Lautaret a steady descent on the wide and usually very busy N91 brings us to le Monêtier-les-Bains, with still some splendid views of the glaciers in the national park.
Another 15km brings the peloton to the historic center of Briançon, were the steep, narrow, cobbled streets will decide the stage victory

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Let it be known that the finish in the old town of Briançon is one of the best in the history of the sport.

 

[togo95]

Tour of Three Islands - 12

Stage 12: Tertenia - Tonara; 184 km

After few flat stages, here is one that is up and down almost all the way. It is located in Sardinian biggest mountain range - Gennargentu. Five categorised climbs are not that steep in general, but there are some very steep sections. In the last 10 km too, firstly 1 km long hill with 14% average and then very unstable ascent to Tonara with several sections few hundred metres long of over 20%. Last 1,5 km have average gradient about 9%. Peloton will be probably shreded to pieces in the very end.

KOM:
Cantoniera Sarcerei (2) - 17,2 km; 5,1%
Gairo Taquisara (3) - 5,3 km; 6%
Ussassai (3) - 8,4 km; 5,4%
Aritzo (1) - 19,5 km; 4,7%
Tonara (3) - 5,6 km; 4,9%

Sprints:
Tortoli - 42 km
Seulo - 126 km

Tertenia:

Tonara:

 

[rghysens]

Tour touristique de France, stage 11: Briançon - Valberg (177km)

Another Alpine stage with the first proper MTF

The peloton leaves Briançon following the course of the Durance river. After 50 slightly descending kilometers, sided by the nature parks des Ecrins and du Queyras, the little town of Guillestre is reached. Here the first climb of the day, the col de Vars, starts. Once again a beautiful mountain road, this long but not to steep climb offers some majestic views south. After a short and steepish descent, followed by a long stretch of downhill false flat it's time for a snack in the feed zone in Barcelonnette.

Shortly thereafter the second climb of the day, the col d'Allos, commences. It's a bit shorter, but also a bit steeper than the previous climb, but once again with a altitude gain of more than 1000m and a summit 2240m above sea level, it's no climb to easily discard. At the beginning, the road crosses some deep gorges, alternated with wooded mountain slopes. Soon enough vegetation becomes scarce, the air thinner and the summit is crossed.
A fast descent to Colmars is the transition to the third climb of the day. The seldom used col des Champs is a bit steeper, but also shorter than the previous two. The narrow road up isn't of the best quality, so it's better not to use this side as a descent. From the top one has beautiful views on the nature park of the Mercantour and of the valley of the Var, which will be the finish of the following descent.

The steep descent flattens out in Saint-Martin d'Entraunes and 12km later it's time for a last deep breath, as the final climb of the day begins. The climb to Valberg is barely used in male professional cycling, but was a regular mtf in the Tour Féminin in the late 1990's. This 12km long, 7.3% steep climb is followed by 1 flat kilometre towards the finish line.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Stage 3: Fulda - Wetzlar, 191km

Climbs:
Eisenscharte (cat.3) 1,9km @ 8,3%
Frauenberg (cat.3) 2,6km @ 4,0%
Tannenberg (cat.3) 2,1km @ 7,2%
Hünstein (cat.2) 3,7km @ 6,5%
Angelburg (cat.3) 2,7km @ 4,1%
Die Hörre (cat.2) 3,8km @ 5,3%
Kalsmunt (cat.3) 1,4km @ 5,9%
Stoppelberg (cat.3) 2,7km @ 6,3%

The third stage of the Hessen Rundfahrt heads from Fulda, near yesterday's summit finish, across into the western part of the Land, over 190km that, while never truly brutally hard, are never easy either. The sawtoothed profile over 8 categorised climbs tells you that this is one for the hilly Classics types, as we transition from the east of the Land into the Rheinisches Schiefergebirge and the Rothaargebirge, before turning south towards the foothills of the Taunus.

The first part of the stage is rolling; no categorised climbs in the first 75km, though precious little truly flat terrain. The péloton are continuously bobbing up and down on small drags and drops before eventually reaching the first set of climbs. The first of these, the Eisenscharte, reaches a maximum of 19% in its short incline, which allows the legs to warm up a little. It is followed almost immediately by the easy, consistent Frauenberg, before the riders drop to the banks of the Lahn in Marburg. Immediately after that there is the climb up to Universitätsstadt Marburg, on the site of the former Tannenberg Kaserne, which by its toughest approach (which we are taking) is 2km at just over 7%, and a maximum of 21%. This summit marks the halfway point of the stage, before another rolling stretch takes us to our hardest climb of the day, the 3,7km slog up to Hünstein. The gradients here are relatively consistent - the maximum is 13% - but it's twice the length of anything else so far and could force a selection. The next 25km is at a general downhill punctuated by three short climbs, of which only the Angelburg is worthy of categorisation.

The next big obstacle starts in the picturesque town of Mittenaar, with the climb up through the forests of Die Hörre to negotiate. Though not steep (averaging 5,3%), the near 4km length and maximum of 15%, with less than 40km to go, could see the bunch trimmed once again, before some false flat descending sees us arrive in Wetzlar, our destination city. However, there are still 17km to go, and these include two climbs; first the relatively benign Kalsmund (1,4km @ 5,9%, max 10%), then the tougher Stoppelberg (2,7km @ 6,3%, max 13%), which should give attackers plenty of opportunities to make these last 20km hell to control for the race leader's team. The summit of the Stoppelberg (actually not the summit, but a short way below it) comes just over 5km from the stripe, which is mostly gentle descent which flattens out into a late sweeping left hander to the finishing line on the gentle cobbles of Domplatz.

Fulda:

Wetzlar:

 

[Libertine Seguros]

In response to the mess that the sport is swiftly becoming I have created a race borne out of an apocalyptic view of the future, which I'll post when I'm finished in Hesse.

 

[capstardk]

Some time ago I made my own Giro d'Italia route for PCM

First a note for stage 17! At the profile there are five climbs, but in the end i made the stage with "only" three of the climbs. So the 2nd and 3rd climb on the profile were not included in the final version of the stage.

Here is the list of stages (profiles follow later in the post):

Prologue: Taranto
1st stage: Taranto - Polignano a Mare
2nd stage: Polignano a Mare - Manfredonia
3rd stage: Manfredonia - Campobasso
4th stage: Campobasso - Pescara
5th stage: Pescara - Chieti
6th stage: Pescara - Porto Recanati
7th stage: Port Recanati - Cagli
8th stage: Cagli - Carpegna
9th stage: Rimini - Cesena ITT
10th stage: Cesena - Ferrara
11th stage: Ferrara - Croce D'Aune
12th stage: Feltre - San Dona di Piave
13th stage: Portogruaro - Tre Cime di Lavaredo
14th stage: Cortina d'Ampezzo - Passo Pordoi
15th stage: Arabba - Riva del Garda
16th stage: Pavia - Ivrea
17th stage: Ivrea - Morge
18th stage: Morgex - Sestriere
19th stage: Torino - Crescentino ITT
20th stage: Vigevano - Milano

The climbs of the mountain stages:
Stage 8:
Bocca Serriola
Passo di Viamaggio
Passo Cantoniera
Monte Carpegna

Stage 11:
Croce D'Aune

Stage 13:
Forcella di Monte Resi
Forcella di Priuso
Sella Corso
Passo della Mauria
Passo Tre Croci
Tre Cime di Lavaredo

Stage 14:
Passo Tre Croci
Passo Falzarego
Passo Fedaia
Passo Pordoi

Stage 15:
Passo Pordoi
Passo Santa Barbara

Stage 17:
Colle di Zuccore
Colle San Carlo
Morge

Stage 18:
Colle del Piccolo San Bernardo
Colle dell'Iseran
Colle del Moncenisio
Colle delle Finestre
Sestriere


Here are the profiles for all of the stages:

I wanted to make a a balanced route with possibilities for all types of riders. The first week has a few hilly stages and then the big finish of the week with the Monte Carpegna in order to shake up the GC a bit. The second week starts with a time trial before the weekend with the dolomite stages. In the third week there are two stages in the alps before the time trialists get the chance to make up some time after all the mountain stages. Regarding the sprinters, they get a couple of chances in the first week, but I made a few sprint stages in each win and I also made the last stage in Milano a sprinter stage. I did this to try to keep the sprinters in the race as long as possible.

 

[togo95]

Tour of Three Islands - 13

Stage 13: Fonni - Dorgali; 199 km

With good weather should be a spectacular stege with great views of Golfo di Orosei and Supramonte mountains. The main GC action should happen on the last climb in Cala Gonone, quite steady climb, even though there are more opportunities to attack, because there are few hills with some really steep ramps before the very end too. Finishing straight is also uphill a bit, last 1,5 km have around 4,5%.

KOM:
Talana (3) - 6,1 km; 6,6%
Genna Silana (3) - 17 km; 3,5%
Cala Gonone (2) - 6,2 km; 6,5%

Sprints:
Lanusei - 49 km
Dorgali - 171 km

Fonni:

Dorgali:

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Capstardk, why remove the two climbs from Stage 17? It looks pretty well designed from where I'm sitting. I also note the inclusion of Passo Fedaia, which instantly improves any Giro route by several percentage points.

Stage 4: Bad Homburg vor der Höhe - Frankfurt am Main (Bockenheim), 165km

Climbs:
Bergen-Enkheim (Röhrborngasse)(cat.3) 0,9km @ 9,2%
Bergen-Enkheim (Röhrborngasse)(cat.3) 0,9km @ 9,2%
Bergen-Enkheim (Röhrborngasse)(cat.3) 0,9km @ 9,2%

By far and away the easiest stage of the Hessen Rundfahrt sees us travelling through much of the southern central part of the region, on a loop around its main city of Frankfurt-am-Main. This city of 700,000 (urban sprawl population of over 2 million) is the host of Germany's biggest one-day race, the Rund um den Finanzplatz Eschborn-Frankfurt, and is one of Germany's most supportive cities for the sport. I kind of had to put a finish here too, as after all it was my time here that birthed my love of the sport.

The stage starts on the tip of the Frankfurt urban sprawl, in the town of Bad Homburg (home of the eponymous headwear). This is the centre of the Hochtaunuskreis, Germany's wealthiest district, in the shadows of the Taunus mountains. However, instead of travelling through these, we shall head eastwards towards the medieval town of Hanau, the original hometown of the Brothers Grimm previously mentioned, before heading south along the banks of the Main and alongside the border with Bavaria. The stage here is almost entirely flat, before a bit of rolling hillside as we reach our southermost tip between Rödermark and Langen (we aren't going as far south as Darmstadt and its surrounding hills) before turning back towards Frankfurt, heading for a brief pause in Offenbach-am-Main. I wouldn't be a true Frankfurter if I didn't point out that this is a good thing because it means roads will be closed and people from Offenbach will be kept off the roads, as the OF on their car plates stands for "Ohne Führerschein"...

After crossing back over the Main, we have two and a half laps of a 28km circuit, allowing for three passages of the only categorised climb of the day, that of Bergen-Enkheim. The 900m of Röhrborngasse get pretty steep, with 20% being the maximum; this is climbed for the final time with 12km to go, most of which is very wide and straight roads back into the city, where we take in a few of the city's sites; the storied Uni-Campus Westend, formerly the headquarters of IG Farben, is the main one of these between the climb and the finish, which is at the other University campus in the city, at Bockenheimer Warte. This has now been sold as the University's transition to a permanent home at Westend and Riedberg is being completed; the Bockenheim campus is being transformed into a so-called "Kulturcampus". Part of me is rather sad about this, even though most of my time was spent at Campus Westend, which looks better and has better amenities too. Elsewhere in the circuit we pass some of 'Mainhattan''s famous Wolkenkratzer, such as the Messeturm and the Deutsche Bank Turm; this is not the Rund um den Finanzplatz, however, so while we pass Opernplatz there is no finish here, and the rest of the Finanzplatz and its skyscrapers can be left behind; Eschenheimer Tor is the last tourist site we pass on the way out toward Bergen-Enkheim. There are a couple of - unthreatening - periods of cobbled roads here too; firstly for a couple of hundred metres in Bockenheim on Homburger Straße, then a longer but easier stretch for about 5-600m on the way out to Bergen-Enkheim, in Bornheim, on Berger Straße.

The end is still likely to be a sprint, but given that there are no other sprinting opportunities and the sprint field is likely to be weak, it could still be interesting as late attacks on the climb, though probably futile with wide and straight roads on the run-in, could be successful given that organised trains are unlikely given the parcours of the rest of the race.

Bad Homburg:

Frankfurt:

 

[roundabout]

I am going to keep the description short this time around.

A 1-day race in Erzgebirge from Dresden to Aue.

It's about 236km

http://www.tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/84731

First 190km is just a warmup which includes the climb (first 1.5km or so in the profile) in Geyersdorf at 118km among others. The big difficulty is theTeufelstein which comes at 190km mark. It's pretty far from the finish by modern standards and there's about 10km from the end of the descent of that climb to the start of the next climb proper, but a selection is possible after 190km and 3400 vertical meters of climbing.

http://www.tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/84875

The final circuit has the climb of the Ochsenkopf/Jägerhaus at 21.5km before a climb to Beierfeld at 9km to go.

 

[capstardk]

@Libertine Seguros: Well, actually it was because the stage was often too hard when I played it in PCM where half of the peloton often abandoned But I must say that I also like the stage better with all 5 climbs

 

[roundabout]

Now that I had a bit of time I decided to cut some fat and limit the race to 195km with less climbing. It's still Dresden to Aue and the final 40km are made tougher instead.

http://www.tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/84952

Edit: and a shorter easier version with 1 climb less, 1 climb shortened and the main road taken at Geyersdorf

http://www.tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/84958

 

[togo95]

Tour of Three Islands - 14

Stage 14: Nuoro - Punta Palai; 200 km

Last stage on Sicilia is the main climbers challenge on this island. Starting from Nuoro it covers just over 200 km. Key action should happen in the second half, where are the toughest ascents up to the massif of Monte Rasu. Riders will have to climb up from the valley 4 times. And the last time there is finish on Punta Palai.
Last climb is the toughest and therefore one can expect most riders to wait till this point of this stage with accelerations, nevertheless the main group should be reduced massively by this time, among other factors, because of narrow roads on some of these climbs. Especially road to Punta Palai is very narrow. So there is danger that some favourites will lose contact just because if this on one of previous ascents (or descents too) and then they can lose fairly amont of minutes despite not feeling bad.
Additionally last 3,5 km are on unpaved road. Last small rise to the finish is 2 km long with 7,5%.
During the second, and last, rest day will riders transfer to Porto-Vecchio, where the Corsican part of the race starts with tough 50 km long ITT.

KOM:
Pattada (3) - 2,5 km; 8,5%
Nuraghedu San Nicoló (3) - 7 km; 5,5%
Bultei "Sa Cresiedda" (3) - 8,5 km; 4,3%
B'Uccaidu (1) - 12 km; 6,6%
Albero di Juscuvudé (2) - 8,6 km; 6,8%
Punta Palai (1) - 9,3 km; 8,8%

Sprints:
Ozieri - 99 km
Bottidda - 163 km

Nuoro:

Punta Palai:

 

[McLovin]

Here is my first one.

Turul Transilvaniei

Stage 1 Radauti –Borsa 170.75 kms

First stage is a mountain warm up stage, it begins in Moldavia and after crossing 4 easy passes it ends after a long downhill in Borsa.

Ascent 2257 meters
Minimum Elevation 371 meters
Maximum Elevation 1399 meters

Pasul Ciumarna 11.2 km at 4.5%
Pasul 3 Movile 8.2 km at 4.7%
Pasul Mestecanis 7.5 km at 3.5%
Pasul Prislop 12 km at 2.9%

 

[McLovin]

Turul Transilvaniei

Stage 2 Ieud - Izvoare 185 kms

Second stage in Oriental Carpathians passes the resort of Cavnic through Rotunda Pass and it ends in the first mountain top finish in Izvoare. This is the easiest MTF from this tour, and we have some.

Ascent 2950 meters
Minimum Elevation 243 meters
Maximum Elevation 1085 meters

Botiza 9.3 km at 5.2%
Pasul Rotunda 8.9 km at 5.3%
Pasul Gutai 11.7 km at 4.4%
Izvoare 9.1 km at 5.6%

 

[McLovin]

Turul Transilvaniei

Stage 3 Dej - Cluj Napoca 135 kms

The easiest stage of this tour is a hilly stage, with small climbs, the last two, including a 400m finish ramp, having slopes up to 20 %.

Ascent 1459 meters
Minimum Elevation 235 meters
Maximum Elevation 739 meters

Dealul Feleacului 7.6 km at 5,1 %

 

[McLovin]

Turul Transilvaniei

Stage 4 Cluj Napoca - Buscat 166 kms

The first of two stages in the Apuseni Mountains, the smallest (in altitude) but the most spectacular from all Carpathians. The stage begins from Cluj-Napoca, the unofficial capital of Transilvania and ends in ski resort of Buscat.

Ascent 3301 meters
Minimum Elevation 304 meters
Maximum Elevation 1557 meters

Dealul Feleacului 7.6 km at 5,1%
Marisel 11.3 km at 5.7%
Muntele Rece 8.7 km at 7.1%
Buscat 21.1 km at 5%

 

[McLovin]

Turul Transilvaniei

Stage 5 Abrud - Vladeasa 251 kms

Second and last stage from Apuseni has 5 passes. Rosia Montana is the most full of controversy place in Transilvania just because is a full of gold mountain. To dig or not to dig.

Ascent 4117 meters
Minimum Elevation 190 meters
Maximum Elevation 1371 meters

Rosia Montana 10.3 km at 4.7 %
Pietrele Negre 11.5 km at 3.4 %
Stana de Vale 12.7 km at 6.7 %
Floroiu 12.8 km at 5 %
Vladeasa 11.8 km at 6.6 %

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[McLovin]

Turul Transilvaniei

Stage 6 Sebes - Pasul Sureanu 251 kms

We start to climb the Middle Carpathians. As this is a fantastic tour, I put Pasul Sureanu in the end, an unpaved road in Finestre style.

Ascent 5702 meters
Minimum Elevation 252 meters
Maximum Elevation 1837 meters

Jina 5.3 km at 8.1 %
Pasul Muncel 21.2 km at 5.5 %
Voineasa 13.5 km at 6.5 %
Manaileasa 18.2 km at 5.4 %
Pasul Sureanu 17.3 km at 6.8 %

 

[McLovin]

Turul Transilvaniei

Stage 7 Caransebes - Muntele Mic 37.5 kms ITT

The time trial comes to ski resort of Muntele Mic (The Small Mountain). Not so small.

Ascent 1347 meters
Minimum Elevation 208 meters
Maximum Elevation 1555 meters

Muntele Mic 19.4 km at 6.8 %

 

[McLovin]

Turul Transilvaniei

Stage 8 Novaci - Balea Lac (Transfagarasan) 219 kms

The last stage passes through the highest two roads in Transilvania, both over 2000m in height. Balea Lac ( the Transfagarasan Road) it was used by the guys from Top Gear, and to quote them : “ This is better than Stelvio!!!”. It may be a waste to use Urdele so early in the stage, but there is not any big or small climb near enough to Balea Lac.
So 6 MTF in 8 days. Hope will do it! See you next year for a second edition?

Ascent 5113 meters
Minimum Elevation 371 meters
Maximum Elevation 2119 meters

Pasul Urdele 27.7 km at 6%
Voineasa 21.2 km at 5%
Balea Lac 25.3 km at 5.7