- Dec 16, 2011
- 345
- 0
- 0
Okey i give you Tour of Scandinavia with the same idea of wisiting all the three capitals in Scandinavia but this one is a full scale GT.
Tour of Scandinavia Prologue: Stockholm, 8,23km
http://tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/106228
Almost the same Prologue rout as Another_Dutch_Guy had in his two week stage race in the heart of Stockholm
Tour of Scandinavia Stage 1: Uppsala-Örebro, 179.64 km
http://tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/106238
First road stage and it`s a completely flat stage Between two of Swedens biggest city`s and also passing trough another one(Västerås). A couple turns in the last couple of kilometers but nothing extreme. Stage start outside of the castle in Uppsala and Finish close to Örebro Castle.
Tour of Scandinavia Prologue: Stockholm, 8,23km
http://tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/106228
Almost the same Prologue rout as Another_Dutch_Guy had in his two week stage race in the heart of Stockholm
Tour of Scandinavia Stage 1: Uppsala-Örebro, 179.64 km
http://tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/106238
First road stage and it`s a completely flat stage Between two of Swedens biggest city`s and also passing trough another one(Västerås). A couple turns in the last couple of kilometers but nothing extreme. Stage start outside of the castle in Uppsala and Finish close to Örebro Castle.
Tour of Scandinavia Stage 2: Karlstad-Tossebergsklätten, 175 km
http://tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/106243
Time for the climbers to be tested. Again quite a flat course but a couple of lumps on the way to the finish climb but nothing major. The last 2k upp to the finish is really hard tough with a average of 9%(Max around 20%)
http://tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/106243
Time for the climbers to be tested. Again quite a flat course but a couple of lumps on the way to the finish climb but nothing major. The last 2k upp to the finish is really hard tough with a average of 9%(Max around 20%)
- Feb 20, 2010
- 33,055
- 15,235
- 28,180
Before I finish off with Morocco, a brief interlude.
I present a World Championships parcours! After many attempts at trying to work out a Russian entry to the UCI calendar, McQuaid finally gets his way when, as part of their own Olympic legacy program, the Russians nominate their coastal paradise city of Sochi to host the event.
And no, I'm not putting an MTF at the Krasnaya Polyana ski stations or on Mount Akhun.
Road Races
Although the venue is in the foothills of the Caucasus mountains as they rise out of the Black Sea, this is simply a moderately hilly Worlds course. I have not placed the course at Sochi-Adler, where the airport and the Coastal Cluster of venues for the 2014 Olympics are, but in the centre of Sochi itself, the historic city part of the coastline, an interesting spot where Soviet-era holiday facilities, historical housing, and multi-million ruble redevelopment meet in fascinating collisions on a series of coastal hills.
The start-finish line is on Ulica Gorkogo, a nice, wide street between the Monument to Archangel Michael and the station. From here the riders will complete a number of 13,9km laps. The women will complete 11 (152km), the U23s 13 (180km) and the elite men 18 laps (250km). The first part of the lap is pretty straightforward, as the riders head along the banks of the river from which the city takes its name. This accounts for roughly the first 4,5km, after which the riders turn to look at the first of two major hills on the route.
The first climb heads through some old housing towards the upper developments on Vishnevaya. The climb is approximately 1,1km in length, averaging 6,5%, with a maximum of 16%. After this it's a rapid, but mostly straight descent down Ulica Makarenko with the faux-classical Harmony Centre at the bottom of the hill. Then it's a short false flat to the base of Ulica Dagomysskaya, which starts off steep and gradually flattens out - but it is very steep in places, maxing at 18%. It isn't long, however, just 900m in length, at an average of as close as makes no difference to 9%. Luckily for those less durable sprinters, who want to pray for an easier Worlds next year, there is a place of worship at the summit so they can do so. The summit is 4,7km from the end of the circuit. After this there's a rolling stretch, before a couple of switchbacks on a descent that's tricky enough to think about attacking. The riders then pass the Alpine-style housing en route to the wide, slight downhill of Ulica Nagornaya. The red kite comes just before the right turn onto the famous nodal road that is Kurortnyi Prospekt, the slight up and downs providing difficulties to find a rhythm for planning an attack as well as a pretty backdrop for a closing duel. Finally the riders come raring round the final right hand bend, a sweeping corner which will not be a major technical test, with between 250 and 300m to go for the final showdown.
With only about 2km of the 14 spent climbing, this shouldn't be so hard that classics specialists like, say, Paolini can't hang on, while the likes of Sagan would fancy their chances if their teams were strong enough. Nevertheless, the steepness of that final climb will also put puncheurs and Ardennes men of the GC sort into contention.
Sochi:
I present a World Championships parcours! After many attempts at trying to work out a Russian entry to the UCI calendar, McQuaid finally gets his way when, as part of their own Olympic legacy program, the Russians nominate their coastal paradise city of Sochi to host the event.
And no, I'm not putting an MTF at the Krasnaya Polyana ski stations or on Mount Akhun.
Road Races
Although the venue is in the foothills of the Caucasus mountains as they rise out of the Black Sea, this is simply a moderately hilly Worlds course. I have not placed the course at Sochi-Adler, where the airport and the Coastal Cluster of venues for the 2014 Olympics are, but in the centre of Sochi itself, the historic city part of the coastline, an interesting spot where Soviet-era holiday facilities, historical housing, and multi-million ruble redevelopment meet in fascinating collisions on a series of coastal hills.
The start-finish line is on Ulica Gorkogo, a nice, wide street between the Monument to Archangel Michael and the station. From here the riders will complete a number of 13,9km laps. The women will complete 11 (152km), the U23s 13 (180km) and the elite men 18 laps (250km). The first part of the lap is pretty straightforward, as the riders head along the banks of the river from which the city takes its name. This accounts for roughly the first 4,5km, after which the riders turn to look at the first of two major hills on the route.
The first climb heads through some old housing towards the upper developments on Vishnevaya. The climb is approximately 1,1km in length, averaging 6,5%, with a maximum of 16%. After this it's a rapid, but mostly straight descent down Ulica Makarenko with the faux-classical Harmony Centre at the bottom of the hill. Then it's a short false flat to the base of Ulica Dagomysskaya, which starts off steep and gradually flattens out - but it is very steep in places, maxing at 18%. It isn't long, however, just 900m in length, at an average of as close as makes no difference to 9%. Luckily for those less durable sprinters, who want to pray for an easier Worlds next year, there is a place of worship at the summit so they can do so. The summit is 4,7km from the end of the circuit. After this there's a rolling stretch, before a couple of switchbacks on a descent that's tricky enough to think about attacking. The riders then pass the Alpine-style housing en route to the wide, slight downhill of Ulica Nagornaya. The red kite comes just before the right turn onto the famous nodal road that is Kurortnyi Prospekt, the slight up and downs providing difficulties to find a rhythm for planning an attack as well as a pretty backdrop for a closing duel. Finally the riders come raring round the final right hand bend, a sweeping corner which will not be a major technical test, with between 250 and 300m to go for the final showdown.
With only about 2km of the 14 spent climbing, this shouldn't be so hard that classics specialists like, say, Paolini can't hang on, while the likes of Sagan would fancy their chances if their teams were strong enough. Nevertheless, the steepness of that final climb will also put puncheurs and Ardennes men of the GC sort into contention.
Sochi:
- Feb 20, 2010
- 33,055
- 15,235
- 28,180
Time Trials
Elite Men:
Sochi-Adler - Sochi, 47,7km
U23s and Elite Women:
Sochi-Khosta - Sochi, 29,5km
Doing a point-to-point race for the ITT is something a bit different, but I felt like this would be the kind of host that could pull it off, on the basis that I would want to use central Sochi to host, given that it is hosting the Road Race, but also note the Olympic heritage of the site.
Therefore, the elite men's Time Trial (which is far from the longest one ever staged) begins from the heart of the Sochi Olympic Coastal Cluster, close to the Abkhazian border and in the Adler district, starting amidst current works-in-progress such as the Bolshoi Ice Palace. The riders snake their way around a few technical corners in Adler, minimising the disruption to air traffic, before finding their way onto one side of the coastal Autobahn that leads from Sochi proper to Adler, where we move onto flat, power drag terrain.
After just over 15km, we pass into another Sochi coastal district, the hillside town of Khosta, where the U23s and women will join the course with a short run onto the main road. Ignore the first bump in the profile - that's where the route goes through a tunnel just before the road up to the mighty Mount Akhun, from whose tower the whole area can be surveyed; at about 10km at 6,8% it's a reasonable MTF for any stage race in the area too.
After about 25 very flat kilometres, the road starts to get bumpier on the run in through Matsesta and its intriguing architecture, before the riders arrive in Sochi proper. Once in Sochi, their first port of call is a rolling swoop around the coastal road and the twisting roads around the Winter Theatre, one of Sochi's most enduring landmarks. From here they turn on to Kurortnyi Prospekt, but whereas in the Road Race they turn swiftly right to the finish, here they continue straight on at the statue of the Archangel Michael, and do a 13km loop around the city, taking in some flat landscape north of the river before giving the riders a preview of the climb of Ulica Dagomysskaya before the road race, as the last few kilometres are a carbon copy of the road race, with a slightly longer flat stretch into the finish.
Sochi (Adler):
Sochi:
Elite Men:
Sochi-Adler - Sochi, 47,7km
U23s and Elite Women:
Sochi-Khosta - Sochi, 29,5km
Doing a point-to-point race for the ITT is something a bit different, but I felt like this would be the kind of host that could pull it off, on the basis that I would want to use central Sochi to host, given that it is hosting the Road Race, but also note the Olympic heritage of the site.
Therefore, the elite men's Time Trial (which is far from the longest one ever staged) begins from the heart of the Sochi Olympic Coastal Cluster, close to the Abkhazian border and in the Adler district, starting amidst current works-in-progress such as the Bolshoi Ice Palace. The riders snake their way around a few technical corners in Adler, minimising the disruption to air traffic, before finding their way onto one side of the coastal Autobahn that leads from Sochi proper to Adler, where we move onto flat, power drag terrain.
After just over 15km, we pass into another Sochi coastal district, the hillside town of Khosta, where the U23s and women will join the course with a short run onto the main road. Ignore the first bump in the profile - that's where the route goes through a tunnel just before the road up to the mighty Mount Akhun, from whose tower the whole area can be surveyed; at about 10km at 6,8% it's a reasonable MTF for any stage race in the area too.
After about 25 very flat kilometres, the road starts to get bumpier on the run in through Matsesta and its intriguing architecture, before the riders arrive in Sochi proper. Once in Sochi, their first port of call is a rolling swoop around the coastal road and the twisting roads around the Winter Theatre, one of Sochi's most enduring landmarks. From here they turn on to Kurortnyi Prospekt, but whereas in the Road Race they turn swiftly right to the finish, here they continue straight on at the statue of the Archangel Michael, and do a 13km loop around the city, taking in some flat landscape north of the river before giving the riders a preview of the climb of Ulica Dagomysskaya before the road race, as the last few kilometres are a carbon copy of the road race, with a slightly longer flat stretch into the finish.
Sochi (Adler):
Sochi:
- Dec 16, 2011
- 345
- 0
- 0
Time for something totally different.
I'll design an alternative tour of Azerbaijan, an already existing race in northwest Iran. Normally it has flat to rolling stages, but i'll come up with something more spicy.
This tour has 6 road stages, no time trials or prologue.
Stage 1: Orumieh - Khoy: 134km, mostly flat but with a 2nd category climb after 58km
Stage 2: Khoy - Maku: 143km, medium mountain stage with finish after a long descent
Stage 3: Maku - Jolfa: 174km, flat stage
Stage 4: Jolfa - Babak Castle: 183km, mostly flat, but 2 difficult climbs the last 60km. Finish is after a 6km climb at 9.5%, on gravel roads.
Stage 5: Kaleybar - Kuh-e-Sabalan: 178km
Stage 6: Meshgin Shahr - Tabriz: 185km, flat stage.
I'll design an alternative tour of Azerbaijan, an already existing race in northwest Iran. Normally it has flat to rolling stages, but i'll come up with something more spicy.
This tour has 6 road stages, no time trials or prologue.
Stage 1: Orumieh - Khoy: 134km, mostly flat but with a 2nd category climb after 58km
Stage 2: Khoy - Maku: 143km, medium mountain stage with finish after a long descent
Stage 3: Maku - Jolfa: 174km, flat stage
Stage 4: Jolfa - Babak Castle: 183km, mostly flat, but 2 difficult climbs the last 60km. Finish is after a 6km climb at 9.5%, on gravel roads.
Stage 5: Kaleybar - Kuh-e-Sabalan: 178km
Stage 6: Meshgin Shahr - Tabriz: 185km, flat stage.
Another legbreaking Caribbean Classic, this one a circuit race around the island of St. Thomas, with close to 10,000 meters of climbing. Notable climbs grade out at 3.3k with an average of 7.6% and a 23.7% kicker (just after the starting line, up the western slope of Crown Mountain), 3.7k with an average of 8.2% and an 18% kicker (done five times, up the eastern slope of Crown Mountain), and a finishing climb of 1.1k with an average of 14.1% and a 30.4% kicker just 600 meters from the finish line and several later spots that near 20%, finishing at the top of the tramway at gorgeous Paradise Point.
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1559406
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1559406
Tour of Australia - Stage 11
Well, if yesterday didn't provide gaps at the top of the GC, today most definately will. Stage 11 provides us with a 16km mountain time trial, up probably the toughest climb in Australia, Mt. Baw Baw. We begin in Tanjil Bren, a small town that provides off-snow accomodation in winter months. The first 4km are downhill along winding roads. After 4km we begin the 12km climb of Baw Baw. The first 6km are pretty easy, generally averaging between 3 and 6%. The last 6.8km, however, are brutal, averaging 11.3% and getting up to 23.5% and this view should provide a whole lot of relief. A pure climber should find themselves pulling on the leader's jersey at the end of the day.
Well, if yesterday didn't provide gaps at the top of the GC, today most definately will. Stage 11 provides us with a 16km mountain time trial, up probably the toughest climb in Australia, Mt. Baw Baw. We begin in Tanjil Bren, a small town that provides off-snow accomodation in winter months. The first 4km are downhill along winding roads. After 4km we begin the 12km climb of Baw Baw. The first 6km are pretty easy, generally averaging between 3 and 6%. The last 6.8km, however, are brutal, averaging 11.3% and getting up to 23.5% and this view should provide a whole lot of relief. A pure climber should find themselves pulling on the leader's jersey at the end of the day.
- Feb 20, 2010
- 33,055
- 15,235
- 28,180
Stage 5: اولاد زمام - بني ملال (Oulad Zmam - Beni Mellal), 192km
Climbs:
Tizi Adoumez (cat.1) 15,6km @ 5,3%
Ait Ouaazig (cat.2) 9,2km @ 5,6%
Tizi n'Tislit (HC) 21,4km @ 5,5%
Isseksi (cat.3) 3,0km @ 6,9%
Ait Ouaazig (cat.2) 6,5km @ 5,3%
The fifth stage in Morocco is a very difficult transitional stage; there is some serious climbing to be done, although riders will need to take some big risks to take GC time today. This should be one for the breakaway, though the difficulty of the stage should mean that domestiques for the big guns get burnt away and they will have to do a lot of work fending for themselves.
After a flat beginning out of the market town of Oulad Zmam, the riders find themselves snaking up to the Tizi Adoumez pass. The road is accessible, wide and not too steep, but it is pretty treacherous near the summit. On the descent the riders will encounter the picturesque Bin el-Ouidane, a freshwater mountain lake of some importance. The terrain here is rolling, but when they hit the village of Ouaouizeight the road turns uphill again for the 9km of Ait Ouaazig, with its steepest sections at the bottom. A descent and about 15-20km of flat takes us to the intermediate sprint, when we cross the finishing line in Beni Mellal for the first time; the sprint is 32km from the summit of Ait Ouaazig.
Once we pass through Beni Mellal, the road turns skywards again, this time much more brutally. The Tizi n'Tislit pass only has a maximum of around 8-9%, but it is long and it is inconsistent, with a brief descent in the middle. Over 20km at 5,5% is nothing to be sniffed at, on variable tarmac. There's still about 60km remaining at the summit, but the stage has plenty still to offer; the slow descent is interrupted by a short categorised climb before the riders have to take on the final 6,5km of Ait Ouaazig again. Once more it's 32km from the summit to the line, so it will take guts and guile to make today count for the GC men; however it will be an intriguing battle amongst the break for the stage, that's for sure.
Oulad Zmam:
Beni Mellal:
Climbs:
Tizi Adoumez (cat.1) 15,6km @ 5,3%
Ait Ouaazig (cat.2) 9,2km @ 5,6%
Tizi n'Tislit (HC) 21,4km @ 5,5%
Isseksi (cat.3) 3,0km @ 6,9%
Ait Ouaazig (cat.2) 6,5km @ 5,3%
The fifth stage in Morocco is a very difficult transitional stage; there is some serious climbing to be done, although riders will need to take some big risks to take GC time today. This should be one for the breakaway, though the difficulty of the stage should mean that domestiques for the big guns get burnt away and they will have to do a lot of work fending for themselves.
After a flat beginning out of the market town of Oulad Zmam, the riders find themselves snaking up to the Tizi Adoumez pass. The road is accessible, wide and not too steep, but it is pretty treacherous near the summit. On the descent the riders will encounter the picturesque Bin el-Ouidane, a freshwater mountain lake of some importance. The terrain here is rolling, but when they hit the village of Ouaouizeight the road turns uphill again for the 9km of Ait Ouaazig, with its steepest sections at the bottom. A descent and about 15-20km of flat takes us to the intermediate sprint, when we cross the finishing line in Beni Mellal for the first time; the sprint is 32km from the summit of Ait Ouaazig.
Once we pass through Beni Mellal, the road turns skywards again, this time much more brutally. The Tizi n'Tislit pass only has a maximum of around 8-9%, but it is long and it is inconsistent, with a brief descent in the middle. Over 20km at 5,5% is nothing to be sniffed at, on variable tarmac. There's still about 60km remaining at the summit, but the stage has plenty still to offer; the slow descent is interrupted by a short categorised climb before the riders have to take on the final 6,5km of Ait Ouaazig again. Once more it's 32km from the summit to the line, so it will take guts and guile to make today count for the GC men; however it will be an intriguing battle amongst the break for the stage, that's for sure.
Oulad Zmam:
Beni Mellal:
- Dec 16, 2011
- 345
- 0
- 0
Alternative Clasica San Sebastian
At the moment I'm working for a Vuelta A Espana, but today gave me inspiration for another Spanish Race. So hereby I will present you an alternative Clasica San Sebastian. Let's face it; without Sanchez it would have become a reduced bunch sprint, which would have been a shame for this classic. So time to spice things up!
As you can see, the beginning of the route is quite similar with the original Clasica. I thought it was innapropriate to change too much on the route. Besides, I believe that passing city's like Zarautz, Oria and Zumarraga is important due to financial reasons.
Thus, after a rather flat 115 kilometres, the first climb will appear. However, the Alto de Alkiza is far from being hard. After 40 rolling kilometres it is time for a more well known climb: the Alto Arkale. Again, this should not lead to big troubles. Normally it is the last climb of the race.
Already after 170 Kilometres it is time to challenge the Jaizkibel climb. As you can see, it will be tackled from the east side, where the Clasica normally uses the West side. Normally this climb will be the highlight of the race, but that has still to come...
The unspeakably horrible Alto de Aia!
Words do not suffice to describe the hardness of this climb, so here's a video of the 2008 passage in the Tour of the Basque country. Note, this time a even harder side is climbed
It is practically impossible, but if still no split is made, the riders are given a final change on the Passeo de Padre Orkolaga. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a profile of this climb, but it is 5 kilometres about 6% average. Then, after 245 crueling kilometres the final sprint will be at the boulevard of San Sebastian!
At the moment I'm working for a Vuelta A Espana, but today gave me inspiration for another Spanish Race. So hereby I will present you an alternative Clasica San Sebastian. Let's face it; without Sanchez it would have become a reduced bunch sprint, which would have been a shame for this classic. So time to spice things up!
As you can see, the beginning of the route is quite similar with the original Clasica. I thought it was innapropriate to change too much on the route. Besides, I believe that passing city's like Zarautz, Oria and Zumarraga is important due to financial reasons.
Thus, after a rather flat 115 kilometres, the first climb will appear. However, the Alto de Alkiza is far from being hard. After 40 rolling kilometres it is time for a more well known climb: the Alto Arkale. Again, this should not lead to big troubles. Normally it is the last climb of the race.
Already after 170 Kilometres it is time to challenge the Jaizkibel climb. As you can see, it will be tackled from the east side, where the Clasica normally uses the West side. Normally this climb will be the highlight of the race, but that has still to come...
The unspeakably horrible Alto de Aia!
Words do not suffice to describe the hardness of this climb, so here's a video of the 2008 passage in the Tour of the Basque country. Note, this time a even harder side is climbed
It is practically impossible, but if still no split is made, the riders are given a final change on the Passeo de Padre Orkolaga. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a profile of this climb, but it is 5 kilometres about 6% average. Then, after 245 crueling kilometres the final sprint will be at the boulevard of San Sebastian!
- Feb 20, 2010
- 33,055
- 15,235
- 28,180
The Alto de Aia (Frontón) version is the one used as the final climb in 2010, from the evil side:
(the 9,5% in the profile you found relates to the finish of the super brutal part and some comparatively shallow uphill through the town itself to finish). In 2010 they went all the way, I don't know if in 2008 they stopped in the town rather than head up to the frontón.
Finding a profile of the exact final climb isn't ideal, but it also goes by the name of Mendizorrotz, which allows you to find a couple - here's the profile of the side you're doing (until the junction for Donostia):
(the 9,5% in the profile you found relates to the finish of the super brutal part and some comparatively shallow uphill through the town itself to finish). In 2010 they went all the way, I don't know if in 2008 they stopped in the town rather than head up to the frontón.
Finding a profile of the exact final climb isn't ideal, but it also goes by the name of Mendizorrotz, which allows you to find a couple - here's the profile of the side you're doing (until the junction for Donostia):
- Dec 16, 2011
- 345
- 0
- 0
In 2008 the first part was not included, making the run-up to the 'Wall' somewhat easier. I believe both in 2008 and 2010 they have climbed to the top.
Btw: I've included the wrong (but eventually the right) video, this one is of 2010 the year they did both climbs soon after eachother.
Btw: I've included the wrong (but eventually the right) video, this one is of 2010 the year they did both climbs soon after eachother.
- Jul 2, 2012
- 343
- 0
- 0
Vattenfall Cyclassics
Vattenfall Cyclassics (234km)
This classic has never been the most interesting of the season, which is a pity because it's Germany's only WT race and very close to me. Well, it's hard to really blame the organizers, their opportunities to actual course ratio has been better than many other races, but I felt there was still some room for improvement. The classical start in the Steinstraße is unchanged and it leads us down South into the Harburger Berge (calling those "Berge"=mountains is the overstatement of the century). We will do four circuits of about 15km there, mostly on false flat, but with about 1km of about 3-3,5% (109m=highest point of the race ;-)) just as a warmup for the second circuit. 40km of flat terrain lead us just over the border to Niedersachsen, then over the Elbe into Blankenese. The second circuit(7 laps) includes two climbs: the classical Waseberg (700m@7%) and the Falkensteiner Weg (650m@7%) on a total lenght of about 11km. After the last lap it's a flat 15km into the finish.
Route:
Profile:
A PCM version has been added to my library post.
Vattenfall Cyclassics (234km)
This classic has never been the most interesting of the season, which is a pity because it's Germany's only WT race and very close to me. Well, it's hard to really blame the organizers, their opportunities to actual course ratio has been better than many other races, but I felt there was still some room for improvement. The classical start in the Steinstraße is unchanged and it leads us down South into the Harburger Berge (calling those "Berge"=mountains is the overstatement of the century). We will do four circuits of about 15km there, mostly on false flat, but with about 1km of about 3-3,5% (109m=highest point of the race ;-)) just as a warmup for the second circuit. 40km of flat terrain lead us just over the border to Niedersachsen, then over the Elbe into Blankenese. The second circuit(7 laps) includes two climbs: the classical Waseberg (700m@7%) and the Falkensteiner Weg (650m@7%) on a total lenght of about 11km. After the last lap it's a flat 15km into the finish.
Route:
Profile:
A PCM version has been added to my library post.
"The Big One", is a route almost exclusively on Highway One in California. Some climbs will be included, but this race will be largely based on echelon splits instead. (all states are California)
Stage 1; Whitethorn to The Sea Ranch (MTF): http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1586372
Stage 2; The Sea Ranch to San Francisco: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1586387
Stage 3; San Francisco to Pebble Beach: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1586399
Stage 4; Monterey to San Luis Obispo: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1586435
Stage 5; San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1586442
Stage 6; Santa Barbara to Long Beach: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1586454
Stage 7; Long Beach to Imperial Beach: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1586500
Only one mountaintop finish, but quite a few rollers, and you better manage the race properly from start to finish on every stage, because there are going to be wind splits.
Stage 1; Whitethorn to The Sea Ranch (MTF): http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1586372
Stage 2; The Sea Ranch to San Francisco: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1586387
Stage 3; San Francisco to Pebble Beach: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1586399
Stage 4; Monterey to San Luis Obispo: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1586435
Stage 5; San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1586442
Stage 6; Santa Barbara to Long Beach: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1586454
Stage 7; Long Beach to Imperial Beach: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1586500
Only one mountaintop finish, but quite a few rollers, and you better manage the race properly from start to finish on every stage, because there are going to be wind splits.
- Feb 20, 2010
- 33,055
- 15,235
- 28,180
That's a pretty novel idea, can't think of any races that are along those lines in the world, unless the old Way To Pekin race used to be in that format?
Vattenfall is definitely a race that could benefit from a bit of toughening up, and putting in more Waseberg is certainly a good start.
Vattenfall is definitely a race that could benefit from a bit of toughening up, and putting in more Waseberg is certainly a good start.
- Sep 2, 2011
- 17,502
- 13,676
- 28,180
And I'm back for the Tour of Java!
Second week coming.
Tour of Java - Stage 9
Solo - Yogyakarta, 216.9 Km
Climb:
Km 21 (Cat. 2) - 18 Km @ 2,5%
Km 74,5 (Cat. 3) - 5,2 Km @ 4,1%
We're coming from the rest day after a tough week one and I decided to give another chance to sprinters. Teams shouldn't be too shattered so somehow they should be able to control the race.
This stage is designed primarily to show of two of the prettiest cities on the island. Solo (or Surakarta, as it is officially known) is an ancient town hosting a couple of amazing royal palaces. From there we embark in a false flat to Tengaran, passing just aside Gunung Merbabu (don't worry, we'll get a taste of it later in the Tour ).
After that, a couple of bumps plus 180 kms of mild descent and flatlands will take us to the finish line of Jogja, the cultural and art capital of Java, known for his batik and puppet shows. It used to be home of the Mataram sultanate.
Yogyakarta
Second week coming.
Tour of Java - Stage 9
Solo - Yogyakarta, 216.9 Km
Climb:
Km 21 (Cat. 2) - 18 Km @ 2,5%
Km 74,5 (Cat. 3) - 5,2 Km @ 4,1%
We're coming from the rest day after a tough week one and I decided to give another chance to sprinters. Teams shouldn't be too shattered so somehow they should be able to control the race.
This stage is designed primarily to show of two of the prettiest cities on the island. Solo (or Surakarta, as it is officially known) is an ancient town hosting a couple of amazing royal palaces. From there we embark in a false flat to Tengaran, passing just aside Gunung Merbabu (don't worry, we'll get a taste of it later in the Tour
).After that, a couple of bumps plus 180 kms of mild descent and flatlands will take us to the finish line of Jogja, the cultural and art capital of Java, known for his batik and puppet shows. It used to be home of the Mataram sultanate.
Yogyakarta
- Sep 2, 2011
- 17,502
- 13,676
- 28,180
Tour of Java - Stage 10
Prambanan - Sepanjang, 200.5 Km
Climbs:
Km 80 (Cat. 2) - 4,1 Km @ 8,3%
Km 117 (Cat. 1) - 4,4 Km @ 10,8%
Km 128 (Cat. 3) - 4 Km @ 5,3%
Km 165 (Cat. 1) - 11,4 Km @ 5,6%
Km 180 (Cat. HC) - 9,8 Km @ 11,3%
Medium mountain stage with a brutal last climb.
The village of Prambanan, with its stunning Hindu temples, hosts our starting line. First 165 kms are nothing to write home about, except for the daily battle to get in the break.
Then a long ascent at 5-6% will take us closer to the Lawu Volcano, the sixth highest mountain of the island. Again, no road gets to the very top of it, but we have a chance to head closer through the Blumbang road, a stiff 10 kms HC climb that would rank along the likes of Angliru and Zoncolan if it was a european mountain.
It starts at 5% but then the gradient is consistently above 13% for 6 never ending kms. Huge gaps can be made on this climb and the subsequent tricky descent won't give riders who fell behind a chance to get back, unless they're spectacular descenders.
Prambanan
Gunung Lawu
Prambanan - Sepanjang, 200.5 Km
Climbs:
Km 80 (Cat. 2) - 4,1 Km @ 8,3%
Km 117 (Cat. 1) - 4,4 Km @ 10,8%
Km 128 (Cat. 3) - 4 Km @ 5,3%
Km 165 (Cat. 1) - 11,4 Km @ 5,6%
Km 180 (Cat. HC) - 9,8 Km @ 11,3%
Medium mountain stage with a brutal last climb.
The village of Prambanan, with its stunning Hindu temples, hosts our starting line. First 165 kms are nothing to write home about, except for the daily battle to get in the break.
Then a long ascent at 5-6% will take us closer to the Lawu Volcano, the sixth highest mountain of the island. Again, no road gets to the very top of it, but we have a chance to head closer through the Blumbang road, a stiff 10 kms HC climb that would rank along the likes of Angliru and Zoncolan if it was a european mountain.
It starts at 5% but then the gradient is consistently above 13% for 6 never ending kms. Huge gaps can be made on this climb and the subsequent tricky descent won't give riders who fell behind a chance to get back, unless they're spectacular descenders.
Prambanan
Gunung Lawu
- Jul 2, 2012
- 343
- 0
- 0
Wellington GP
Wellington GP (256km)
For an echelon based classic, two requirements have to be met: First of all the city has to be windy. Wellington is quite possibly the windiest city of them all. Measured at the airport over 170 days a year and especially in October the month of this race the wind reaches gale-strenght and the average wind is 29km/h. Half of our 66km circuit, however leads along the coast, so it's probably even worse there. Secondly, if Murphy's law occurs, backup is neccessary so we get a bunch of short, but rather sharp climbs in the second 30km of the circuit (5 climbs 1-2km each, avg. gradients 6%-8%, rather inconsistent, up to 11% in sectors, last and hardest one 6km from finish). After 4 laps about 130km coast ride and 20 little climbs the riders finish where they started (near Island Bay). PCM version see library.
Route:
Profile(1lap shown):
Wellington GP (256km)
For an echelon based classic, two requirements have to be met: First of all the city has to be windy. Wellington is quite possibly the windiest city of them all. Measured at the airport over 170 days a year and especially in October the month of this race the wind reaches gale-strenght and the average wind is 29km/h. Half of our 66km circuit, however leads along the coast, so it's probably even worse there. Secondly, if Murphy's law occurs, backup is neccessary so we get a bunch of short, but rather sharp climbs in the second 30km of the circuit (5 climbs 1-2km each, avg. gradients 6%-8%, rather inconsistent, up to 11% in sectors, last and hardest one 6km from finish). After 4 laps about 130km coast ride and 20 little climbs the riders finish where they started (near Island Bay). PCM version see library.
Route:
Profile(1lap shown):
- Dec 16, 2011
- 345
- 0
- 0
That's a cool idea Progsprach! I've once designed a 5 day tour of Christchurch which could be hold after the Tour Down Under. Later I realized it might be better to make two seperate one-day races GP Quebec and Montreal Style. Yours could be the first then, and the last stage of my Christchurch tour could be the last!
But it's time to redesign a classic again! However, the Tour of Noord Holland used to be a classic, since it is the oldest race in Holland. Unfortunately, it has reduced to a small race without any Protour teams. It's a pity, since it is the only race that covers my home region. Besides, it's a nice race including some cobbled sections and the dikes always allow some echelons. But yeah, it can always be better. So here I present you my new Tour of Noord Holland
As the profile shows, this race will be mostly flat. But it won't be boring! The start shot will be given in front of the National Museum in our capital Amsterdam. Along the canals the race will leave amsterdam to go to the dikes of the IJsselmeer. After passing the touristic villages Monnickendam and Volendam, the race will go below sea level. The Schermer and Beemster polder are along the oldest in the world, and even belong to the Unesco list! Subsequently my home city Alkmaar will be visited. Highlights will be a passage through the city center and the cobbled Munnikenweg. Via Langendijk and Schagen the race will reach it's most northern point in the coastal village Callantsoog.
From then the route will go back south again to Petten. But the peloton won't take the road. they will take the beach!
In Holland are a lot beach races, mostly won by mountainbikers. However, Dutch riders like Lars Boom, Robert Gesink and Sebastian Langeveld do pretty well in these races. This inspired me to include this in a normal race. The Callantsoog - Petten section is 8 kilometres long. In order to prevent flat tires, the sand will be filtered before the riders pass.
After Petten the race continues along the coast. Luckily, now the riders are allowed to ride the 'strandweg' on the Hondsbosche Zeewering. This is a unique section, since it is the only place on the Dutch Northsea coast where the dunes are replaced by a dike. The fun thing is that this weak part of the Dutch coast is followed by the most strong part: the 'Dunes of Schoorl'. This national park has the highest dunes of Holland (50 metres), and luckily you can climb them by bike. The 'Klimweg' in Schoorl is not long, but rather steep. This makes it one of the hardest Dutch climbs outside Limburg.
After this spectacular passage the peloton will go straight through the national park to enter Bergen aan Zee. There it is time for the second beach section! This one is 5 kilometres and will bring the peloton to Egmond aan Zee. From there on the route goes along the dunes to the village of Bloemendaal. There it is time for the second 'climb' of the day: het kopje van Bloemendaal. This again is a very short climb, but it includes some sections of 15%. Which is massive for Dutch notions
Only 6 kilometres after this 'climb' the riders will pass the finish line of this Tour. Off course this is at the Provinciehuis in Haarlem. Nowadays the regional parliament is settled here, but it used to be the residence of Napoleon's brother Lodewijk during the period that the French has taken over.
However, the race isn't over yet! The longest Beach secion has still to come. This 10 kilometres section brings the peloton from the formerly Formula 1 city Zandvoort to IJmuiden. From there on it is only 18 kilometres to the finish line, so firework should be provided! After a second climb of the 'Kopje van Bloemendaal' it is time to finish this race!
Summarized, this race include windy sections, cobbled sections, some small climbs and 23 kilometres of beach! How cool would it be if such a race would be organized in my backyard?
But it's time to redesign a classic again! However, the Tour of Noord Holland used to be a classic, since it is the oldest race in Holland. Unfortunately, it has reduced to a small race without any Protour teams. It's a pity, since it is the only race that covers my home region. Besides, it's a nice race including some cobbled sections and the dikes always allow some echelons. But yeah, it can always be better. So here I present you my new Tour of Noord Holland
As the profile shows, this race will be mostly flat. But it won't be boring! The start shot will be given in front of the National Museum in our capital Amsterdam. Along the canals the race will leave amsterdam to go to the dikes of the IJsselmeer. After passing the touristic villages Monnickendam and Volendam, the race will go below sea level. The Schermer and Beemster polder are along the oldest in the world, and even belong to the Unesco list! Subsequently my home city Alkmaar will be visited. Highlights will be a passage through the city center and the cobbled Munnikenweg. Via Langendijk and Schagen the race will reach it's most northern point in the coastal village Callantsoog.
From then the route will go back south again to Petten. But the peloton won't take the road. they will take the beach!
In Holland are a lot beach races, mostly won by mountainbikers. However, Dutch riders like Lars Boom, Robert Gesink and Sebastian Langeveld do pretty well in these races. This inspired me to include this in a normal race. The Callantsoog - Petten section is 8 kilometres long. In order to prevent flat tires, the sand will be filtered before the riders pass.
After Petten the race continues along the coast. Luckily, now the riders are allowed to ride the 'strandweg' on the Hondsbosche Zeewering. This is a unique section, since it is the only place on the Dutch Northsea coast where the dunes are replaced by a dike. The fun thing is that this weak part of the Dutch coast is followed by the most strong part: the 'Dunes of Schoorl'. This national park has the highest dunes of Holland (50 metres), and luckily you can climb them by bike. The 'Klimweg' in Schoorl is not long, but rather steep. This makes it one of the hardest Dutch climbs outside Limburg.
After this spectacular passage the peloton will go straight through the national park to enter Bergen aan Zee. There it is time for the second beach section! This one is 5 kilometres and will bring the peloton to Egmond aan Zee. From there on the route goes along the dunes to the village of Bloemendaal. There it is time for the second 'climb' of the day: het kopje van Bloemendaal. This again is a very short climb, but it includes some sections of 15%. Which is massive for Dutch notions
Only 6 kilometres after this 'climb' the riders will pass the finish line of this Tour. Off course this is at the Provinciehuis in Haarlem. Nowadays the regional parliament is settled here, but it used to be the residence of Napoleon's brother Lodewijk during the period that the French has taken over.
However, the race isn't over yet! The longest Beach secion has still to come. This 10 kilometres section brings the peloton from the formerly Formula 1 city Zandvoort to IJmuiden. From there on it is only 18 kilometres to the finish line, so firework should be provided! After a second climb of the 'Kopje van Bloemendaal' it is time to finish this race!
Summarized, this race include windy sections, cobbled sections, some small climbs and 23 kilometres of beach! How cool would it be if such a race would be organized in my backyard?
- Dec 16, 2011
- 345
- 0
- 0
Nobody says it is not allowed to race on such tires. Maybe there can be bike switches.
On this website is a summary of the biggest Beach race in Holland. It is 36 KM long. As you can see, they go pretty fast.
But I agree, I'm a little insane!
On this website is a summary of the biggest Beach race in Holland. It is 36 KM long. As you can see, they go pretty fast.
But I agree, I'm a little insane!
TRENDING THREADS
-
European Championship 2025: Men’s RR, October 5- Started by Berniece
- Replies: 796
-
World Championship 2025: Men’s RR, September 28- Started by Berniece
- Replies: 2K
-
World Championship 2025: Men’s ITT, September 21- Started by Berniece
- Replies: 942
-
European Championship 2025: Men’s ITT, October 1- Started by Berniece
- Replies: 278
-
Teams & Riders The Remco Evenepoel is the next Eddy Merckx thread- Started by DNP-Old
- Replies: 35K
-
-
Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread- Started by Lequack
- Replies: 40K
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram