RVV - new finale

[Ferminal]

Had a quick attempt doing this.

Kapelmuur 90km
Bosberg 86km
Overberg 75km (have to leave Flanders though so not allowed I guess)
Valkenberg 57km
Eikenberg 45km
Taaienberg 37km
Kruisberg 26km
Kwaremont 15km
Paterberg 12km
Koppenberg 5km

It's backended too much, 30km where Valkenberg is the only climb.

Better one without Bosberg:

Overberg 80km
Kapelmuur 76km
Parikeberg 66km
Valkenberg 58km
Eikenberg 45km
Taaienberg 38km
Kruisberg 26km
Oude Kwaremont 15km
Paterberg 12km
Koppenberg 5km

 

[rghysens]

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=748680&postcount=791

 

[boomcie]

I didn't like it.

I really didn't care on beforehand, but it felt incredibly awkward.

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

This is funny, Yesterday evening I also decided to give a go to a new RVV design. It seems that Bikemap has some troubles now because of a system switch. But I hope you can view it.

This year I really missed the Muur in the final. There were many climbs, but none of them were really suited for a good attack in my opinion. I even believe that this huge amount of climbs backed to the end have lead to a pathetic defensive course. Still, I think we can only dream of a finish back in Meerbeke. So here is my version with finish in Oudenaarde but the Muur back as decisive hill. After the Muur (30 K before the finish) the final selection should be already made, because the Valkenberg, Haaghoek (yes, a flat cobbled section in the final) and Eikenberg are nice but not really selective. I hope therefore that this course will lead to a lot of early attacks.

The hills:
1 Nokereberg
2 Tiegemberg
3 Kluisberg
4 Knokteberg
5 Oude Kwaremont
6 Paterberg
7 Koppenberg
8 Steenbeekdries
9 Taaienberg
10 Hoogberg
11 Mont Saint Laurent (really difficult climb in Hainaut!)
12 Mont d'Elezelles
13 la Houppe
14 Muur van Geraardsbergen
15 Valkenberg
- Haaghoek
16 Eikenberg

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

After Eikenberg, you could go to Holleweg & Kerkgate

But the fact is: the current format allows them to gain a lot of income out of VIP tents on the Kwaremont (it was impressive to see the temporary structures build there)

 

[killswitch]

I even believe that this huge amount of climbs backed to the end have lead to a pathetic defensive course. Still, I think we can only dream of a finish back in Meerbeke. So here is my version with finish in Oudenaarde but the Muur back as decisive hill. After the Muur (30 K before the finish) the final selection should be already made, because the Valkenberg, Haaghoek (yes, a flat cobbled section in the final) and Eikenberg are nice but not really selective. I hope therefore that this course will lead to a lot of early attacks.

Matt White summarized it well:

"Today was the hardest Tour of Flanders but it was probably a bigger group sprinting for fourth as we’ve seen in the last ten years because it just makes it negative. It’s such a hard parcours that you’ve got to wait to race. Anyone who tried anything early was not successful. It was a good race though."

"It’s such hard parcours that it’s really hard to control for such a long period of time. The important part f the race came so early. Before you could just relax until you came to the Kwaremont, that’s where the race started. Today the race started 60-80km before that and it was impossible for one team to control the whole race but Omega did a great job."

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/langeveld-loss-leaves-greenedge-to-regroup

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

How big was the group on the Muur last year? Not smaller than this year on Oude Kwaremont, I guess?

 

[will10]

Had a quick attempt doing this.

Kapelmuur 90km
Bosberg 86km
Overberg 75km (have to leave Flanders though so not allowed I guess)
Valkenberg 57km
Eikenberg 45km
Taaienberg 37km
Kruisberg 26km
Kwaremont 15km
Paterberg 12km
Koppenberg 5km

It's backended too much, 30km where Valkenberg is the only climb.

Koppenberg with 5km to go would be mental.

 

[hatcher]

Matt White summarized it well:

"Today was the hardest Tour of Flanders but it was probably a bigger group sprinting for fourth as we’ve seen in the last ten years because it just makes it negative. It’s such a hard parcours that you’ve got to wait to race. Anyone who tried anything early was not successful. It was a good race though."

"It’s such hard parcours that it’s really hard to control for such a long period of time. The important part f the race came so early. Before you could just relax until you came to the Kwaremont, that’s where the race started. Today the race started 60-80km before that and it was impossible for one team to control the whole race but Omega did a great job."

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/langeveld-loss-leaves-greenedge-to-regroup

Yeah I think I agree with that. It turned it into an oppressive, grinding down process with predictable attack points (even more so).

It was still a really enjoyable race though, and I'd be interested to see how it would be ridden now they've experienced it.

 

[jens_attacks]

Koppenberg with 5km to go would be mental.

contador vs purito ftw!

 

[Eyeballs Out]

I do actually quite like the new finale (not that I didn't like the old one). Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg works well - a drag climb followed quite quickly by sharp one. Too many laps though and the pile up on the corner at the bottom could always be an issue

It's difficult to judge how it will be raced in future when the weather was so good yesterday. I find it hard to believe Koppenberg would be raced so negatively most years in future

 

[El Pistolero]

contador vs purito ftw!

More like Boonen winning the race by default there

 

[ilrumne]

I like the new parcours, however, there are some possibilities to improve.
Major remarks:

- Put the Muur in it, just as a sign of respect for tradition. I do understand however, that if they put the Muur back into the parcours and if the local rounds are obligatory, the position of the Muur will be at +/- 120 km of the finish.
- there are too many hills in front of the Kwaremont, making it too hard and no one dares to do something on these hills.
- On the other hand is the 25 to 30 km flat in front of the Kwaremont ridiculous. The peloton has to be beaten after the trio Kwaremont-Paterberg-Koppenberg, so it has to break fast.
- The final flat kilometers after the Paterberg are also not very creative. Better would be to go directly to Oudenaarde, but pass at the Rotelenberg (not Koppenberg), creating a last, small possibility to attack.

- I would also make the second lap a bit longer, the 3rd time Kwaremont & Pater come too fast

A small example of a better race track (I really would like to have the Fiertelmeers in it also ):

click