What is your favourite stage profile ever?

[Eshnar]

Let's forget, for just a moment, the actual race every stage provided.
What is (was..), on paper, the best route ever?
NOTE: Every stage of every professional tour is allowed, but you must post the profile here

I have many doubts but today I feel this is my favourite:

Giro D'Italia 2003, stage 18
Santuario Di Vicoforte - Chianale

It's close to what I call perfection.

 

[The Hitch]

Im actually thinking something like Tour 2010 stage 3, where they include killer cobbles for the final 30k because that really ****s with the gt riders, its something different, and you can get different battles, for the stage and for not losing gt time.

But the problem with that is that it lasts too short. Cobbles are nowhere near as long as a montain and the riders go fast up them anyway.

I don't know if there was ever a proper PR stage at the Tour with more like 90k of cobbles though I would be more inclined to that.

So ill probably go with what we were discussing in the other thread, a simple Mortirolo Aprica finish. Mortirolo kicks it off and the climb itself lasts about 40 minutes. Then the descent messes things up even more and the splintered groups and riders fight it out on a flat then gradual climb.

While I admire the Tonale Aprica Mortirolo Stelvio or the Mortirolo Gavia St Christina options, or non Mortirolo examples such as your choice or Giau-Marmolada- Gardeccia and they can kick things off further than 30k from the end I think finishing on a flat or false flat, just after the descent is the best option.

So if Mortirolo is involved, 1 and a half - 2 hours of heavyweight fighting is the best way to go.

Mortirolo - Aprica stage for me please.

 

[Parrulo]

I don't know if there was ever a proper PR stage at the Tour with more like 90k of cobbles though I would be more inclined to that.

not even paris roubaix has 90k of cobbles

only around 50k iirc

 

[Eshnar]

So ill probably go with what we were discussing in the other thread, a simple Mortirolo Aprica finish. Mortirolo kicks it off and the climb itself lasts about 40 minutes. Then the descent messes things up even more and the splintered groups and riders fight it out on a flat then gradual climb.

The stage that I posted is basically equal to what you say. But, unlike the Mortirolo/Aprica combo, it adds another HC to climb before, perfectly linked with the others.

 

[Kvinto]

IMO, the term "perfect profile" belongs to a race with the biggest possible competition and it doesn't fit the climbing/time-trialing criterion of GTs and the most of other stage races. In this regard Ronde or AGR are miles ahead of any of so-called "epic" GT stages. But since we're talking about stages, then something like this:

It's from this year's Tirreno. The stage that Gilbert won.

 

[fedaia]

finishing on a flat or false flat, just after the descent is the best option.

this can make great racing, like in the grindelwald tds stage this year, but as we have to choose one...

 

[Eshnar]

this can make great racing, like in the grindelwald tds stage this year, but as we have to choose one...

I can't appreciate a MTF to Fedaia. It is an awesome climb when it's placed in the right position. It's wasted as a MTF

 

[FF'Wilco]

Required rain

 

[roundabout]

 

[fedaia]

I can't appreciate a MTF to Fedaia. It is an awesome climb when it's placed in the right position. It's wasted as a MTF

i know that it's not the hardest climb on earth, but with several mountains before and without flats between, why is it wasted?
'in the right position' would be before gardeccia or pordoi?

 

[Netserk]

This is my favorit non-mountain stage profile:

 

[Kvinto]

This is my favorit non-mountain stage profile:

i would say it's the best time trial ever took place in a GT, great choice!

 

[Eshnar]

i know that it's not the hardest climb on earth, but with several mountains before and without flats between, why is it wasted?
'in the right position' would be before gardeccia or pordoi?

I didn't mean it's not hard (in fact, its 6 kms above 10% are awesome).
Simply placing it as the penultimate climb of the day provides, imho, far better racing. I was thinking of Pordoi or Sella more than Gardeccia, but you got it anyway.
A mtf to Fedaia would basically mean all the action will start on its famous straight, and not before.

 

[Escarabajo]

I don't have the profile for that stage in the Giro 2010, sorry. But it has to be raced on a rainy day, otherwise is not the same.

 

[DenisMenchov]

This is my favorit non-mountain stage profile:

Me too. blabla

 

[jens_attacks]

as you can see, people don't remember any profile only if the stage was raced like hell.the profile for montalcino by the way was shiity,nothing special but how the race developped?epic, legendary stuff.
that's also why i come with an epic stage forever in the memory.saunier demons attacked from san pellegrino,mazzoleni became virtually maglia rosa on tre coci,il killer defended with pride his future title on tre cime.
the profile was nice too with long forgotten tre cime:

 

[will10]

You beat me to it Jens, that was gonna be my choice.

 

[roundabout]

Here's the original version of the 2006 stage as it was presented

http://unavueltamejor.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/pinei-corones.gif

 

[craig1985]

This is my favorit non-mountain stage profile:

I think as TT courses go, that's pretty good. I mean you can't use a TT bike on that and even Spartacus CBF that day.

 

[Parrulo]

i would say it's the best time trial ever took place in a GT, great choice!

ever is a bit of a strong word but on the last decade i would say hands down the best itt course, just fantastic

 

[Libertine Seguros]

The only way to waste Fedaia is to put it before TV cameras start rolling.

For MTFs, this is always a favourite:

and this:

Just a couple of vague starters. Many better ones of course.

 

[Ferminal]

IMO, the term "perfect profile" belongs to a race with the biggest possible competition and it doesn't fit the climbing/time-trialing criterion of GTs and the most of other stage races. In this regard Ronde or AGR are miles ahead of any of so-called "epic" GT stages. But since we're talking about stages, then something like this:

It's from this year's Tirreno. The stage that Gilbert won.

That profile doesn't do it justice, I remember an epic ramp or two near the end.

Also need Cancellara's "waa waa they made us go to 1500m in March".

 

[Netserk]

I like Il Giro dominating this thread

 

[Ferminal]

 

[The Hitch]

lol, I was thinking of this as a main example of the opposite. A stage profile which will generally suck but if raced a certain way, gets interesting.