I have decided to go on a little project that I am quite motivated into doing. I won't make any big post, just the basic idea of what I will be doing as long as I enjoy it.
So as in Race Company Simulater we were given the task of creating routes for them to be used in PCM. In there I have created two races already in my home country of Portugal in which you can see an example of what I will be doing. Those two races are right here, the Volta ao Douro and the Rota do Atlântico.
So my project is pretty simple, I will be creating routes. From those routes I will try to create races from it but that may not be my focus depending on the circumstances. From the routes I will create everybody who would like to create races out of them for PCM have my full support and I can help with everything needed. All routes will be created in La Flamme Rouge, other site will only be used if there's any error or malfunction.
The first idea I have is to make a Grand Tour throughout Europe, no boundaries. Going through Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal and Italy (and perhaps others), taking on mountains, cobbles, hills and a ton of different cultures and environments, with the intention of creating unique races that cover every aspect of what we all love in cycling. I would love to make a race across America but that may take a while as I have very little knowledge on American roads but I certainly have that on my bucket list.
And this is where all of you come in, I am open to hearing any ideas you may have, it can be in any country in the world, any type of race I don't care I'm open to doing anything if I feel excitement to do it And in my scheduled races you can say some things you would like to see in them, special cities, climbs, etc..
It's an ambitious project, in the post below I will have my scheduled races, as well as links to my made routes, so I hope you like them and any feedback would be kindly appreciated Edited by Yellow Jersey on 18-06-2020 23:49
We present to you the new pro race in the Portuguese calendar, one that fills a big hole in a beautiful region. The Volta ao Douro (Tour of the Douro Region).
It hosts both the Douro Granfondo and the Porto Grandondo that every year not only attracts thousands of amateur cyclists, but cycling legends, former monument winners, former Grand-Tour winners, etc. There is a reason for this to be, the Douro region (both the interior of the country and the more urban areas) is a very beautiful place, the Interior Douro Valley wine region is an Unesco World Heritage place, where the wine planations give birth to the Port wine, and the urban Porto and Gaia area is where it is made and aged.
The interior is Geologically fascinating, endless mountains and hills alongside the rivers wich turn to ravines in the Porto area, here is very little purely flat terrain around.
Stage 1
Stage: Miranda do Douro - Vila Real Distance: 244.5Km Elevation Gain: 4075m
Very close to the border of Spain, the stage begins in Miranda do Douro. The riders will face a marathon day with about 7 hours expected on the bike. They will face maybe the easiest Kilometers of the race in these opening 100Km, bumpy but mainly flat and with a long descent where they will for the first time be next to the river.
Miranda do Douro
They will then climb the Vale do Coa (Valley of the Coa river, named by a nearby river) wich is 5.9Km long at 8.6% average gradient. They will then followed rugged and technical roads until they go over a bridge that connect the Douro and Coa rivers, where they will imediately start climbing the Alto de Cabeças de Mouro, wich features 8.6Km at 7.1% average gradient.
Starts the 4th climb of the day
A constant up-and-down until an intermediate sprint in a local village, right next to the Fonte das Sereias (fountain of the mermaids).
The sprint will be placed nearby
A very technical descent down to the river will be followed by the last two climbs of the day. They aren't the hardest, but with over 200Km harsh Kilometers in the legs they'll hurt a lot. The Alijó climb is 14.7Kn at 3.7% average gradient. It will be followed by a small plaeteau and a very technical and steep descent that may prove a tougher challenge than the actual climbs to some. They immediately start climbing after the descent where they'll face the climb to Sabrosa, wich is 9Km at 4.5%, but with the first 4Km at an average of 8%.
Here they'll start to climb to Alijó
They will then have a little less than 20Km to the finish, mostly downhill with a few small ramps in the middle, then to finish in the city of Vila Real, situated at the foot of one of the biggest mountain ranges in the country, that luckily they won't have to climb. The last 1.5Km have a slight uphill drag but it's not enough in any way to favour the climbers.
Vila Real
Background: This is the longest stage, also the hardest to make as I wasn't so familiar with the roads, but it is indeed a stage made for the long display of the region, running alongside the river for most of the stage, and running through more than half of it's distance in the country. Opinion: The harsh profile with long climbs should suit the climbers better but they'll have to make an agressive race because the last 20Km allow for alliances. The marathon distance can suit some puncheurs, but obviously they have to climb well to say the least.
They descend all the way to the city of Amarante and will slowly climb towards Freixo de Cima, adding 11.9Km at 3.2%. Once again they will come back down to the river, this time the Tâmega where they will slowly grind up to the Casa do Almocreve. The somewhat easy part of the stage finishes and they will have a nasty technical descent back to the Douro river where they will then climb up to Resende where the gradients will bite, 2.5Km at 7.7%
Resende
Then a sketchy approach to the next climb, the Oasis do Douro, it's perhaps the last real dificulty to the "easiest" stage of the race, 2.7Km at 6.7%. Lots of up-and-down terrain follows, until they reach the city of Entre-os-Rios where the Tâmega river unites with the Douro river. Tey pass through an intermediate sprint over a bridge, and will follow the riverside until the last Kilometers of the stage.
Entre-Os-Rios
A draining uphill drag to Sernada will take the riders to an intermediate sprint just 7.5Km to the finish line, the favourites should be seen on the move here as there is favourable terrain and seconds at their disposal. A very technical descent will lead the riders into the final 2Km that will tilt at 4% and should make for a hard sprint where the remaining energies will be vital. The stage ends next to the Senhora do Salto site, one of the most iconic cycling destinations of the area.
Senhora do Salto natural park
Background: The intention here was to design an enigmatic stage, the roads are very twitchy, the climbs are steep and the roads are very hard to race in, extremely demanding to ride on them. Opinion: This is an absolutely open stage, there are plenty of plausible scenarios to come, a group of climbers attacking right early in the day, splits and explosive racing on the short and steep climbs/descents, or it can be a slow stage with a rather plentiful sprint between the favourites. The intermediate sprint in the end will mean some riders may sacrifice their chances at the finish, it will be very interesting how that sprint will be played, as it's in a climb it likely will trigger some riders into making a move before the final stretch of climbing.
Stage 3
Stage: Melres - Vila Nova de Gaia Distance: 134.2Km Elevation Gain: 2561m
The day starts off with a nasty little hill in the opening kilometers. They will start the day in the Melres camping park. Then they'll follow some of yesterday's road but on the opposite direction. They'll climb the Serra da Boneca (mountain of the doll) that features 7.8Km at 5.7%, but the last 4Km have 8.3% average gradient, with the opening Kilometer having a slight cobble section.
The race starts in what looks like a peninsula, in the town of Melres
The Serra da Boneca places us on one of the best vieweing spots of the Douro river
They go down to the river to go over it for the first time of the day, into Castelo de Paiva where they'll slightly ascend, in preparation of the Monte de S.Domingos. This is set to be one of the most iconic moments of the race, the climb is 2.7Km long at 10.1% of average gradient and is fully in a gentle cobbled surface, leaving the riders only phisically a few Kilometers of the Boneca, with more breathtaking views.
The Serra de S.Domingos is a brute but absolutely worth it
A very bumpy and curvy road follows, an intermediate sprint in Canedo may shake things a bit up in the meanwhile, and the climb to Olival will break the rider's legs down even more, it's 3.9Km and 5% average gradient but features zones up to 10%, it is the final categorized climb of the race. A very steep descent and a nasty brutal "shark-tooth" follow, going over the river over a dam.
The Crestuma dam
Then the riders will follow a flatish 15Km riverside until they finally get to one of the most iconic places in portugal, the D.Luis bridge, the place that unites the cities of V.N.Gaia and Porto, the site of the famous Port wine caves, one of the seven wonders of the country.
The last river crossing of the race will be in the D.Luis bridge
The race will go up the center of Vila Nova de Gaia through an uphill avenue, the Avenida da República, the climb is 3Km at 5% but in the top there is an intermediate sprint, the perfect bait for attacks after a slight resting period.
The center of V.N.Gaia features on this final stage, but the riders will be gritting their teeth through it
Then a bumpy terrain and the big question of the race, just how hard and damaging will the cobbles be.. A slight 1Km sector will be hard but just an appetizer for the moment chosen by the organization as the most likely to have an impact on the race, the Calçada Romana, the road rises up and later, 500 meters of a road that was built by the roman empire, and to today those rocks remain in there, making for an extremely hard sector, the problem is that after the road flattens there is still 1.3Km of brutal cobbles to go that can make or break the race.
Calçada Romana
Follows a relieving (for some) descent, a slight uphill and a fast run-into the riverside, a very fast descent, and once the riders are in the riverside, the Cais de Gaia they will face some cobbles once again.
Cais de Gaia, 3Km to the finish
The riders will turn left into the final climb of the race. They will climb the 600 meters at 9%, the Calçada das Freiras, through the middle of world heritage, the Port wine caves.
The Calçada das Freiras is an intimidating place, it's ramps reach 14%
They turn right into 400 meters of flat, and left onto the final 900 meters of the race, at 5%, to finish in front of the Holiday Inn, but some might even finish with a smile on their face after 3 brutal days of racing.
If they're lucky, the riders may have this view in the night after the race as the hotel is placed right here
Background: I gave a fine little personal touch with this one, i know almost all of the roads like the palm of my hand, and I truly wanted it to finish in Gaia as it's my home city. The day starts very hard, and the finish is as punchy as it can get, but none of it compromises the beauty that these roads have to offer.. It's a perfect mix for a race. Opinion: A short and hard stage, every race has one of those currently right.. But this one just has that little something different that makes it special. There's no rider that will dominate this, the long climbs, the short climbs, the cobbles, there is so much going on it's hard even to predict what type of rider will win a stage like this. And after 2 intense days it's gonna be up to who has the legs in the end. Little things like the intermediate sprints can be decisive when it comes to the final GC.
The second race organized by the Associação Desportiva da Douro is here! After the quick assembly of the company's major goal wich was to organize an intriguing race around it's home region, we bring the riders a new challenge, in the form of a stage race with 5 days of competition. The route is quite simple, it essentially follows the Atlantic coast ( thus it's name, 'Route of the Atlantic' ), starting in one of the most southern points of the country in Sagres (regularly on the Volta ao Algarve), and throughout the course of 5 stages move north until the grand finale in the city of Caminha near the Spanish border.
The first 3 stages will be accostumed to the sprinters, but with plenty of chances for the lighter and punchier to make differences, including a Golden Kilometer in every stage (3 intermediate sprints in very close to proximity). Stage 4 will be almost pan-flat, passing through some sites that were devastated by the fires that occured in October of last year and will be near the coast at all times. And the final stage is set to be the one that will create differences if it does happen, with a combination of hills that will put many riders into some serious trouble, and where the sprinters will try to maintain their lead over the strongest riders in that terrain. To note that in every single stage, the wind may play a big part.
The race will look to go through some of the country's national parks, the most urban and developed areas and the most reputated beach tourism locations, whilst at the same time having a composed parcours, wich will allow the sprinters and puncheurs have their share of success.
Stage 1
Stage: Sagres - Ilha do Pessegueiro Distance: 196Km Elevation Gain: 2322m
The race will start in Sagres Fortress on familiar roads to those who are regular viewers of the Volta ao Algarve. This first stage will not go through the famous Algarve tourist destinations but it will start there and head north towards the Alentejo region.
The race will start here
This stage is rated as the second hardest of the race, much due to the climbs it will face through the middle of the day. The climb to Padescas is 3Km at 7.9% average gradient, and the one to Zambujeira de Baixo is 1.2Km long at an average of 8.3%. But the hardest is definetely the Alto da Fóia, a regular too in the Volta ao Algarve, and it's final 7.6Km feature a gradient of 5.9% followed by a steep technical descent.
Alto da Fóia
If the sprinters resist this part of the stage confortably, they should have no trouble until the end as the final 55Km are totally flat, with the Golden Kilometer located at 19Km from the finish line in Vila Nova de Milfontes.
Vila Nova de Milfontes
And after that, the riders will face a pan-flat and easy at a technical level run-in to the finish, located near the Ilha do Pessegueiro island where we'll see the first yellow jersey emerge.
1Km to the finish line...
Background: It's a stage through a region that I don't know very well but was always curious to find out about it's roads. The final part of the stage is in the Alentejo, a region I absolutely love and have memories of racing in those same roads wich makes it special. Opinion: Without considering possible wind, it's still a preety hard stage. The sprinters should have this one but they will struggle in Fóia, that's a serious climb not a hill. Overall it's a very dynamic day, I wouldn't be surprised if a breakaway took it and open up the GC.
Stage 2
Stage: Sines - Costa da Caparica Distance: 212Km Elevation Gain: 1844m
The riders will take off in Sines and will face a long day in the saddle. For their "pleasure" until the intermediate sprint they should have a preety relaxed race.
Sines
A first intermediate sprint should be the highlight of the first half of the stage, where then they'll go around the Sado estuary. Only after 150Km the real stage will begin, the Serra da Arrábida is proper to host some explosive racing, the climb is rated as 9.9Km at 3.7% but it's split into 3 little climbs. The second one feautres over 2Km at 9% and the last 800 meters at 10%.
This part of the route will be scenic
After the climbing follows a fast descent, that leaves the riders in a zone that has two spikes in the profile. The Golden Kilometer will be situated there and will have a 7% average gradient, something that can cause a major stir in the peloton. Likely that the breakaway will take these bonusses (wich will be dangerous GC wise), and that will leave 38Km in the stage. It can allow recoveries or possible crosswinds, but what is sure is that it won't be a technical finale with the final straight being 5Km long, ending the second stage in Costa da Caparica.
Costa da Caparica
Background: I'm unfamiliar with these roads except for the Arrábida area. It's mostly a transition stage, the roads in the upper Alentejo and Sado region are quite good for cycling. It starts off in those calm beach-side villages and will end in an urban city very near the capital so it shows off the contrast between the regions in here. Opinion: I'd like it very much if the race was attacked in those steep gradients in the Serra da Arrábida, the constant up-and-down can cause multiple splits and will be a very stressful part of the stage. It's the longest one so the distance will weigh on the sprinters. Again it will be for the tough ones who have a good peak power.
The start line will be located in the Portuguese capital, Lisboa and it will run through the coast of the Tejo river until we start to go up in Estoril (where the past MotoGP circuit is located).
Lisboa
From there on there will be rugged terrain throughout the stage. The Sintra-Cascais natural park will be a reference point though as the riders will go up to the Palácio da Pena, one of the country's landmarks. They'll face 2Km at 7.5% after a long false fat run-in.
Palácio da Pena
Long transition roads will follow, the climb to Venureira will be present there with 4.2Km at 4.5% average gradient, as will be the passing through Torres Vedras, birthplace of Portugal's most reputated cyclist ever, Joaquim Agostinho.
After that there will be the main point of the day, with the climb to the Montejunto natural park, featuring 8Km at 5.3%.
Serra de Montejunto
There will be a descent, and a slightly rugged terrain after, that'll lead-up to the Golden Kilometer, wich is in the middle of a 1.5Km climb at 5% that once again can ignite the race or give an advantage to the breakaway riders.
That leaves us with the final 17.5Km, completely flat and will finish in the city of Peniche, the road to the finish line goes all around the tiny peninsula.
Peniche
Background: This stage was about getting out of the way initially (that area, I don't appreciate it much), but as I was considering the possible routes I realized that after all there are many roads that look good to explore. I had the chance to go through another national park (thus making it three in this day) and finish in the same place, but that would leave me with a 230Km stage and that seemed to long for it to stil be an interesting stage (considering the profile). Opinion: To be honest this day has breakaway win wrriten all over it. But the thing is, if the puncheurs want to fight for GC they'll have to push hard, but that will leave the sprinters to battle it out for the win. That will leave the teams into having to make a very intelligent strategy and do the right choices, cause if they don't it can cost them big. And that will surely give the race a very interesting dynamics.
Stage 4
Stage: Vieira de Leiria - Vila Nova de Gaia (Cais de Gaia) Distance: 199.5Km Elevation Gain: 881m
The fourth stage of the Rota do Atlântico will remember the disaster of 15th/16th October 2017. The extreme heat and a storm (along with many arsons) caused fires that burned 2% of the country's area in about 48 hours, and caused 48 casualties. The start will be in Vieira de Leiria, unlike the other days it doesn't start in a major city but instead in one that was severely affected by those occurences.
Vieira de Leiria
The riders will head up north for the whole day, passing through the sole KOM of the day in Figueira da Foz, with a gentle 2.9Km at 4.3%.
Figueira da Foz
Then the riders will face a 30Km straight road, right through the Pinhal the Leiria (Leiria woods). That forest had over 11000 hectares of pine plantations, and it's where over 700 years ago the tradicional monoculture of pines began in Portugal. In October 80% of that forest burned down. The intermediate sprint will be located in the center of the forest so as to make it a special site.
Once one of Portugal's greenest areas, it's now a dark lifeless place...
The race will keep going, getting a bit far from the sea-line but still rather close, it will go through some of the major cities in the center and northern region, including fishing towns, recognized beach tourism sites and national landmarks.
The Golden Kilometer will be located already inside of the Vila Nova de Gaia city, in it's premiere 15Km beachside road with cycle-tracks and blue flag beaches.
The Golden Kilometer will be placed near the Senhor da Pedra chappel, one of Portugal's most iconic beaches
The race will remain flat until the end, where after going through the Douro estuary, they will go riverside near the cliffs until they reach the Cais de Gaia, where the stage will have it's finish.
The finish will be in the Tourist spot of the Cais de Gaia
Background: This stage was cut out into detail in some parts, but really easy to do as I'm familiar with all the roads. Really think it's a bit of a symbolic gesture to display some of the early roads, those events were really marking for me, and I'm trying to raise a little bit of awareness and how even the biggest things can indeed completely disappear in a glimpse. Opinion: If there's wind it's a seriously threatening stage as it goes almost all in the same direction. If there isn't it's set to be a relaxed stage as it's very flat. This one should be an advantage for the pure sprinters, and a stage that (possibly) won't have any traps.
Stage 5
Stage: Vila Nova de Gaia - Caminha Distance: 186Km Elevation Gain: 2574m
The race will start off exactly where it finished one day earlier, in the Cais de Gaia, but the riders will quickly head north, through the historic site of the Porto riverside and once they leave the river the race will continue heading north through roads close to the ocean.
The riders will set off and go through the Douro riverside
The race will be flat for the first 80Km, with an intermediate sprint after 59Km of racing in Esposende. The first climb of the day will be the twitchy one to the Santuário de Santa Luzia (Santa Luzia sanctuary), a climb that is around 2Km at 5% in light cobblestones. The climb won't stop there as they head over the hills of Viana do Castelo, and right after a steep descent the Monte da Portela with it's 1.5Km at 11.1% will put the hurt on many of the riders, featuring 16% in the first 500 meters.
Santuário de Santa Luzia
Several uncategorized hills will follow, topping up at Arga de Baixo, and the climb to Penedo das Casinhas will finish this sequence of climbs, with it's 3.9Km at 6.9%. They'll quickly come down to Vila Nova da Cerveira where they'll have the Golden Kilometer in the bottom of the descent.
Vila Nova da Cerveira with the Penedo das Casinhas peak in the distance
A fast flat stretch will get the rider through Caminha for the first time, but they will keep going and will later face the final climb to Santo Atão, 7.2Km at 5%, but with consistent 6-7% in it's bulk.
In Santo Atão they'll get a view of Caminha and Spain, divided by the Minho river
A fast and technical descent will get the riders back down to Caminha where the flat finishing straight should see the final gaps in this tour.
Caminha
Background: Before seeing it's details, I thought that area was flatter than it actually is.. I found many interesting climbs I didn't know but the Santa Luzia climb keeps it a familiar route through unknown roads in a way. I really hope the strongest riders attack the middle of the stage with all those consecutive climbs, but the final climb should also be hard enough for gaps to appear. Opinion: The flat start won't get the riders in any trouble except if there's wind. That succession of climbs will be the hardest 60Km of the race and with the Golden Kilometer in the end of that descent, it purely enourages far-out attacks. It will depend much on how fast the race is ridden, it is also very possible for it to be a show only on the final climb.
Due to LFR not working properly, some profiles look quite shaken, specially in the mountainous stages. As it's a big race I'll only talk about the race in a sporting way.
Week 1
Stage 1:
A flat begining for this Tour, starting and finishing in two of the cities most distinguished for it's cultural side in the country. It's a flat parcours with a predicted sprint finish.
Distance:191.9Km
Elevation Gain:494m
Stage 2:
Going through the highest continental Portuguese mountain, it is an intriguing route with plenty of possible outcomes, with a new leader likely.. Although many sprinter can make it to the line, but so can a breakaway.
Distance: 240Km
Elevation Gain: 3471m
Stage 3:
Similar to the previous day but the hard climb of the day in Juan Serrano will be positioned near the end. A possible breakaway, but also an attack on that 1st category are the most likely outcomes.
Distance: 215.8Km
Elevation Gain: 2231m
Stage 4:
A little rest after and before hard stages. The shortest road stage in the tour, and one certainly for the sprinters.
Distance: 102.1Km
Elevation Gain: 468m
Stage 5:
First summit finish of the race, the riders will have to be very strong already in the first days of the race. Two climbs to Navacerrada, with the last climbing the ultra-steep Bola del Mundo will certainly see some vital gaps show up.
Distance: 156.3Km
Elevation Gain: 3005m
Stage 6:
Transitional stage through the center of Spain, Burgos will have an arrival suited for the sprinters as long as they can ride the 230Km without issues.
Distance: 230.9Km
Elevation Gain:898m
Stage 7:
A short ride through the Basque Country, starting hard and going through the Jaizkibel before moving inland towards Eibar, where the steep climb to the Arrate sanctuary can see some riders winning time. The constantly winding roads makes it a perfect stage for an ambush.
Distance: 160.6Km
Elevation Gain: 2569m
Stage 8:
First day in France, the riders enter the Pyrinees where some differences will surely be made atop the Col du Soudet, and a few kms later a finish in the winter village of La Pierre Sain Martin.
Distance: 166.9Km
Elevation Gain: 2882m
Stage 9:
Last day of the first week. Aubisque, Tourmalet and the Col d'Aspin will surely crush many riders, and the finish on the spectacular Col de Val-Louron Azet is set to be an exciting one.
Distance: 147.2Km
Elevation Gain: 4553m
Week 2
Stage 10:
Second week starts here and in what way. Only day of the race to go through 3 countries! 3 Spanish "escaladas" will set the race in to enter Andorra, where the Port d'Envalira is set to cause mayhem in the GC, longest summit finish in the race.
Distance: 204.5Km
Elevation Gain: 4538m
Stage 11:
A well deserved "rest" after 4 hard stages. The route from Narbonne to Nimes is mostly flat and a well deserved reward for the sprinters who have gone through the Pyrinees.
Distance: 174.6Km
Elevation Gain:1472m
Stage 12:
A TTT in this point of the race can make much bigger gaps than usual. Teams will have to be preserved in order to get here with all their strenght.. And loosing riders in the first 11 stages may become vital for this day and the final GC.
Distance: 37.6Km
Elevation Gain:184m
Stage 13:
Another flat one, between two of the Mediterraneen sea which will surely be appreciated by everyone in the peloton.
Distance: 143.5Km
Elevation Gain: 920m
Stage 14:
The riders will set off very near Nice and come back.. But not before climbing the Col de Turini and the Col de la Maddone. Gaps aren't expected there but they'll tire the legs of the rider who will climb up the Col d'Eze, anticipating the next few days.
Distance: 156.5Km
Elevation Gain: 3641m
Stage 15:
The riders will go across to italy in a mamoth climbing stage. There is nothing hidden, pure and simple, the Cimma della Bonette, Col de la Lombarde and Colle della Fauniera will shred the peloton to pieces before the descent and a flat finish in Roccabruna.
Distance: 193.9Km
Elevation Gain: 4951m
Stage 16:
This stage might turn out harder than expected. The climbs will be long and not very steep, but descents will barely exist. The stage will finish 2300m above it's initial level, climbing the Col du Galibier via Col du Lautaret for the highest summit finish of the race.
Distance: 122.6Km
Elevation Gain: 3554m
Week 3
Stage 17:
A fast one before the final block in the Alps, this stage will go through some of the most important Alpine cities featuring Intermediate sprints by them. Sarting in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and quickly they will descend the famous Lacets de Montvernier, it will go across to Swisse for a technical finish in Genève.
Distance: 197.2Km
Elevation Gain: 1386m
Stage 18:
In terms of elevation gain this stage wins the competition. The start in Zurich will be calm, but in the space of little over 100Km the riders will climb 2HC massive climbs, with a 1st and a 2nd Cat. climbs to prepare them for what's coming. The run-in to Vaduz after the Altschen Pass won't be fully downhill, with an uncategorized climb to drain whatever's left of the riders.
Distance: 192.5Km
Elevation Gain: 5683m
Stage 19:
The time-trial will be fully held in Austria. A survival battle for some but a hunting ground for others. The slightly uphill profile may help the lighter riders, but this one is for pure time-trialists. The riders will be glad that they can stay in town for the next day's start.
Distance: 47.3Km
Elevation Gain:743m
Stage 20:
Starting in Solden the riders will quickly head to Italy where in the South Tyrol region they await 2 massive climbs that'll certainly see major damage done. A flat valley road will settle the race, and if there are still attacks to be made the climb to Auna di Sopra, before a draining drag to the line in the village of Oberbazen
Distance: 163.8Km
Elevation Gain: 4951m
Stage 21:
If the riders have made it this far theymust have a smile on their face. A pan-flat stage from Trento to Milano will give the remaining sprinters a chance to have another win, and the finale in front of the Piazza del Duomo will finish this race on a high note.
Distance: 229.1Km
Elevation Gain: 413m
Impressive work, congrats man! Would love to see all that come to PCM!
The inclusion of the climb to Serra de Arga in the last stage of the Rota do Atlântico is particularly endearing to me, given how many times I've bonked there. I usually take the route from Ponte de Lima which is shorter but hits some Angliru-like gradients.
I dont know thats region very well but I'm aware the Caminhos de Santiago go through it and it can be pretty nasty in several vertents, I am bound to go there one day to see it myself Thanks!
Route is coming along well. Of course changes can be made but there's a solid 1st week already. Starting in Porto and going through Portugal's center region, the route will enter Spain and head towards Madrid where the first summit finish will happen.
Through the Burgos region, the route arrives at the Basque country for a brutal stage finishing in an iconic landmark of the Itzulia on the 7th day.
After the basque country, the race will head to the Pyrinees for 3 big mountain days, including a finish in Andorra The race will head to Nice throughout the Mediterranean Sea and will later head for the Alps. A Team time Trial will be held in Marseille on the 12th stage and Nice will host a mountaintop finish in a stage with over 3500m of elevation on the 14th day.
Later tonight the route will be posted here, with a small update on the Alps and the reveal of the starting and finishing cities until stage 14.
Start and finish towns of the first two weeks have been posted. The route is still being designed, there are two High mountain stages in the Haute-Alps region, one of them starting and finishing in places where 2 stages in the 2011 Tour finished
The race will go into Switzerland via a flat stage through some of the most iconic Alpine cities, and will move further on to Liechenstein and Austria where a time-trial will be held, not decided where yet. And the final stage will take place in northern Italy.
The final week's route has been posted. A trip through the Alps takes the race through France, Italy, Swisse, Liechtenstein and Austria with stage finishes in all of them. A flat stage to Swisse had already been anounced, and the time-trial will be 47km long with a mostly flat parcour.
The begining of the week will have some iconic climbs but some more unknown but amazing climbs will be taken in the final few days, profile and map presentation coming tonight and tomorrow Edited by Yellow Jersey on 07-08-2018 22:39
All the stages (except TT's) will feature Golden Kilometers, many in very important areas of the stage.
Week 1
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A week of stressfull riding, plenty of traps and places where major time can be loss, but theorically not won..
The race starts with a time-trial in Rotherdam, and later through the flatlands of Zeeland before going to Belgium, where they will face a stage packed with cobbled bergs, and one with paved... The first 4 days are suited for classics riders and we should see several leaders.
The race enters in France, Nancy will host a flat finish and then Wittelsheim after a day in the Vosges. Weissenstein will be the first summit finish, and a very steep one. The team time-trial will be held in Lausanne and is a cornerstone of the first week.
The last day enters the Pirynees, in a short explosive stage to Sallanches.
Week 2
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The first real mountaintop finish in Le Planche is a brutal "test", a climb near and similar to the Finestre, with some gravel Kilometers ending it. A hilly stage to Torino should be a break and puncheurs delight, and the Sprinters will have theirs with pan-flat stages to Verona and Lido de Jesolo.
From then on the race never gets easy, Ovaro will host the finish of a massive stage in the Carnic Alps, and the next day starts with a climb to the Zoncolan, finishing in the Friuli region.
Week 3
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The last week starts with the last individual effort, by the Adriatique sea in Trieste, and the following day sees the race go into Slovenia for a stage packed with sinous climbing and descending. A summit in Svetje Gore will see a further decimation of the peloton, and the following transitional day will shred heaps of energy of those who still have some.
The final mountain day will top in the Sveti Jure, one of the hardest climbs in pro cycling with an amazing view to the Adriatique sea, where the final gaps and decisions will be made.
However in the last day there is still the chance to win back some seconds if needed, a punchy circuit in Split should see either a punchy sprinter or a puncheur taking the win, and the GC contenders will have to stay safe to avoid a, Split...
Later moving to Swisse, and I plan on moving through the Alps onto the Adriatic sea. Slovenia and Croatia will certainly have a fair number of stages, and the race will certainly finish in one of those countries.
So the second week of the race has been designed, all the stages will finish in Italian soil featuring a mountaintop finish at Le Planche, overlooking the Col de Finestre, a circuit finish around Torino will give the puncheurs a proper chance to fight for the win again.
After there will be two transitional stages, finishing in Verona and Lido di Jesolo by the adriatic sea where the race will later continue developing.
But before it does the race will head to the Friuli region for two massive stages. The first will have over 5000 meters of climbing with a finish in Ovaro after climbing the Monte Crostis. The second day will start with the Monte Zoncolan, and will have a brutal first 80Km with 4 more other categorized climbs, before a final 35Km leading to Germona del Friuli for a hilltop finish in the Via Stalis.
The second week is here in LFR, the current race thread as also been updated and you can see it here.
What you´re seeing here are just routes, although I plan on making the stages that's not the priority for now.. Can't make a statement on when but surely in the next few weeks I'll have a better idea
The final week starts with a TT in the Trieste area, right by the border with Slovenie where the race will head the following day for a hilly day full of traps, finishing in the Ljubljana castle.
From the on, a mountaintop finish in Svetje Gore will shred the race to pieces after some hard 3 weeks of racing, and although the next day won't be a GC day in paper, the first stage in Croatia will be a hilly transitional one, with a whopping 247Km which will continue to drain the riders' energies.
To close out the hardest part of the race, the race will have over 200km in Croatian roads before tackling the massive Sveti Jura, one of Croatia's most popular with it's 28Km and starting at sea level.
The finishing day will be one for the sprinters in theory, but we could see some puncheurs getting in the way. Besides there are two golden Km positioned if there are riders looking to gain a spot in that final day. The stage will have 11 laps around a circuit, that will have a 2.7Km climb at 3% average and where all the day's intermediate points will be located, inside the Suma Marjan park.
In LFR the full route is already available here. The thread post is also updated here, and features all the cities that will host the starts/finish.
A brief race presentation will be made in the following days/week down below.
This version of the race is one I thought of right from the begining. I love the Alps and I keep learning about them. Also learned about some areas that I had never explored before like the Flandres and Wallonie region, aswell as the Carnic Alps.
Although not as hard as I wished I like the finish in Slovenia and Croatia.. My knowledge of the topography in there was very limited, but I think it fits very well with the combination of obstacles in the weeks previous.
And in my scheduled races you can say some things you would like to see in them, special cities, climbs, etc..
Thanks!
The race will head to Nice throughout the Mediterranean Sea and will later head for the Alps. A Team time Trial will be held in Marseille on the 12th stage and Nice will host a mountaintop finish in a stage with over 3500m of elevation on the 14th day.
