Having it's Grand Depart in Venezuela with 3 stages, including a first slight summit finish in San Cristobal.
It features a 27Km TTT and a 43Km ITT, 3rd and 12th stage respectively.
There are 8 flat stages, 5 are for pure sprinters, 3 have some dificulties that may hamper them.
There are 5 medium mountain finishes, only the opening stage finishes uphill.
There are 6 high mountain stages, with 2 summit finishes.
This tour is something I made more for fun and not having anything to do unlike the other two I published today, the concept is very simple, I made a stage in each of the Canary islands (including Teide, famous for the training camps). My intention wasn't to make it so hard but it's literally a mountain paradise so there was no avoiding them
* For some reason the profiles in the first half of my race are completely flat and the gradients in the climbs are wrong. I don't know what's happening and why it only affects the first half, hoping that it's eventually fixed...
Distance: 3952.28 Km
Flat Stages: 9
Hill Stages: 7 (4 summit finishes)
Mountain Stages: 6 (3 summit finishes)
ITT: 3
TTT: 1
Finishes where Eddy Meckx won: 18
Start of the race as a prologue in De Panne to set the first gaps.
First road stage of the race, one to set the first lead change possibly and the sprinters get their opportunity.
Here there is a Flandrien challenge, taking the bergs to set the first real gaps.
Continue moving through Belgium with another sprint stage.
A hilly finale to the Belgian racing around Liège.
The race's TTT, a bit of importance in this stage as team strenght will propel the riders in the rugged terrain of Limburg.
A final stage in the Benelux, despite having a start in Germany it finishes in the old Luxembourg city with a very steep finish.
First stage in France with a flat finish in Strasbourg.
First mountain challenge of the race deep in the Vosges.
Transition from France to Swisse with a finish for the sprinters to enjoy.
First of a half-stage, a hilly stage summiting in the outskirts of Zurich.
The second moves south towards Aigle for another sprint finish in a tricky stage.
A mountain marathon, almost 330 kilometers that will drain every rider, the absolute old-school stage where only the strongest will prevail.
In a former Merckx' WC win in Mendrisio comes a tricky stage in the Lombardia region.
Rest Day
After a rest day transfer there is another transition stage, pan-flat but with a steep finish in San Luca.
An opportunity for the sprinters after a hard race, not the flattest of stages but they should have their way.
Another one, rugged terrain familiar to all, it's a finish classic to Milano-Sanremo where the sprinters and puncheurs will fight for the win.
The final flat time-trial of the race, a long one that will settle the gaps ahead of the real mountains to come.
The entrance in the Alps where the first summit finish of a high mountain comes.
In the high Alps is found a stage that could set total chaos in the peloton.
The old Chemin de Écoliers in Valloire takes the finish of this exciting stage where the race comes back to France.
The final time-trial of the race, starting and finishing in Briançon, in the Col du Glandon.
The final stage in the Alps, another true marathon that will force the climbers to fly through start to finish.
An easier transition, good for the sprinters remaining.
The final mountain stage going through Provence's mountains. Mont Ventoux on the menu towards Manosque.
And the final stage, having it's grand finale in Marseile.
I used this route in the LFR contest, a focus on Eddy Merckx's successes but in reality it's much more than that, I'm so proud of this route I'd consider it more of my success
The Grand Depart takes part in Brussels, the opening stage goes through it's historic center, and coming out of Bruxels it goes through the small towns of Meise, where Merckx built the factory in which Eddy Merckx Bycicles began, those that are currently used by the AG2R team, and also by Zellik, where later he moved the company, that to this day hosts the headquarters of the iconic bike brand.
Starting in Brussels, the race heads south via Normandie and Loire and will ride along the massif central for two hilly stages before a team time-trial. After that the race will come down to the Pyrinees for two stages in the high mountains, will have a transition through the mediteraneen with two flat stages before a hard day in the Nice region, and after another flat stage comes the Alps, two stages purely in the main Alpine center and the queen stage in the Jura mountains. A time-trial will follow in Besançon before the final mountain stage in the Vosges. It's a climbers Tour, despite some long ITT kilometers there are big mountain stages where the climbers can really play into their advantage.
Stage 1, the Grand Depart in Brussels, land of Eddy Merckx. The start of the stage takes place in the Brussels' historic center, and goes through Meise, the town where he created Eddy Merckx Cycles, and also Zellik where later the company was moved, and to this day has it's headquarters, the bike brand currently is one of the big names in cycling manufacturing and supplies bikes for example for the AG2R team.
The stage won't go far from Brussels, there will be passings through the Flandrien cities of Zottegem and Ninove that are well renoun in Flemish racing, and will then have a loop around the urban Brussels area.
Stage 2 is an individual time-trial, it's a 27Km long challenge,completely flat and with a few technical areas but one that perfectly suits the powerhouses, and will be the first stage where gaps will be seen, also with a switch of leader.
The third and longest stage of the race sees it come to France, the start is in Arras, a city close to Lille, and the route takes the riders through the Hauts de France and finishes in Normandie, with the first hilltop finish in Le Havre, with the Côte d'Ingouvilles (900m, 6.5%) summiting with 900 meters to go (the profile is innacurate, it is far steeper than indicated).
With the start in the Mèmorial de Caen, a WWII memorial, the race keeps heading south, through to Loire, more specifically Sarthe, as the race heads towards Le Mans and after going through the urban area the riders will enter the infamous racing circuit where it will finish.
Stage 5 comes as another challenge for the sprinters, with the flatlands of Centre-Val de Loire and Limousin on the menu. The final part of the stage is quite rolling but it shouldn't disturb the sprinters who will have their saying in Limoges.
Stage 6 takes the riders for a 2-day run in the Massif Central. After some gaps show in the time-trial in Brussels, in Saint-Flour the GC riders will be looking to keep their overall ambitions safe, in a tricky stage with 3000m of climbing and very sketchy roads, well suited for a breakaway.
Stage 7 keeps the run through the Massif Central, after what's been a hilly day the stage from Mende and Rodez, with some long gruelling climbs in the twisty roads, there will be a downhill run-up to Rodez where a slight uphill will bring to a close the first run in the French climbs.
Stage 8 is the race's sole team time-trial, in such an advanced point of the race, it's possible that some teams will be down some riders and have bigger differences. This stage brings another Eddy Merckx reference, it's where in 1971, he was in contention to win his 3rd Tour but had a rough start to the second week. It was here in Albi where he won a time-trial, and in the next day he got the Yellow Jersey back from Luis Ocaña who abandoned, and kept it all the way to Paris.
Stage 9 gives the sprinters another chance before the race enters the mountains, the transition between Pau and Toulouse unites the race with the Pyrenees where the real race will begin.
Stage 10 is he first big mountain stage of the Tour and it's a very complicated one. Despite a relatively short distance, there's almost 4300 meters of climbing on this day, with the Tourmalet, Aspin and Peyresourde leading up to the first summit finish of the race too, in the 16.7Km climb to Superbagnères, where the first serious gaps will be made, and there's no room to enter this part of the race with low form, specially with the day that follows in the Pyrinees.
Stage 14 is the first incursion in the Alps but through the Atlantic ones, in the cycling-famed region of Nice. After the start in Menton the riders head to Nice and go through some of the climbs that are very well reputated due to it's presence in the Paris-Nice, and in the end it totals to a lot of climbing with a summit finish in the Madone d'Utelle, that is sure to make further differences in the GC. There's a flat day coming after, before the race goes seriously into the Alps.
Stage 15 is the final flat stage before Paris, having the alpine cities host such a stage isn't usual, but the sprinters will indeed have their chance to get another win, not a hard stage despite a general uphill drag all day long, and for the GC riders it's a relative rest day before the final set of mountains.
Stage 16 is a loop around Barcelonette, of what can only be called the hardest of mountain stages. Almost 6000 meters of climbing this Tour is definetely suited for the climbers, and it's mammooth climbing stages like this that should be more integrated in the actual Tour. The climbs are long, and steep, and in the fearsome Col de la Bonette the riders will go up to 2700 meters of height, before descending down to Barcelonette again and climbing to the finish in the Pra-Loup ski station. It's the first day in the real Alps and it's a brutal one to start with.
Pra-Loup was a turning point in Eddy Merckx's career, after being punched by a "fan" in the previous stage to Puy-de-Dôme, Merckx set out for stage 15 of the 1975 Tour in the yellow jersey, and suffering from the consequences of the injury that left him with an inflamed liver, it was in the climb to Pra-Loup that he cracked, was overtaken by his rivals and lost the Yellow jersey. Pra-Loup was the last climb Merckx ever did in the Maillot Jaune, hence why it's nicknamed the place of "Le Tombeur du Cannibale"
Stage 17 brings the race to one of the biggest cycling centers of the Alps in the Maurienne valley, but before the Galibier will be climbed via the Lautaret. And in what will be a very short stage, the Croix de Fer will be climbed with it's start in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, one of the least convential sides.
Stage 18 is the queen stage, flowing around the Jura mountains, a full mammooth stage in the mountains including some of the region's most iconic climbs. Part of the Alps but in the Jura, the Mont du Chat, Mont de Semnoz and Grand Colombier will be climbed, but there are even more climbs in the way to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, in a day that will be both the longest with 246Km and the stage with most climbing, with 6200 meters of climbing.
Stage 19 is the final time-trial of the race, it's a rolling 37.6Km challenge, not easy at all but not one for the GC men. It features a bit of climbing in it's early part and then returns to Besançon.
Stage 20 is the final point where the Tour can be decided. The race came north into the Vosges where the weather can become dreadful, and goes through some of the most iconic climbs of the region in another shark-tooth profile day. The Grand Ballon, the Petit Ballon, the Platzerwasel and the Ballon d'Alsace are some of the climbs that really show some of the best of the final mountain range in the race.
The final climb of the race, the Ballon d'Alsace, the place where in 1969 Eddy Merckx won his first ever Tour stage and began there a legacy, he set up for the win in his debut Grand Boucle that set up for 4 consecutive Tour wins.
Stage 8 brings another Eddy Merckx reference, it's where in 1971, he was in contention to win his 3rd Tour but had a rough start to the second week. It was here in Albi where he won a time-trial, and in the next day he got the Yellow Jersey back from Luis Ocaña who abandoned, and kept it all the way to Paris. Stage 16 finishes in Pra-Loup, it was a turning point in Eddy Merckx's career, after being punched by a "fan" in the previous stage to Puy-de-Dôme, Merckx set out for stage 15 of the 1975 Tour in the yellow jersey, and suffering from the consequences of the injury that left him with an inflamed liver, it was in the climb to Pra-Loup that he cracked, was overtaken by his rivals and lost the Yellow jersey. Pra-Loup was the last climb Merckx ever did in the Maillot Jaune, hence why it's nicknamed the place of "Le Tombeur du Cannibale". And the final climb of the race, the summit finish in Ballon d'Alsace is the place where in 1969 Eddy Merckx won his first ever Tour stage and began there a legacy, he set up for the win in his debut Grand Boucle that set up for 4 consecutive Tour wins.
This race features:
8 sprint stages (spread around the race and country)
3 hilly stages (all with slight uphill finishes)
7 mountain stages with 5 summit finishes
2 ITT's total of 64.6Km and a TTT of 33.2Km
2 lumpy stages in Massif Central, 2 in Pyrinees, 1 in Côte d'Azur, 2 in the Rhône-Alpes, 1 in the Jura and 1 in the Vosges. At least a stage in every mountain range and main cycling region.
In "celebration" of the Volta a Portugal 2019 and the fact that the final time-trial is one my home roads (YEAH BOI ) I will be making a route where the stage starts and finishes are in the same locations but the routes are different.
PS: Won't be making anything for PCM like I did with my previous variant, obviously as there's no editor yet but also cause motivation isn't in that for now.
So this route has been made for over a month, but I blocked after I couldn't make a better time-trial which made me realize the time-trial should stay the same as it was very well designed. But the rest of the route, as promissed, has the same start and finishing cities/places as all stages, just with a different route in play. This is my country and I know the roads very well but it was yet another step into some regions I didn't know that well.
Anyway it is a La GrandÃssima route, love it and would be a better one than the one actually made (and gpx is exportable in LFR as every other route so ya'll can do stages with them, I'm not planning on doing so).
The opening stage is just a short prologue in the streets of Viseu, just short gaps to emerge and a fair first leader of the race.
Stage 2 I turned it into an actual flat stage as it should've been, through the shore center roads of the country it should give the sprinters their first opportunity.
Stage 3 is a hilly one, there's some traps along the way and finishes in a little hilltop finish in an urban center in Loures.
Stage 4 is another one for the sprinters, it's a little uphill in general but there's no actual climb along the way and should be another finish for the fast men.
Stage 5, the one they designed this year was good but I took the idea and explored further the route via the Aldeias do Xisto region, one of the most beautiful ones in the country and include some big climbs along the villages before turning to the final climb to the Torre but via a never used side in the race, in the new road via Unhais da Serra which is a quite hard valley run-up to the summit of the highest point in Continental Portugal.
And in stage 6 I took the obvious opportunity to make another mountain stage in the race, climbing the Torre via it's most traditional and longest vertent starting in Seia before descending the glacier valley and climbing towards Guarda, the highest city in the country, a stage made for long distance attacks and agressive racing.
The stage into Bragança is also another very hard one, there are some very hard climbs on the way but it needs some attacking to make the difference, however there's lots of opportunities and it's perfect raiding terrain.
And the Serra do Larouco summit is the finish of stage 8, it is through Portugal's northern region, there aren't many main roads in there despite a beautiful region so the stage isn't very different, but I altered the final section before the climb.
Stage 9 is the final opportunity to the sprinters, as it's a hilly region it is impossible to make it pan-flat but it passes through some of the most important cities in the Minho region and finishes in Felgueiras before the queen stage.
Which is the Senhora da Graça of course, however I've explored the region deeper and made a stage with a lot of climbing before the final climb so it actually makes serious gaps, there's a lot of climbing previous and then the famous run-up to Portugal's most iconic climb to wrap up the climbing in the race.
And the final stage, as I said I haven't changed it. Couldn't say enough how I went to see the stage as it was on my home roads, but overall it was actually very well made there weren't other alternatives pretty much.
PS: I've had the ideas of making a Vuelta variant and a GT in either Great Britain or Scandinavia, so I hope to get some more work out in the next few weeks.
Hey guys, as promised (and actually a quickly finished one, unlike a Vuelta I started last year ) I've got a new new route to show. After in the last couple months my geology passion drove me to understand the Alps a bit more, which lead to see how the Giro routes have been designed throughout the Alps and with that explore the climbs throughout the mountain range, which JUST OBVIOUSLY led me to make one myself and explore all the possibilities.
So obviously this isn't an attempt to make a perfect GT has I usually do, more of something to focus on the actual Alps whilst trying to make a realistic Giro. Think I did well, loved doing it so it was definetly worth it.
Race starts off in Napoli with a couple of flat stages, should give the sprinters a nice opportunity to shine.
Stage 2 goes up to Roma and the sprinters will truly have a golden opportunity that they won't have later.
Stage 3 is quite a hilly one and features what is the crucial final 55Km of the Strade Bianche, so a big trap for the GC riders and an opportunity for the classics riders and puncheurs to take glory.
Stage 4 is another for the sprinters, they deserve it.
Stage 5 is the stage that goes through the Appenines, despite being quite hard the climbing is quite far from the finish, so it's more of a breakaway stage with opportunity for little tests for the climbers.
Stage through the pan-flat Po valley, a must in any Giro right?
TTT near Venice, always liked late TTT's as it DNF's and saving the team actually makes a difference.
Last opportunity for the sprinters to hit it before getting into the mountains, right by the Appenines.
First intrusion into the Alps, a lot of climbing but a stage designed again for a breakaway, with a lot of climbing but a lot of opportunities for raids and attacks.
Stage 10 is the first high mountain stage into Cortina d'Ampezzo, and it features over 4800m+ of climbing including a massive succession of climbs in the Forcella Cibiana, Passo Staulanza and the mythical Passo Giau.
Stage 11 is another opportunity for the sprinters, coming down the Alpine valleys into Feltre.
Stage 12 in my favourite part of the Alps, that final climb wasn't in my plans but there were no realistic way around it, I love the climb of the Croce d'Aune, Passo Manghen and the Alpe di Pampeago in there. Over 5500m+ of climbing.
Stage 13 is what I find a classic Tour of the Alps stage, lot of climbing and some central north mid-mountain stage, some riding in beautiful Badia and a finish in Kasern
Stage 14 goes forward to the iconic Stelvio via it's hardest side, the passage through the Jaufenpass early on will make it really hard and after the descent to Bormio the stage goes up to Bormio 2000 for the first REAL summit finish of the race.
Stage 15 goes through some iconic places like Ponte di Legno (start), the Mortirolo (via the Edolo side) and Aprica after the Trivigno climbs, and after a valley run the massive summit finish in Splugenpass is set to make serious damage.
Stage 16 goes through Lombardia, my little flat Giro di Lombardia if there's such a thing, big big stage, not pan-gflat but it's designed for the sprinters, a breakaway possibly. Passing through Lecco, Bergamo, Como, Varese, Lugano and finishing in Verbania.
Stage 17 starts in the Aosta Valley, wanted to make a stage here but it really can get very repetitive (well I mean 2019 had a full Aosta stage which I loved), so a start in Aosta with some serious climbing in there was a great one, and after some redesigns I decided to eliminate a summit in there, and moving this stage finish to the Colle del Nivolet a climb which I loved to see in the Giro (Lago Serrù), and definetely wanted to make something through there.
Stage 18, Lys/Finestre combo... Makes you think of something doesn't it? Well I loved that combo and with no doubt wanted to include that but with a nice twist, giving the Finestre the decisive climb role in the stage whilst leaving the summit to Pramartino before descending to Gap. Get both Giro and Tour vibes from this stage and it's definetely a raid format.
Stage 19, well I think these will never be seen again in the Giro again (at least soon) because of the road conditions for descents, but I've always wanted to watch a Fauniera and Sampeyre combo irl, this one feeded my thirst a bit.
And stage 20 the cherry on top of the cake, the HIGH Alps, this is the region I had known the mapping very well, so above learning it was about creating a monster. This is my monster, and for a race to go wide open until the final mountain stage cause there really is so much room for damage. Starts with the FULL ascent of the Agnello which in itself is mythical, but it's only the start as the stage keeps going up to the Col de Vars and then the Giro 2016 queen stage combo of going up to the Col de la Bonnette, the high point of my race and complementing it with the equally brutal Col de la Lombarde. But instead of going up to the (I say rather awesome finish in Sant'Anna di Vinadio), decided to make it longer for the epic factor and make it go all the way down to Cuneo.
Voila, 48Km TT into Milano. Why? Definetely not cause I forgot to add one through the race. Also cause Dumo 2017 <3
Hey guys, back at it with another big big race! There was a new LFR challenge and I loved it, having studied the Italian Alps recently I loved to hear there was a Giro challenge and this one has it all! Presenting my new Giro variant, I won't be making PCM stages out of it however if anyone is willing to make I can give my full support. It looks damn good and I think you'll like it aswell
1- Agrigento - Syracuse UNESCO sites: 3. Archaelogical area of Agrigento; Villa Romana del Casale, Syracuse.
The Grande Partenza of this Giro takes place in Agrigento in the island of Sicilia, it's a rather ondulated stage but one targeted for the sprinters, but it's distance should provide a solid challenge for a complete rider to take pink in the opening day.
2- Catania - Messina UNESCO sites: 1. Mount Etna.
Stage 2 will take the riders on their first challenge for the overall. It's a stage built for opportunities, such a day early on clearly favours a breakaway, but there is a lot of ground for actual GC raids. All the climbers have to be on their toes, but the distance of the main challenges from the finish surely aid the possibilities of a surprise winner and new leader of the race.
3- Reggio Calabria - Botricello UNESCO sites: 0
Stage 3 takes the peloton inland into the region of Callabria right by the Messina straight, it's another 200Km+ stage with some ondulating terrain, but the sprinters will again be on the lookout for an elusive stage win.
4- Crotone - Melissa UNESCO sites: 0
Stage 4 is an important one, having such a TT early in the race will make some big gaps very clear, it will motivate moves on stage 2 but will have a big saying on how the favourites line themselves up in relation to the mountains they'll face.
5- Castrovillari - Matera UNESCO sites: 1. The Sassi and the Rupestrian Churchs of Matera.
Stage 5 is a transition stage, finishing in Matera it takes the riders through a hilly stage. Not a hard one, with little climbing near the end, the grade will never bite but it's a stage suited for some punchy sprinters who can get over the final climb, also an opportunity for some puncheurs to deal a blow.
6- Potenza - Napoli UNESCO sites: 2. Pompei, Historic Center of Naples.
The sprinters will have another big saying on this day, as another flat stage comes but with some rolling climbs in the start. A breakaway can be of a threat, but a sprint in the coast of Napoli is the most likely scenario.
7- Casera - Roma UNESCO sites: 2. Caserta, Historic center of Rome.
A transitional stage that will again be a treat for the fast men! 221Km of flat riding by the Tirreno sea, the stage will go from the historic cities of Caserta into the center of Rome.
8- Roma - Gran Sasso d'Italia (Campo Imperatore) UNESCO sites: 0.
Stage 8 is a big climbing challenge in the Appenines, the first of 2 and features a very important moment in the race where we'll see who will be in the fight for the win of the Giro. The stage is hard in itself but the summit finish to Gran Sasso d'Italia leaves no place to hide weakness. The stage finishes over 2000 meters above where it started and features over 3800m+.
9- L'Aquila - Chieti UNESCO sites: 0.
And the second stage of this weekend in the Appenines is another brutal one, after starting in L'Aquila it will go through some decievingly hard climbs in Monte Pietra and the Passo Lanciano. As they're far from the finish they can seem harmless but the're both very hard and could see serious attacks as the terrain then goes down until the riders reach the brutal hills around Chieti, and the finish itself will be after a sequence of two little but steep cobbled climbs (profile misleading).
10- Vitterbo - Siena UNESCO sites: 1. Historic Center of Siena
Stage 10 will be another complicated one, full of traps as the riders will go through some very long and harsh gravel sectors, replicating the final 55Km of the iconic classic. Protection and sense of opportunity is everything in this terrain, and after a set of brutal stages there is no room for a bad day.
11- Florence - Lucca UNESCO sites: 3. Historic center of Florence, San Gimignano, Pisa (Piazza del Duomo)
On stage 11 there's finally some needed restbite, although the start features a set of complicated Tuscan hills the majority of the day the settles in calm flat roads where the sprinters should come forward in the cycling city of Lucca.
12- Ravenna - Bologna UNESCO sites: 3. Early Christian monuments of Ravenna, Ferrara and the Po delta, Modena.
Stage 12 goes through the Emillia flatlands but the finish is far from the same. A pan flat leadup to the city of Bologna where the riders will face the mythical Basilica di San Luca climb for 3 consecutive times, making up for one of the most decieving stages of the race as the final climb can absolutely make some solid gaps, specially in such quick succession.
13- Mestre - Grado Pineta UNESCO sites: 1. Basilica of Aquileia.
Stage 13 is another one that I particularly like as my idea of a Grand Tour is to really crown the most complete rider. For this reason I love to plant lots of stages with traps and uncertainty connected, this day will be a day by the Adriatic, pan-flat but with several gravel sectors in the mix in the final half of the stage. The mountains are where the climbers go off face to face, but here it takes much more than W/Kg.
14- Cividale del Friuli - Piancavallo UNESCO sites: 0.
The entrance in the Alps, for some a relief that they can finally leave the traps behind. The Friuli region hosts this hard stage, that has a lot of climbing throughout the day before going up the Piancavallo summit, a proper hard entry in the Alps but not the hardest that's to come.
15- Belunno - Feltre UNESCO sites: 0.
An almost perfect loop in the Alps of the Veneto region, the city of Feltre has a massive amount of iconic climbs in it's suroundings and it's only fair to give it the grand stage on a mythical mountain stage. A bad day here means the end of anyone's race, the Passo Rolle and Passo Manghen are two brutal slogs that will take many to their limit, but the combination of some more climbing topping up in the Croce d'Aune before a quick descent into Feltre after 5400m+.
16- Feltre - Verona UNESCO sites: 0.
A little escape from the climbs will do, the sprinters will have here their last chance to take a win whilst the climbers have a last chance to relax before the final block of climbing.
17- Verona - Bolzano UNESCO sites: 0.
Stage 17 will be one surely for a breakaway, with a uphill start on the surounding hills of Verona the climbers have their shot of getting away, whilst the ascent to Monte Bondone will make up the ground for who will fight for the stage win.
18- Bolzano - Corvara in Badia UNESCO sites: 1. The Dolomites.
As any great Giro there HAS to be an epic stage in the Dolomites and this is that exact one. Beautiful region, beautiful stage, this one goes through some of the most iconic Italian passes, the Passo Costalunga, San Pellegrino, Fedaia, Pordoi, Campolongo is a beastly combination and it's a full day of mountain climbing, only in 154Km there are almost 5000m+ and the lovely town of Corvara and it's green valley showcase a bright finish to a screaming day.
19- Brixen - Aprica UNESCO sites: 0.
This is the queen stage of the race and with right! 259Km after 3 weeks of hard racing and with such brutal climbs on the menu is how you make a race exciting until the end. This stage goes up the Jaufenpass and goes up the Stelvio via it's harder side, before coming down and still ascending the Mortirolo through it's hardest side. It's a deadly combo and after it will still be the drag up to Aprica that in any scenario will just make those gaps even bigger. There's around 6200 meters of climbing on this stage, having such a Giro finish like this means tactics and proper planning are crucial.
20- Sondrio - Plan di Montecampione UNESCO sites: 0.
At this stage of the race it's hard to imagine there's still indecision, but just in case, and it's a bit ridiculous to treat such a day like this but JUST in case there's still indecision this beast of a day will further clarify the battle for the trophy. Passo san Marco and the brutal Plan di Montecampione host the final climbing challenges of this race, it's a brutal climb to finish the race off and a stage with almost 5000 meters of climbing looks so small in comparison with the last, nonetheless it is a very important one and presents the final challenge for the small men to capitalize on their qualities.
21- Crespi d'Adda - Milano
UNESCO sites: 2. Crespi d'Adda, Milano (Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie)
And the final stage of the race is ironically also one where big gaps can be made, a big 37Km can still dictate some changes in the overall but god knows how spread apart it may be at this point. After 3 weeks of traps, mountain epics and a whole lot of suffering it comes down to an individual challenge to the finish of the race.
Back at it with another one! There was a new challenge on LFR which justifies that start in Nice, but it made for a very interesting route imo and I hope you like it, out of nowhere
Tour de France 2020 Variant: https://www.la-flamme-rouge.eu/maps/t...view/15836
Flat Stages: 7
Hill Stages (Summit): 5 (1)
Mountain Stages (Summit): 7 (4)
Team Time Trials: 1
Individual Time Trials: 1
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Stage 1
The opening stage starts and finishes in Nice, it's one for the sprinters however doesn't cancel the possibility of a breakaway success, it isn't a pure sprinter stage but should be for the fast men to get the first maillot jaune.
Stage 2
Which will likely be lost then on this second day as it's a hard one. It isn't one though like in real life where I assume there will be an overall marking and no attacks. This stage is proper for attacks there are over 3000 meters of climbing and a lot of climbs, with the Madone there present near the end alongside a steep and unused side of the Col d'Èze before the descent to Nice.
Stage 3
Stage 3 goes through Provence, it's one for the sprinters with possibilities of wind to be present, finishing in Marseille for an urban ending to the stage.
Stage 4
Stage 4 is similar, there's another opportunity for the fast men to seize alongside the Rhone river where most of the stage will take place.
Stage 6 is a collective challenge, it's the race's sole team time trial and has 37Km of straight roads where the powerful teams can make profit and early damage.
Stage 7
Stage 7 is another puncheur/breakaway suited day, it takes place in the Morvan park and there's a lot of little climbing in it, lots of rolling roads and places to attack which alongside it's 215Km of distance it makes it one for the classics riders.
Stage 8
Stage 8 is another on for the classics riders but perhaps a bit different ones, it's not a very hilly stages but has a familiar finish in the gravel roads near Tours. It's a very traditional and rough day where GC battle and defence will for sure be the main point of the stage.
Stage 9
Stage 9 is a transitional one, with the race start in the South there's a need to travel up north and this stage not only allows the sprinters to battle it out it also allows the race to keep a good structure without big transfers.
Stage 10
Stage 10 is the biggest of the race, it goes through the roads of Limousin and also goes ahead to the ancient Puys of the Massif Central, where the Pas de Peyrol makes for a hard finish in Saint-Jacques-des-Blats after some rough climbing.
Stage 12 will make the transition from the Massif to the Pyrinees. The start in Rodez will be in altitude and the race will consequently go down to Toulouse.
Stage 14 is the race's sole ITT and it's one of the most important stages of the race. There's 53Km of individual racing and some climbing, but a lot of ground to make damage within a loop around Foix.
Stage 15
Stage 15 is one of the last opportunities for the sprinters and it goes through the Languedoc region. It's totally flat and goes through a lot of the main cities of the area before finishing in the cycling city of Nîmes.
As will this stage, already well within the Alps but not one where differences will be made. It's a day for a breakaway, it goes through Gap and Barcelonnette, also in Guillestre after going through the Col de Vars, before a finish in Briançon which should be fitting to the escapees, who will stay the night in the city for the start in the next day.
Stage 18
The start in Briançon will be familiar as the riders will go over to Lautaret before tackling the Col du Galibier the highest point of the race. The start is hard but it's only a step in this the first of the final trebble of decisive stages in the Alps. After going through the Maurienne valley the riders will go up the Col de la Croix the Fer before a short descent that will lead to the summit finish in La Toussuire.
And the final mountain stage the final showdown. This is an epic finish to an epic race, the start in Annecy will follow through into Culoz where the riders will tackle the mythical duo of the Romme/Colombière. This will break the race and will allow serious attacks to happen and the race to be turnt on it's head in the final day, with the Col des Aravis then making a transition in the middle of where it will then lead to, which is Saint-Gervais-les-Bain where the riders will have their final climb of the race in Le Bettex.
Stage 21
The final one, you know it!
Edited by Yellow Jersey on 19-08-2020 23:38