The PTHC calendar can now be revealed. This year we have 6 bands having 14 RD's each.
It's those kind of races where the 22 PT and 26 PCT teams challenge each other without any kind of stat limitation. As each team in those two divisions is racing 3 bands, all PTHC races are guaranteed to be raced with 24 teams.
Exact explanations of how to pick is coming later in a separate thread.
Band 1
Scandinavia Open Road Race
Sweden
3
Volta a Portugal
Portugal
9
Tour of the Battenkill
USA
2
We start with Band 1, the only band with only 3 races in it. The Scandinavia Open Road Race features a hilly prologue, followed by another 2 hilly stages. Next is Volta a Portugal. The race known as the mini Grand Tour of the MG calendar has now been reduced to 9 stages. Although it remains a race for versatile stage racers. Last in the band is Tour of the Battenkill. A difficult cobbled and hilly classic.
Basically same as last year
Band 2
Tour of Norway
Norway
5
Pro Hallstatt Classic
Austria
2
Deutschland Tour
Germany
5
GP Wallonie
Belgium
2
Band 2 is an all European affair. The Tour of Norway offers a mix of climbing and TT kilometres to see who will come out on top. Halstatt is back for the 3rd year in a row. A race between some of the best climbers and puncheurs. Can Simon Spilak make it 3 victories in a row?
The Deutschland Tour gives the sprinters plenty of chances, but the best TTer on the day will take the overall. Last in the band is GP Wallonie. Moving up from C1 last year, it should see the best puncheurs fighting for the win.
Basically same as last year
Band 3
SAA Tour d'Afrique
South Africa
4
Chrono d'Arenberg
France
2
Vuelta a Colombia
Colombia
6
Rheden GP
Netherlands
2
Band 3 take us a bit more around the world, 3 continents to be exact. The SAA Tour d'Afrique moves from HC to PTHC so expect to see a fierce battle between the best sprinters from both divisions. Chrono d'Arenberg. Taking it's course across some of the famous cobbles from Paris - Roubaix, this is one of the most unique races on the MG calendar. It will be run twice over the same course. What kind of setups can we expect from some of the best TTers?
Vuelta a Colombia also moves from the HC into the PTHC slot. It's a climbers race in the high altitude mountains of Colombia. Last in the band is Rheden GP. A flat circuit classic with enough cobble sectors to make it a difficult race.
Band 4
Balkans International
Balkans
8
E3 Prijs
Belgium
2
Tour of East Java
Indonesia
2
Clasica San Sebastian
Spain
2
Band 4 is for sure the hilliest of the lot. Balkans International is back for a 3rd year and it's still probably the best stage race for the puncheurs. No TT's, no cobbles just hill after hill for 8 days across the Balkan Peninsula. E3 Prijs is a well known race in Flanders for the northern classic specialists. The Tour of East Java is a speciality on the PTHC calendar as a 2 day stage race. One day for the sprinters, one for the climbers. Last race in the band is the Clasica San Sebastian. A long and difficult race, but with a different finish this year, it will provide some new challenges for the riders.
Band 5
Riga - Jurmala GP
Latvia
2
Tour of Slovenie
Slovenie
5
Cheshire Cycling Tour
Great Britain
5
Japan Cup
Japan
2
Band 5 starts off with the Riga - Jurmala GP. A flat classic for the sprinters. The band continues in Slovenia, a race that has jumped from C2HC, to HC and into PTHC in the last two years. It's one of the more TT heavy stage races on the calendar, but ability going uphill and a strong TTT squad is also required. The Cheshire Cycling Tour was a last minute addition to the PTHC race. It's a race known for it's cobbled hills. Last race in the band is the Japan Cup. A long and difficult circuit race in the Land of the Rising Sun. The finish is uphill this year, versus downhill last year.
TTT will be changed to FLAT.
ITT to less hilly but also not pan flat.
Band 6
Tour du Maroc
Morocco
8
Paris Tours
France
2
Franceville Classique
Gabon
2
Nakhon Ratchasima Trophy
Thailand
2
Band 6 concludes this year's PTHC calendar and it's probably the most globally diverse. Tour du Maroc is back this time as an 8 day race, but should still attract some strong climbers and sprinters. Paris Tours is a well known classic for the sprinters. The band then takes us back to Africa to a now known location in Gabon. There will be a flat cobbled classic staged at said location. The last race of the band is in Asia for the Nakhon Ratchasima Trophy. Another one day race expected to be contested among the sprinters.
Weird seeing Scandinavian Open RR going through Norwegians cities... Cycling is much bigger sport in Norway then Sweden so I guess its a clever move to get some people watching!
Scandinavia Open Road Race
Volta a Portugal
Tour of the Battenkill
Tour of Norway
Pro Hallstatt Classic
Deutschland Tour
GP Wallonie
SAA Tour d'Afrique
Chrono d'Arenberg
Vuelta a Colombia
Rheden GP
Balkans International
Tour of East Java
Clasica San Sebastian
Riga - Jurmala GP
Cheshire Cycling Tour
Japan Cup
Tour du Maroc
Franceville Classique
Nakhon Ratchasima Trophy
Cycling is much bigger sport in Norway then Sweden so I guess its a clever move to get some people watching!
