roturn wrote:
...and you are doing them pretty quick as well.

Stage 15 | Outeniqua Pass ITT

Notable climbs | Outeniqua Pass (8.6km, 6%)

Stage 16 | George - Swartberg Pass

Notable climbs | Ruitersbos Pass (8km, 6%), Swartberg Pass (7km, 8%)

Two more key stages, as the third week kicks off with a mountain timetrial up the Outeniqua Pass, which was constructed between 1943 and 1951, replacing the Montagu Pass as the main route from George to the interior. Not the steepest climb in this race, but of course a crucial stage for the GC.

The next day is another day for the climbers, with the climb up the Swartberg Pass on the menu. The Swartberg is amongst the best exposed fold mountain chains in the world, and the pass slices through magnificently scenic geological formations.. not exactly a long climb, the final few kilometres should be challenging anyway. Dirt roads.

Stage 17 | Oudtshoorn - Barrydale

Notable climbs | None

Stage 18 | Montagu - DuToits Kloof Pass

Notable climbs | Bain's Kloof Pass (5km, 6%), DuToits Kloof Pass (17km, 6%)

The Tour of Southern Africa is heading for the last mountains. A flat transition stage should be one for the sprinters or a breakaway, featuring a fast finish in Barrydale. We're nearing Paarl, as we're still in Western Cape (South Africa).

The final summit finish then: Du Toits Peak (1,995 m or 6,545 ft) is the highest seaward facing peak in the Cape Fold Belt ranges, i.e. the highest peak in the Western Cape within direct sight of the ocean.. finishing off a long 228km parcours, the final climb features slopes up to 11%, but ain't that steep overall. Of course it's yet another opportunity to attack the GC, so an eventful day could be on the menu here.

Stage 19 | Paarl - Franschoek

Notable climbs | Sir Lowry's Pass (7km, 6%), Franschhoek Pass (6km, 6%)

A late hilly stage awaits the field, with a flat finish in Franschhoek ("French Corner", Dutch spelling before 1947 Fransche Hoek) - a small town in the Western Cape Province and one of the oldest towns of the Republic of South Africa.

This late climb close to the finish may offer a very last chance for stronger puncheurs in particular. Not the toughest climb, but the Franschhoek Pass definitely could make for small differences. Downhill specialists will love the look of the final 10kms.

Stage 20 | Melbosstrand - Bellville Velodrome ITT

Notable climbs | Durbanville Hills (2km, 5%)

Stage 21 | Cape Town

Notable climbs | Mount Rhodes (2km, 7%)

And here we are with the final two stages. The GC-fight ain't over, of course. A long ITT could see some significant changes afterall: a mostly flat parcours (featuring one climb in the final third of the stage) ends by the Bellville Velodrome. The velodrome was initially developed for the South African Olympic Bid, this venue hosted the World Cycling Federation Championships in 1999.

Cape Town is then worth the great finish of this Grand Tour. Following parts of the world famous Cape Argus Cycle Classic, we won't not just see beautiful coastlines and landscape, but also a tricky finishing loop (crit style) in the heart of Cape Town. Sprinter's day, probably.

SportingNonsense wrote:
Great work. Indeed there's no Alpine style stage with back to back climbs, but that gives the race it's own flavour.

Not sure how I will fit some/all of it into the MG, but surely have to try!

New Zealand Cycle Classic - UCI 2.2, real 2016

The full route for the 29th running of the UCI Sanctioned international stage race, to be held in the Wairarapa from January 20th – 24th 2016, was released today. Race Director Jorge Sandoval says the 663km route promises to uphold its distinction as "New Zealand’s toughest stage race".

The New Zealand Cycle Classic, which has previously been staged in Manawatu, has made a return to the Wairarapa after a four year absence. The most challenging stage is tipped to be the 152.2km Stage Four on Sunday, 24th January when riders leave from the Copthorne Hotel & Resort Solway Park in Masterton and travel towards Wainuioru via Castlepoint Road and complete two laps of a 32km circuit before returning to Masterton via the Limeworks and then having a hill-top finish on Admiral Hill in Gladstone.

New Zealand Cycle Classic Leader Shirts (2015)