VIP at a race
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Lachi |
Posted on 09-02-2017 13:08
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8516
Joined: 29-06-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Not sure where to post this so I put it in the Cycling subforum.
I was invited to the Tour de Suisse in the VIP car and I am very excited.
Quote from the official page:
In the VIP car you will be in the very midst of the race, as if you were personally grinding the pedals, tasting the sweat, and feeling the hot adrenaline ferociously pumping through your veins.
Programme:
• Tour through the start area and the team parking lot
• Follow the rider registrations and the start preparations of the athletes
• Ride along in the VIP car in the race
• Former professional rider or cycling expert as the chauffeur of the VIP car
• Heart-stopping finale at the finish line
But now I have to chose a stage and I am not sure which one to select.
Has anybody of you ever done something similar?
Does anybody know where I can find more information about the stages?
I only found this:
Saturday | 1. Stage | Cham | Cham | Prolog ITT | Sunday | 2. Stage | Cham | Cham | Circuit | Monday | 3. Stage | Menziken | Bern | Sprint stage | Tuesday | 4. Stage | Bern | Villars-sur-Ollon | Mountain stage | Wednesday | 5. Stage | Bex | Cevio | Hilly stage | Thursday | 6. Stage | Locarno | La Punt | Mountain stage | Friday | 7. Stage | Zernez | Sölden | Mountain stage | Saturday | 8. Stage | Schaffhausen | Schaffhausen | Circuit | Sunday | 9. Stage | Schaffhausen | Schaffhausen | Time trial |
I think that the prologue and the TT are boring in the car so I rather don't go there.
At the moment I favour the mountain stages but the finish on the sprint stage might be more interesting to watch.
I don't know whether the circuits have a hilly or flat finish but the biggest chances for a Swiss rider to win a stage should be on hilly terrain. |
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Paul23 |
Posted on 09-02-2017 13:13
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Grand Tour Specialist
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That sounds amazing! Why were you invited?
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Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 17:07
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Ollfardh |
Posted on 09-02-2017 13:14
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World Champion
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Albasini will probably mark that 5th stage. And grats on the VIP!
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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roturn |
Posted on 09-02-2017 13:14
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Team Manager
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This sounds pretty awesome. How did you manage to get that opportunity?
I would take a mountain stage. MTF at best. Why? I think getting the full mountain atmosphere of all the spectators is unbeatable and it offers more than a flat stage could have. |
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Lachi |
Posted on 09-02-2017 13:24
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8516
Joined: 29-06-2007
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Thanks for the feedback.
I got the invitation from a customer. I am a developer and apparently they like what we do.
roturn wrote:
I would take a mountain stage. MTF at best. Why? I think getting the full mountain atmosphere of all the spectators is unbeatable and it offers more than a flat stage could have.
But I am worried that the VIP car leaves the race before the final climb and instead drives directly to the VIP lounge at the finish line.
On the other hand I have visited some sprint finishes already and everything happens so fast. So I think the most important thing is that the finish line is on top of a hill or mountain.
I think I have to ask the organisers. |
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baseballlover312 |
Posted on 09-02-2017 14:31
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I would ask the organizers about what each stage would entail riding in the car. With such an amazing opportunity, there's no reason to short change yourself. And if PCS doesn't have the route yet, I would assume it still hasn't been officially released.
That's an incredible experience. Definitely tell us how it goes come June!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
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Djordje96 |
Posted on 09-02-2017 15:06
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Stagiare
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whatever stage you choose you can't see as well as on tv
+1 for mountain
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emre99 |
Posted on 09-02-2017 15:14
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Thanks for revealing the route
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emre99's stages
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TheManxMissile |
Posted on 09-02-2017 15:19
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Tour de France Champion
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That route information has been out for a while people, was released in like December. https://www.tourdesuisse.ch/en/tds-201.../overview/
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Riis123 |
Posted on 09-02-2017 15:46
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Well thats basically what Lachi posted, no route profiles.
Anyways, you should choose stage 6 or 7. Stage 6 finishes in La Punt which is located in the heart of the Alps and will probably ascent Albulapass before descending to La Punt and stage 7 finishes on one of the absolute hardest climbs of cycling, the Rettenbachferner, which they have finished on the last 2 years. The climb is often described at Switzerland's Mortirolo - just in 1000 metres more altitude.. its an absolute brute and I'd probably pick that stage, unless the stage to La Punt is some 200+ km mountain odyssey. It needs to be noted that you will be in for a pretty dull time until the Rettenbach tho as everything is geared towards that climb. |
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Lachi |
Posted on 09-02-2017 17:32
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8516
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Thank you for all the feedback.
I definitively have to ask them about the exact procedure.
BTW: I don't think that Rettenbachferner is the Mortirolo of Switzerland because it is located in Austria.
Edit: I just looked how long it would take to travel. For the stages 6 and 7 it would be 3 hours to get there and 4 or even 6 hours to get back home.
Edited by Lachi on 09-02-2017 17:45
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Yellow Jersey |
Posted on 09-02-2017 17:52
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Classics Specialist
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I'm the same has Riis here, I think Solden stage, nº7 would be the best for you to go, it's usually a huge stage, 220K+, it only has the final climb but it's extremely hard, and it's the last Mountain stage, the one that is likely to decide the winner of the race, it will be very special and in a climb like that you can really feel the riders and their suffering, as in a sprint stage you can only see the main riders in the finish line basically.
Also congratz on the invite, that's really an unique oportunity and you should seize it the best you can.
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Lachi |
Posted on 09-02-2017 18:08
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8516
Joined: 29-06-2007
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Thanks. I will consider your suggestion. |
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Riis123 |
Posted on 09-02-2017 18:50
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Posts: 5075
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Lachi wrote:
Thank you for all the feedback.
I definitively have to ask them about the exact procedure.
BTW: I don't think that Rettenbachferner is the Mortirolo of Switzerland because it is located in Austria.
Edit: I just looked how long it would take to travel. For the stages 6 and 7 it would be 3 hours to get there and 4 or even 6 hours to get back home.
Whoops, thats pretty embarrassing. You get the point tho. |
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LLDS |
Posted on 11-02-2017 12:25
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Domestique
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Congrats for the invitation!
Cycling
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sutty68 |
Posted on 11-02-2017 15:18
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Joined: 22-08-2010
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Hope you enjoy your day mate (whichever stage you choose to go to) |
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Shonak |
Posted on 11-02-2017 15:25
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
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Riis123 wrote:
Lachi wrote:
Thank you for all the feedback.
I definitively have to ask them about the exact procedure.
BTW: I don't think that Rettenbachferner is the Mortirolo of Switzerland because it is located in Austria.
Edit: I just looked how long it would take to travel. For the stages 6 and 7 it would be 3 hours to get there and 4 or even 6 hours to get back home.
Whoops, thats pretty embarrassing. You get the point tho.
As a tyrolean I find it sad and funny at the same time. ;(
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weirdskyfan64 |
Posted on 11-02-2017 18:42
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Protected Rider
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This sounds pretty brilliant.
Outside the box, I know, but personally I'd go for the TT. It'll decide the winner, and it would be fascinating to be able to ride alongside whoever the leader is at full throttle, to see the effort on his face at such close quarters.
That's my two pence, anyway. Congratulations!
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"... Because he (me) has a sound tactical mind in general..." jandal7, at 9:30 am GMT on 12th May 2016
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Lachi |
Posted on 14-02-2017 10:07
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8516
Joined: 29-06-2007
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@weirdskyfan64: Thank you for that idea.
I talked to somebody of the promoters already and the finish of the race will always be in the VIP area at the finish line. So in the car I could not follow the GC leaders (because they start last).
He also said that the car will follow the early break away for a certain time, then we would halt to see the riders pass, then follow them again and finally overtake the peloton to arrive at the finish line early. He was not sure if we could stop at the top of Albula (stage 6) because the finish line is rather close. And If I understood correctly, stage 7 would be rather boring because it only has one climb.
I think I have to ask him again about the exact routes and/or climbs on stages 4 and 5 to see if those would be more interesting in regards of "driving alongside the riders on a climb". |
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Lachi |
Posted on 14-06-2017 08:38
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8516
Joined: 29-06-2007
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So today is the day. I just arrived in the VIP zone.
Cloudy weather but hot already. |
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