Contest #1 - Entry contest

Welcome to the 2021 season contest.

This entry contest is literally a "do what you want". The task is to create two stage races to be held in february as preparation for the upcoming season. The two races shall be one for the GC riders that will target Tirreno/Nice and one for the riders that will target the upcoming classics.

You are free to set them everywhere you want and to set the day of races you want between 1 and 8 days. All races shall end on a sunday.

Deadline is February 28, h 23.59

Hi everyone!

Here is my entry for this first contest of the year :

The GC race is called Tour des Vosges du Nord, beginning in Haguenau and finishing at the Mont Scharrach's summit with 6 stages : maps/tours/view/17896.
The classic race is called Tour des Flandres, playing with the Ronde's name, beginning in Gavere and finishing in De Panne 3 stages and 2 semi-stages : maps/tours/view/17911.
All stages of theses two races have a theme or another race a link with.

Tour des Vosges du Nord : maps/tours/view/17896

1. Haguenau -> Saverne – Moder and Zinsel stage – 141km, hilly.
This stage is quite hilly, with two circuits to ride several times : 4 times Haegen loop, then twice col de Saverne loop, and then again the first loop once. The finish line is set after 500m at 5.5%. About 2000m D+.

2. Phalsbourg -> Phalsbourg – Vosges du Nord Natural Park stage – 150km, flat.
This second stage is less hilly and longer, but there is no proper flat parts. However, this stage is done drawn to generate big gaps. Sprinters should have it after the last false flat. About 1800m D+.

3. Réding -> Sarrebourg – Ponds county stage – 165km, flat.
The stage goes through the Lorraine Natural Park and ponds : mostly flat, the finish line is gonna be the goal for pure sprinters, even if punchers could be there too. About 1600m D+.

4. Sarrebourg -> Abreschviller – Deux Sarres stage – 226km, hilly.
Longest stage of the week, with 14 climbs, including one 2nd category in the first part of the stage. It is a 26km-loop done three times, with the last one done partly : the last climb, Chemin des Ranztau is not counted but have 18% slopes: the finish line is set in a former sawmill. About 3300m D+.

5. Abreschviller -> Mont-Sainte-Odile – Bruche stage – 82km, medium mountain.
Short stage and 4 climbs, including the last one done twice : Mont-Sainte-Odile with 6km at 7%. It will be important to attack to have enough time ahead before the last TT. About 2200m D+.

6. Molsheim -> Mont Scharrach – Scharrach stage – 12km, ITT.
The trial is mostly flat, but the last climb of this tour will be the most important, as its final slope is up to 13% in the last 300 meters. About 210m D+.

Tour des Flandres : maps/tours/view/17911

1. Gavere -> Mont-de-l'Enclus – Kwaremont stage – 153km.
The most hilly stage of this Tour is not the most difficult, with its loop, with Oude Kwaremont or Kruisberg. The last climb should be for puncheurs.

2. Oudenarde -> Wewelgem – Kemmelberg stage – 139km.
Five times Kemmelberg, it is more than Gent-Wewelgem, but the goal is the same... final straight line for sprinters who like bergs.

3. Poperinge -> Carrefour de l'Arbre – Carrefour stage – 146km.
This is the queen stage as Carrefour de l'Arbre has to be crossed three times. Cobbled sectors are 15 on this stage, which is nevertheless short.

4 A. Béthune -> De Panne – Cassel stage – 128km.
Good morning, this is for sprinters, but beware of Cassel climb in the middle of the stage and of the wind in the second part of it.

4 B. De Panne -> De Panne – Driesdaagse stage – 16km – ITT.
Absolutely flat, for pure rouleurs. Enough gaps for the leader ?

Hope you will enjoy it !

Antonin

Just a quick question: are these races we make meant to take place only this year, as a replacement for the cancelled ones, or should they be made considering the calendar in a ‘normal’ year?
(Basically I just want to know if it would be stupid or not to make a race in the Americas. Right now it’s no use to go there for 1 race but normally combinations with San Juan and Colombia could be possible.)

I forgot to finish the second race as of 01/03 so I am withdrawing from the competition

Latium Tour for GC Riders, in the Lazio Region of Italy

maps/tours/view/17929


LaMaToUR(Lazio, Marche, Toscana, Umbria) for hilly and classics riders

maps/tours/view/17938

ASO and RCS were planning a grand tour to commemorate Hannibal's crossing of the Alps, but couldn't reach an agreement on revenue-sharing and the colour of the leader's jersey, so they ended up organising competing one-week tours. Since the races overlap on the middle Sunday, the Tour d'Annibal attracts sprinters and GC specialists while the Giro Punica offers some hard racing for those preparing for the classics season.

TOUR D'ANNIBAL
maps/tours/view/17867


STAGE 1: Cartagena > Elda (165.53 km)
Sunday, 7 February
maps/viewtrack/415046

The race begins in Cartagena, founded around 227 BCE by Hannibal's brother-in-law Hasdrubal. After following the coast until the intermediate sprint at Alacant, the course heads inland and uphill, with a long drag to the Puerto de Maigmó followed by the bonification climb of Xorret de Catí (3.4 km @ 12.3%) and a 17 km descent to the finish at Elda.




STAGE 2: Villena > Castell de Sagunt (184.72 km)
Monday, 8 February
maps/viewtrack/415060

In 219 BCE, Hannibal laid siege to the town of Saguntum, and the peloton will do the same in Stage 2, which finishes with a climb to the Castell de Sagunt (1 km @ 7%).




STAGE 3: Castelló de la Plana > Tarragona (187.75 km)
Tuesday, 9 February
maps/viewtrack/415066

The peloton follows Hannibal's footsteps in crossing the Ebro and following the coast to the town of Tarraco (modern-day Tarragona).




STAGE 4: Barcelona - Sagrada Familia > Barcelona - Turó de la Rovira (34.71 km, ITT)
Wednesday, 10 February
maps/viewtrack/415071

A time trial through the streets of Barcelona (the Roman town of Barcino) starts at the Sagrada Familia and includes the second-category climb to Tibidabo (5.9 km @ 5.9%).




STAGE 5: Barcelona > Elne (183.95 km)
Thursday, 11 February
maps/viewtrack/415185

The race follows Hannibal's march through Catalonia and the Pyrenees, crossing the French border and finishing in the oppidum of Illiberis (Elne, a suburb of Perpignan).




STAGE 6: Perpignan > Montpellier (170.91 km)
Friday, 12 February
maps/viewtrack/415186

Another flat stage follows the coast to Montpellier, as the peloton, like Hannibal, attempts to cross the Rhône as soon as possible.




STAGE 7: Nimes > Sault (119.38 km)
Saturday, 13 February
maps/viewtrack/415187

After passing the site of the 218 BCE Battle of the Rhône Crossing, between Hannibal's forces and the Volcae, the GC hopefuls will do battle on the lower slopes of Mont Ventoux, before descending to the finish at Sault.




STAGE 8: Sisteron > La Rocher d'Annibal (142.43 km)
Sunday, 14 February
maps/viewtrack/415188

A brutal final stage features four second-category climbs in the Alps, as the peloton battles each other and the conditions to reach the finish at La Rocher d'Annibal, located en route to the Colle dell'Agnello.




GIRO PUNICA
maps/tours/view/17890


STAGE 1: Saluzzo > Basilica di Superga (129.91 km)
Sunday, 14 February
maps/viewtrack/415471

The first stage of the Giro Punica heads to Torino, which Hannibal besieged after crossing the Alps in 218 BCE. After a brief detour to the Colle Braida (7.8 km @ 6.3%), the race finishes with the climbs of the Colle della Maddalena (5.7 km @ 8.2%) and the Basilica di Superga (4.9 km @ 9.1%).




STAGE 2: Chivasso > Piacenza (198.08 km)
Monday, 15 February
maps/viewtrack/415477

The peloton follows the Po Valley to the intermediate sprint at Pavia, close to the site of the Battle of Ticinus, fought between the forces of Hannibal and Scipio. After crossing the Po, they take on three short climbs before the bonification sprint at Castel San Giovanni and the finish at Piacenza, where a defeated Scipio had retreated.




STAGE 3: Parma > Lucca (175.24 km)
Tuesday, 16 February
maps/viewtrack/415480

Like Hannibal's army in the spring of 217 BCE, the peloton crosses the Appenines in a stage between Parma and Lucca, which features three second-category climbs in quick succession before a long descent, punctuated by the punchy climbs to Monte Perpoli (2.7 km @ 8%) and Colle di Orzala (3.1 km @ 6.1%).




STAGE 4: Poggibonsi > Passignano sul Trasimeno (201.36 km)
Wednesday, 17 February
maps/viewtrack/415591

The early part of the stage takes the riders through some of the key white roads used in Strade Bianchi, before they head to Lake Trasimene, where Hannibal defeated the forces of Gaius Flaminius.




STAGE 5: Spoleto > Civitella del Tronto (158.75 km)
Thursday, 18 February
maps/viewtrack/415599

The queen stage of the race features a second-category climb and three first-category climbs, before an uphill finish at Civitella del Tronto.




STAGE 6: Pescara > Larino (192.99 km)
Friday, 19 February
maps/viewtrack/415603

A flat stage down the Adriatic coast ends with a hilly finish at Larino, where Hannibal's forces repulsed a frontal attack by Marcus Minucius Rufus.




STAGE 7: San Severo > Monte Sant'Angelo (111.83 km)
Saturday, 20 February
maps/viewtrack/415605

A stage in the Parco Nazionale de Gargano features three second-category climbs, finishing at Monte Sant'Angelo (9.4 km @ 6.4%).




STAGE 8: Cerignola > Cannae (26.63 km, ITT)
Sunday, 21 February
maps/viewtrack/415607

Much like the Second Punic War, the race reaches a climax at Cannae, with a flat time trial ending at the historic battlefield.

First up is a GC preparation race. I didn't want to place it in Spain/France/Portugal/Italy since they have a lot of those races already. So I took Morocco, a common participant in the world championships, a way to expand cycling in another continent that is not Asia/Middle East and close enough for riders to get quickly back to Europe. The stage race will be set in the Rif Mountains (north of the Atlas mountains, which would be too snowy in february). Some difficulties: finding large enough towns, avoiding finishes on mountains that have no space at the top (unlike mountains in France/Italy/...) and avoiding dirt roads.

The second tour will take place in one of the more forgotten provinces in Belgium: Hainaut. Which is weird, since it's very close to the Flemish Ardennes. It's time to show off the possibilities of that region.

Hi everyone.
Here there is my my two stage races for the 2021's entry contest.

The first stage races will be held in Liguria and it's for GC riders.

It is composed of seven stages:

• Two flat stages
• Two medium mountain stages
• Two high mountain stages
• An ITT stage

The second stage races will be held in Piemonte and it's for the rider who want to prepare the Classics races. This tour is full of short and difficult climb as in Classique races.
It is composed of three stages, all of them are hilly stages.

My submissions for the contest:

(A) CLASSICS RACE: Amsterdam - Roubaix Classic Race (6 stages from 16 to 21.02.21)
maps/tours/view/17986
Overall plan:


6 stages (3 flat, 3 medium mountain)
43 classified climbs
1120 kilometres (187/day on average, shortest stage 152km, longest 212km)

----------

(B) GC RACE: Alpe-Adria Tour (6 stages from 23 to 28.02.21)
Overall plan:


6 stages (2 flat, 2 medium mountain, 1 high mountain, 1 ITT)
18 classified climbs (5xC4, 5xC3, 6xC2, 2xC1)
956 kilometres (159/day on average, shortest stage 34km, longest 201km)

Hope you like my tours,
Micek_52

I'm glad to present you my first two submissions for this year's contest.
The routes of the stages follow places inseparable from modern French history: the Maginot Line. All along the route, cyclists and followers will battle from fort to key towns for a single winner at Bitche after 843km and 27 categorized climbs. The races will go to a classic man but there is many chances that the gap between the first cyclists in the overall standing are very thin.

maps/tours/view/17883

Stage 1 : Nancy > Verdun - Monument André Maginot // 156.90 Km // Hilly

The first begin in the Lorraine ancient capital, Nancy. After a bit more than 150 hilly kilometers, the first yellow jersey will be win in the battlefield of Verdun, in front of the monument dedicated to André Maginot (The french war minister who decide to build a defensive line between France and Germany).





Stage 2 : Verdun > Ouvrage de la Ferté // 157.93 Km // Plain

The Maginot Line runs along the frontiers of Luxembourg and Germany. The second stage will take the riders in Champagne before turn to get them in one of the most western fort of the Maginot Line, The Fort of Ferté. This stage is plain and will end with a massive sprint. The Yellow jersey will most likely stay on the same shoulders.



Stage 3 : Orval > Metz // 171.82 Km // Hilly

Going down south from the Orval Abbey (made famous by the beer brewed there) to get to Metz. Some of the Maginot fort were old german fort (built during the german annexion of Alsace and Moselle). One of this fort (Mt Saint-Quentin) overhang Metz and offers a chance to attack the leader before going down to the finish line.





Stage 4 : Metz > Veckring // 174.22 Km // Plain

The fourth stage bring the riders to another Maginot Fort, one of the most famous, the fort of Hackenberg. Still open to visit today (I mean when Covid let us in peace) The riders will climb to it before the arrival in Veckring just under it. It's another chance to sprinters to win.





Stage 5 : Saarlouis > Goetzenberg // 157.16 Km // Medium Moutain

The queen stage of the tour will take the riders to the northern Vosges. After a plain section to Bitche, they will have several climb in front of them and le last one to reach the finish line. The winner here will take a strong option on the final victory.





Stage 6 : Bitche > Citadelle de Bitche // 25.33 Km // ITT

The last stage is an ITT where the strongest men will make speed speak. It arrives at the top of the Citadelle of Bitche, a fort built by Vauban in the XVIIth century.


This tour is dedicated to the GC riders. There aren't many races in Greece, this one will take riders from Kefalonia island to Sparta, rembering the odysseus of the main character of Assassin's Creed : Odyssey : Alexios. This will a hard and tough week of 1130 km with 29 KOM including 6 climb categorized 1st and above. The key stages are on the weekends which allows a large television broadcast for what will be the first major rendez-vous of the season.

maps/tours/view/17883


Stage 1 : Argostóli > Argostóli // 8.37 Km // ITT

Not completely a prologue since the maximum distance of this exercise is exceeded by 370 meters. However, not a difficult stage, just the occasion for the fastest to shine around the Argostóli peninsula and for a first yellow jersey to emerge.



Stage 2 : Argostóli > Mont Ainos // 154.61 Km // High Moutain

The first sunday of the race is the time choose for the first battle. Mont Ainos is the only high moutain top finish and leaders will fight for the yellow jersey. However, it could be delicate to win so soon : the following stages will be hard to handle, defending the jersey.





Stage 3 : Vasiliki > Missolonghi // 187.19 km // Plain

The thrid stage is goind south to reach the corinthean sea. The finish line is traced on the level of sea and the stage is dedicated to sprinters.



Stage 4 : Patra > Olympia // 157.26 km // Medium Moutain

This day will be a day for attackers as many i this Tour. The concept is quite simple : if the attackers take enough tiume, leaders will be safe for the day. But they have to carefully watch the gap between them and the breakway : too much time let means some strong men back in the race for the yellow jersey !



Stage 5 : Olympia > Argos - Larissa Castle // 177.28 Km // Medium Moutain

At Argos, the pack will know its second top finish of the tour ! This time the climb is relatively short but hard enough to make some difference. The ideal hunting party for a guy like Alaphillipe.



Stage 6 : Argos > Sparta // 190.80 Km // Plain

The second plain stage dedicated to sprinters is a bit hard in the middle part but there's plenty of time after the climb to get back in the pack and fight for the win against barouders.



Stage 7 : Sparta > Sparta // 207.89 Km // High Moutain

The queen stage of the tour. A succession of seven classified climbs for a total positive denivel of more than 8000m. This is Everest day for the climbers and the leaders ! The famous Langada pass above Sparta will be the judge of the race.



Stage 8 : Sparta > Sparta // 47.38 Km // ITT

This edition end as it begins, by a ITT. Relatively flat, it can be the day where true rouleurs can take some time to climbers and even win the Tour if one of them succeed to lose a minimum amount of second in the moutain stages.

Here are my 2 contests/races:
'Dwars door Drenthe' and 'Dwars door Nederland'.

Dwars door Drenthe: maps/tours/view/17969
10-14 February 2021: total 605,53km (5 stages).
Preparation course for the Classics.

Stage 1 Coevorden – Coevorden (141,42km) Wednesday 10 February;
maps/viewtrack/417139
The first stage is for the sprinters. After the start on the Markt of Coevorden, the route (via 2 laps) goes through the entire Municipality of Coevorden. There are a few clinker roads along the way.


Stage 2 Emmen – Nieuw-Amsterdam (138,56km) Thursday 11 February;
maps/viewtrack/417140
The second stage is also for the sprinters. After the start in front of the FC Emmen football stadium, the route remains in the Municipality of Emmen. In the final there are 2 local rounds around Nieuw-Amsterdam.


Stage 3 Meppel – Roden (170,35km) Friday 12 February;
maps/viewtrack/417141
The third stage is also for the sprinters. After the start next to the City Hall of Meppel, the route goes straight through Drenthe. There are 2 passages through the Brink van Dwingeloo. Then a lot of twists and turns, sometimes narrow roads. The final consists of 1 local round around Roden.


Stage 4 Gieten – Odoorn (145,26km) Saturday 13 February;
maps/viewtrack/417143
The fourth stage is the most difficult stage. After the start in front of the Town Hall of Gieten (and one local lap around Gieten), the route goes over real Drenthe boulders (cobbles). In Odoorn there are 2 local rounds with 2 cobblestone sections each (6 sections in total). In combination with sometimes narrow roads, it is a final reminiscent of Paris-Roubaix.


Stage 5 Wijster – Col du VAM (9,94km Individual Time Trial) Sunday 14 February;
maps/viewtrack/417145
The last stage is an Individual Time Trial. From Wijster the route is almost completely flat, the last 350 meters go uphill to the top of the VAM Berg (Col du VAM), known for the Ronde van Drenthe. The climb is the same as the old VAM.


Dwars door Nederland: maps/tours/view/18000
17-21 February 2021: total 669,47km (5 stages).
Preparation course for GC riders.

Stage 1 Coevorden – Coevorden (19,09km Individual Time Trial) Wednesday 17 February;
maps/viewtrack/417896
The opening stage is an Individual Time Trial. There are many straight roads around Coevorden. The first part is a double course. Considering the length, large differences can already arise here.


Stage 2 Hardenberg – Holten (164,14km) Thursday 18 February;
maps/viewtrack/417897
The second stage starts on the Markt of Hardenberg. Then the riders will pass the starting city again. The Kuiperberg is a small warm-up, after Almelo the roads become narrower and more curvy. Before the 1st passage at the finish they climb the Rijssenseberg, Nijverdalseberg and Holterberg. One local lap follows with just before the finish the Holterberg climb Motieweg.


Stage 3 Harderwijk – Rheden (172,22km) Friday 19 February;
maps/viewtrack/417898
The third stage starts on the Strandboulevard of Harderwijk. After a bit of the Veluwe there are a few short climbs in the Utrechtse Heuvelrug. The finale is characterized by some steep climbs. The Zijpenberg as a springboard? Then 2 more local laps including the Postbank climb, during the last passage the finish is at the top.


Stage 4 Groenlo – Nijmegen (161,77km) Saturday 20 February;
maps/viewtrack/417901
The fourth stage starts on the Markt van Groenlo with one local round. From the Achterhoek the route goes to Montferland. Here, one lap will be done on (part of) the Dutch National Championship course 2017. The Rijk van Nijmegen is reached via Germany. Here are a few climbs (including 2x the narrow Oude Holleweg). Then fairly straight roads to the finish.


Stage 5 Valkenburg – Gulpen (152,25km) Sunday 21 February;
maps/viewtrack/417903
The last stage is also the toughest. After the start at the Shimano Experience Center in Valkenburg, the Kleverberg is an immediate climb. After that, the riders can warm up nicely before the final starts. The starting city is reached again via the Adsteeg with now 2x the Cauberg. Then the climbs follow each other in quick succession with 2 local laps in the final. Finish at the top of the Gulperberg.

A race for the riders who want to prepare the classics: Tour of Morocco
maps/tours/view/17926

And a race for the GC-guys: Tour de Corse
maps/tours/view/18013

Profiles for both races are in the spoiler

Giro dell'Abruzzo e del Molise
maps/tours/view/17933

Un giro di sei tappe tra Abruzzo e Molise.
Una sola tappa per velocisti le altre sono tutte tappe insidiose sia per favorire la preparazione della Tirreno sia quella delle classiche.
Un solo arrivo in montagna a 1200 metri vista la collocazione in febbraio. Crono finale di 17 chilometri.
C'e terreno per tutti i gusti, salite, muri, crono ecc


altimetria prima tappa

Planimetria prima tappa

rettifilo d arrivo prima tappa


altimetria seconda tappa

planimetria seconda tappa

punto più duro salita verso Campobasso

Rettifilo di arrivo seconda tappa


altimetria terza tappa

planimetria terza tappa

punto più duro salita Vallemonterosso

segnalazione pendenza verso Vallemonterosso

altro punto duro salita Vallemonterosso con vista su Civitacampomarano

rettifilo di arrivo terza tappa


altimetria quarta tappa

planimetria quarta tappa

punto più duro salita passo della forchetta

rettifilo di arrivo quarta tappa


altimetria quinta tappa

planimetria quinta tappa

punto più duro del muro di Via del Tricalle

rettifilo di arrivo quinta tappa


altimetria sesta tappa cronometro individuale

planimetria sesta tappa cronometro individuale

rettifilo di arrivo sesta tappa

Prima tappa per velocisti pianeggiante lungo la costa abruzzese con finale in Molise.
Seconda tappa insidiosa con diverse ascese, finale nervoso con salita verso il capoluogo molisano
Terza tappa Parte centrale molto dura con Vallemonterosso e Valico di Salcito su severe pendenze. Nel finale salita verso Agnone con pendenze regolari
Quarta tappa. Unico arrivo in quota al passo della Forchetta, salita abbastanza lunga con pendenze regolari
Quinta tappa tappa nervosa, ne finale tre muri con pendenze oltre il 20%, l'ultimo muro termina a poche centinaia di metri dall'arrivo
Sesta Tappa Crono finale pianeggiante di 17 km

Tirreno/Nice preparation race for GC riders will take place in the island of Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan main islands, carachterized by mild winters. The race will start on Sunday February 21 and will finish on Sunday February 28th including 8 stages (3 plain, 2 medium mountain, 2 high mountain, 1 ITT)


**KYUSHU TOUR**
maps/tours/view/17988

1st stage - Haga > Nagasaki (151.57 Km) - plain


Stage for sprinters, not very long, completely flat in its first part, it presents some little ondulations in second half.

2nd stage - Nagasaki > Karatsu (141.87 Km) – medium mountain


A short medium mountain stage without very demanding climbs, probably resulting in a battle between punchers and sprinters.

3rd stage - Shikaka > Itoshima (18.72 Km) – ITT


The only one ITT of this tour almost completely flat will be the first crucial stage for GC riders.

4th stage - Itoshima > Hita (163.72 Km) – plain


Stage for sprinters with the two KOM sprints in the first half that could encourage some braves to try with a breakaway.

5th stage - Hita > Jizo Toge (141.16 Km) – high mountain


First high mountain stage including in just 141 Km 6 KOM sprints, the highest point of the race, and the MTF of Jizo pass, at the top of a relatively short but demanding climb.

6th stage - Gokase > Tsuno (208.12 Km) – medium mountain


A hard stage, more than 200 Km, more than 5000 m of total ascent, ideal for breakaways and with possible surprises also about GC.

7th stage - Saito > Itsuki (188.77 Km) – high mountain


Thhis will be the decisive stage for final GC, gaps possible not just on the climbs, but also on descents, all very curvy and technical but with good road conditions.

8th stage - Hitoyoshi > Kagoshima (171.71 Km) – plain


Final stage dedicated to sprinters to encourage them not to quit the race after first stages.



Classics preparation race will take place in South Island of New Zealand. Classics terrain (like cobbles) is mostly placed in northern Europe and there are many risks organizing a race in such places in full winter. February is summertime in southern emisphere, this race is not designed as a proper copy of northern classics but it gives the chance to compete for final victory to riders with attitude to classics races. It will include 4 stages and will take place from Thursday February 11st to Sunday February 14th.

**SOUTH ISLAND CRITERIA**
maps/tours?userid=3056

1st stage - Queenstown > Otematata (197.55 Km) - medium mountain


First stage ideal for long range attacks and tactical plays, possible gaps could result already very important in a race of just four stages.

2nd stage - Kurow > Ashburton (183.69 Km) - plain


This looks like the first and last call for sprinters in this race, punchers are advised. Windy conditions (not uncommon in this coastal flats) could change everyone's plans.

3rd stage - Ashburton > Akaroa (214.68 Km) - medium mountain


Stage of more than 200 Km with key point in the final hilly section, including 5.6 Km of ascent on white road at 10%.

4th stage - Christchurch > Christchurch (177.08 Km) - medium mountain


Final stage on a very tricky circuit around the city of Christchurc (3 laps) including four short but steep climbs.

Giro della Campania: maps/tours/view/18017

Ruta do Norte: maps/tours/view/18018

The race starts in front of the Royal Palace of Caserta and ends in the beautiful Piazza Duomo of Cava de Tirreni. It’s made up by six stages, covering all five provinces of the region. Two stage starts and finishes in the Caserta province, a start in the Napoli province a start and an arrival in the Benevento and Avellino provinces and a start and two arrivals in the Salerno province. There’s an ITT, a good early season test for specialists. An Ardennes like stage, a flat stage, a mountain finish at Lago Laceno, a mountain stage with a lethal duo of climbs before a descent finish in Trentinara and the final medium mountain stage to Cava.

For anyone wondering why the stages are so short, it’s because of the race being early in the season. The cold and the difficult parcours should already tire out riders quite a bit and will serve as a workout for Tirreno a couple weeks later. It must be kept in mind how short stages tend to be in this period of the year. This also allows for a full broadcast of every stage and for a women’s version of the race to go on at the same time.

Stage 1

An interesting time trial starting in front of the Royal Palace (modeled after Versailles by the king Charles II who wanted to turn Caserta in the capital of their reign and with a majestic royal garden) and passing through the suburbs, before starting the climb to Pian del Baccalà from the San Leucio (a XVII century hunting lodge built which Ferdinand IV then turned into a revolutionary Silk Weavers Colony, whose workers enjoyed the first form of social benefits) side. It’s followed by a false flat, with sweeping views of the underlying plain, who will bring the riders in Casertavecchia, a lovely thousand years old village who hosted the originary nucleus of what is nowadays the city of Caserta.

Route



Profile



Royal Palace



Casertavecchia



Stage 2

From Vairano, with the km 0 right in front of the Taverna della Catena, where Vittorio Emanuele II and Garibaldi first met with their armies to ratify the unification of Italy in Teano later that same day.
The stage repeats a long circuit two times with the steadier and longer Monte San Michele preceding three shorter climbs, two of which are proper muros, the first just outside Alife (Via Sferracavallo), the second to Sant’Angelo d’Alife, before an easier climb of Colle Calevola, whose last time will be with 2,5 Kms to go.

Route



Profile




Vairano Patenora




Stage 3

Flat stage with the Muro di Nansignano being the only serious obstacle that could prevent a sprint. It’s placed a bit further out (26,5 Kms to go), kinda like the Muro di Ca del Poggio. There’s plenty of time for sprinters to get back on.

Route



Profile



S. Agata de Goti



Stage 4

High mountain stage with a flat first half, then mountains after the break in Grottaminarda, with the least three of them being particularly hard. Montemarano and Nusco, with their high gradients, will break the bunch before the final climb, Lago Laceno, where the Giro already finished a few stages in the past. This stage goes quite high in the mountain but in late February/early March, snow is unlikely everywhere but on the final climb where it shouldn’t matter particularly (as there’s only false flat right after).

Still, it could be cold and rainy which should make racing epic.

Route



Profile



Lago Laceno



Stage 5

Second high mountain stage. Gaiano early on in the stage should ensure a strong break, it’s followed by a flat section alongside the coast, it’s a pretty exposed area. February tends to be quite windy in all of Southern Italy and this area is no exception so the possibility of crosswinds shouldn’t be ruled out. The race leaves the sea at Paestum (famous for its Greek archaeological site). Capaccio and Albanella climbs serve as warm-ups to the deadly duo of climbs of Pietra Cupa/Vesole. The first has a mean average percentage approaching 11% and is perfect for early attacks, the latter is very shallow at the start and ends with a deadly kilometer, perfect for whoever wants to attack late and use the very technical descent to gain even more time. The last kilometer, starting right after the descent, is at roughly 7%

Route



Profile



Paestum



Trentinara



Stage 6

Final stage. Starting in the village of Sicignano, it has an easy first half ending in Pontecagnano, followed by two longer and easier climbs which cross the hills above Salerno, bypassing the city altogether and getting riders right to the first passage in Cava de Tirreni, around which they will have to ride a 14,7 Kms long circuit twice. The circuit starts with a slight descent to Vietri sul Mare, where viewers will get stunning views on the Amalfi Coast. The first climb of the circuit starts there, it is longer but also has a lower average gradient (because of a few flat stretches throughout the climb). It brings through the village of Dragonea to the Avvocatella Sanctuary and is followed by a short descent and by the just as short (but very hard) climb to Corpo di Cava (home of the stunning baroque abbey of the Holy Trinity) before descending back to Cava de Tirreni.

It’ll be the last chance for anyone who wants to win the race or to test his legs before the Tirreno or Paris Nice.

Route



Profile



Sicignano



Cava de Tirreni


The race moves around the North of Portugal, tackling obstacles one wouldn’t naturally associate with this country. This race has it all, be it hills, cobbles, echelons or sterrato. It makes for the perfect race to prepare for the classics, promoting the little known beauties of the region, much different than the sunny South shown in Volta ao Algarve. It starts from the seaside town of Matosinhos, just outside Porto and ends in the cradle of the country, the city of Braga, who’s been the first capital of the country and home of its first bishopric.

It covers all the districts, except the Guarda district, with a start and a finish in the Porto district, a finish in the Viana district, two starts and a finish in the Braga district, two finishes in the Vila Real district, a start in the Bragança district, a start in the Viseu district, a finish in the Coimbra district (technically just outside the North) and a start in the Aveiro district.


Stage 1

Flat start alongside the coast (possibly exposed to winds). It cuts inland alongside the Minho valley at the border with Spain. Right after Carminha, there’s the first real obstacle of the race, the cobble sector of Rua do Forno de Cal, which is merely a starter before the real obstacle of the day… the climb of Outeiro de Tras (4,1 Km; 6,3%), most of which is cobbled. It’s followed by a descent to Vila Nova de Cerveira where the riders will cross the finish line. The riders will have to tackle the aforementioned cobbled sectors twice more as there will be two circuits around the town.

Route



Profile



Vila Nova de Cerveira



Stage 2

Flat Stage. A must win for sprinters. The only points of interests are the stunning views around the Albufeira do Alto Rabagao and the finish town of Chaves.

Route



Profile



Alto Rabagao



Chaves



Stage 3

A mini LBL-like stage, with a rolling first half, much like LBL and a second half with a neverending succession of climbs. The key moves could either happen on Alto de Oliveira (the hardest climb of the stage, ending at 50 kms to go), on Alto de Minhais (with a ramp of 300 meters over 18% being the perfect launchpad, at 30 kms to go) or on the Alto de Sao Martinho (at 20 kms to go, last serious climb of the day). The whole second half moves alongside the river Douro whose rolling green and wineyard dotted hills will attract viewers even more.

Route



Profile



Douro Valley

https://tasteporto.com/wp-content/uploa ... -Porto.jpg

Stage 4

Flat stage but with a twist. After passing through Aveiro, the race will touch a very exposed area of the coast, where crosswinds could be almost guaranteed due to the constant westerly/southwesterly winds who hit the coast at this time of the year. After Praia de Mira, the race is hit by another twist: dirt roads. The first of them (Miravallas) is followed by a short stretch of asphalt which leads into the final circuit. It’s 19 kms long, mostly in the wind exposed area alongside the Tocha/Palheirao dunes (made up by the 8,3 kms of the Tocha Forestal dirt road) and in the pine wood behind it. The circuit is repeated twice and the dirt sector has to be ridden thrice.
It will be definitely a unique stage.

Route



Profile



Viseu



Praia da Tocha



The main dirt road




Stage 5

The main course of this stage is cobbles. Two sectors before the final circuit in Porto and six on the circuit to be repeated twice, most of which leading uphill on short Flanders-like climbs.

Route



Profile



Circuit





One of the sectors (Rua de Alheiro de Aquem)



Aveiro



Porto



Stage 6


Final ITT linking two of the largest cities of the area, Guimareas and Braga. It’s not completely flat. It has two hills, both of them not too hard. Despite them, ITT specialists should still win. This course is long enough to offset most of the losses in the previous days.

Route



Profile



Guimaraes



Braga

The 2 races i designed can be found in the spoiler.

First is a race for the classics races in the roads ands hills around Lisbon.
This Lisboa Tour should take place the week before the normal Tour of Algarve, so I guess this should have been 10-14/02

The second race is a tour for climbers in the southern island of New Zealand. This could be an opportunity to keep the riders longer in the region or have more better riders in TDU too.
This stage race is 8 stages so quite long for this time of the year. So this race would logically have been from 31/01 till 07/02

Here are my two races, one in New Zealand for climbers and GC guys and the other one in England made for classics cyclists.

Otago - Southland Tour:
maps/tours/view/17995

Yorkshire - North West Tour
maps/tours/view/18020


OTAGO - SOUTHLAND TOUR

Clearly a race made for climbers who can do it well in time trials

Stage 1

Easy stage to start made for sprinters

Stage 2

Another easy looking stage but with high chances of wind and echelons

Stage 3

Big climb at the end with nearly 10% of average. The last climb road is mostly non-paved but that shouldn't give any problem to the riders

Stage 4

Difficult ITT going always up and down and also with a little climb

Stage 5

Hard mountain stage with two first category climbs and a non-paved HC climb that will be very tough for the riders

Stage 6

This stage is much harder than it looks. A lot of climbing during the day despite the stage looks mostly flat and also after more than 210km a wall of 1,6km at 15,6%

Stage 7

Hard stage to end this tour. It is not a stage with long climbs but it has short and steep ones


YORKSHIRE - NORTH WEST TOUR

The idea of this tour is to make it as similar as possible to the Belgian classics and make all the stages unpredictable

Stage 1

Six little cobbled sections after a few steep climbs. The cobbled sectors are not the most difficult ones but will make the end of the stage very nervous and unpredictable

Stage 2

Very hard stage with a lot of climbing kilometres and with many cobbled climbs with very steep slopes

Stage 3

Another difficult stage. Narrow roads, cobbled sections and steep hills

Stage 4

This one is the easiest stage of this race but maybe we could see a move in the two climbs at 30km of the finish line

Stage 5

Three hard climbs at the end with steep slopes. Greenhow Hill is the hardest climb of this race

Stage 6

Not very difficult stage but with a hard climb at the end which is Jenkin Road. Many of you would remember it because it was the last climb of the second stage of Tour de France 2014

Stage 7

As much climbs and cobbled sectors as in the Belgian classics. Very hard stage where everything can happen

Contest submission by IamCeeKae

Tour Atlântico do Porto: maps/tours/view/17899

Schwarzwald Rundfahrt: maps/tours/view/17905

Here is my entry for the contest:

Le Tour de Corsica.
A 5 day race for the GC riders, meant primarily as a preparation for Paris-Nice, with multiple hilly stages, a summit finish and a final-day time trial.
maps/tours/view/17981


Stage 1- Porto-Vecchio> Ajaccio
Stage 1 runs from the port town of Porto-Vecchio to Ajaccio, the Corsican capital. Perfect for the breakaway, it could also possibly be fought for in a reduced sprint.

Stage 2- Ajaccio> Calvi
Stage 2 is similar, although the punchier final climb could lead to the first GC skirmish. The last 2km average over 8%, and it tops out with just over 15km to go. The race should come back together on the run in, but anyone showing poor form should be exposed.

Stage 3- Calvi> Bastia
Next the GC fight begins in earnest, with a short but certainly not easy trek that contains very little flat ground It finishes on a descent into the second-largest city in Corsica, Bastia. The final climb isn't that difficult, but the last few kilometres are the hardest, and as the finish line comes straight off the descent it should provide some action between the favourites.

Stage 4- Bastia> Col de la Serra
The Col de la Serra hosts the only summit finish of the race, and the last chance for the climbers to make a difference before the final time trial. Sure to be raced at a furious pace, the 11% ramp at the bottom of the final climb should blow the race wide open.


Stage 5- Ghisonaccia> Aleria
A pan-flat 15km time trial completes the tour, probably just long enough for one of the GC guys whose strength lis in time trials(such as an Almeida) to snatch the general classification prize.


Salamanca-Cuenca
A 3 day tour, for the classics riders to get ready for the upcoming spring season.
maps/tours/view/18022


Stage 1- Salamanca> Avila
Stage 1 is for the all-rounders, two long laps containining a mixture of climbs, sterrato and a cobbled kick to the finish. Unpredictable, this stage could be won by a durable sprinter or a puncheur depending on how hard it is raced.

Stage 2- Avila> Toledo
Shamelessly cribbed from the 2019 Vuelta, stage 2 is much shorter but offers serious crosswind action, echelons ripped the race apart when these roads were last used.

Stage 3- Toledo> Cuenca
The tour ends with a hilly stage, three laps around Cuenca, each with the short but steep Alto del Castillo before a short plateau and descent. With the climb topping out at just over 10km remaining, it will take a decent climber to win this stage, which will probably be decided by a very small group, or even a late solo effort.