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Contest #3 - Improved spring Classics [Cat. 2]

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emmea90
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Contest #3 - Improved spring Classics [Cat. 2]

Post by emmea90 »

Contest #3 - Improved spring Classics

3rd contest of the season, and it's time for the Spring Classics

The contest will be similar, but different, to the 2018 one.

Your tasks are in fact not to reinvent the classic or move them in other area, but to give them an improvement of the actual route according to your interpretation for a better race quality considering the actual classic route.

The classics you shall improve are
  • Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
  • Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne
  • Strade Bianche
  • Milano-Sanremo
  • E3 Harelbeke
  • Gent-Wevelgem
  • Ronde van Vlaanderen
  • Scheldeprijs
  • Paris-Roubaix
  • De Brabantse Pijl
  • Amstel Gold Race
  • La Fleche Wallonne
  • Liege Bastogne Liege
For each of these ones, you cannot change their race identity but you have to do a new route that suits it better according to you. Not be able to change the race identity means also that the start/finish town shall be preserved. Milan-Sanremo shall go from Milano to Sanremo, Roubaix shall end in Velodrome and can't go to Belgium, while races like Omloop and Ronde, instead, can move to historical start/finishes that they previous used (Gand, Merbeke or the historical start in Brugge for Ronde). Also, climbs/key points that are part of the race identity (example: Arenberg in Roubaix) shall be preserved. It's up to you to find out what they are.

In the presentation/description, please write what is, according to you, the actual flaw of the current route of the classic you decided to improve and why should be fixed with your new route. It's not mandatory to change all the classics, meaning that if a real route doesn't have any improvement margin, you can simply add it as it is to your list with this motivation.

Remember also to not change the KMs of the semiclassics (under 200 km).

The maps on the site will surely be useful for this contest
Climb map: maps/tracks/maps/2
Cobbles map: maps/tracks/maps/3
Strade bianche map: maps/tracks/maps/4

Deadline will be May 9, h 23.59

Please put ALL the routes under spoiler tag in this topic to not make it too long AND put all the classic in a single tour, listed in the order above. Thanks

From this contest, people using correctly spoiler tags will get +1 bonus to be added to the presentation to encourage this correct behavior.
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Re: Contest #3 - Improved spring Classics [Cat. 2]

Post by Luna23 »

Luna23 wrote: 01/05/2021, 22:08 Sorry to say, but I am going to have to sit this one out.
Is there any sanction for doing so? I have too much in life atm
I have more free days starting mid next month so thats when i become available
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Re: Contest #3 - Improved spring Classics [Cat. 2]

Post by Micek_52 »

Luna23 wrote: 01/05/2021, 22:08 Sorry to say, but I am going to have to sit this one out.
Is there any sanction for doing so? I have too much in life atm
As far as I know there are no point deductions for not participating in a contest. You get 0 points for the contest, and that is it.
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Re: Contest #3 - Improved spring Classics [Cat. 2]

Post by jibvalverde »

Here is my contest : maps/tours/view/18589
Spoiler!
1 - Het Nieuwsblad

Image

Because Het Nieuwsblad keep this final towards Ninove which succeeds him, I decided to give a little something of the Tour of Flanders 2011 to the race, since the last 60 kilometers will be identical. But first, it's time for something new with the Eikenberg very early on and an unprecedented Maarkeberg-Ladeuze-Wolvenberg sequence before the Molenberg, undoubtedly the key location for the first attacks.


2 - Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne

Image

Very few changes to make in a race that works every year, offering us a great fight between classicmen and sprinters. However the current final left little chance for a group to resist to the peloton. That'w why i choose to harden the race after the last cobbled climb. There will be three other little climbs (one in the actuel race) but also a cobbled sector, the Varenstraat. It's still favorable to sprinters but it will be a litte tougher for them.


3 - Strade Bianche

Image

Each year the Strades are one of the best races of the season. Changing anything could be bad but I decided to bring Monte Saint-Marie a little closer to the finish (6km exactly) but also to harden its approach a little, with a tougher climb of Montalcino (5km to 7 % including 2km at 12%, rather than 7km at 4.5%) but also the addition of a 9km sector before San Martino di Grania.


4 - Milan-SanRemo

Image


Observation: Milan-SanRemo too often boils down to Poggio, lack of fatigue accumulated previously. The Turchino no longer has a role, if not historical, and Mania does a useless task.

Goal: To harden the ground very far from the finish to wear down the sprinters and promote attacks in the final, while leaving maximum chances for the sprinters

Way to achieve : Exit the Turchino, replaced by the Monte Alto, much harder on the top (6km at 6%). Then, very fast and technical descent towards Pietra Ligure, 60km less on the Riviera. The finish is classic with a Cipressa taken by a more complicated slope.


5 - GP E3

Image

Observation: GP E3 is a repeat of the Ronde but the last cobbled hill is too far from the finish. The Paterberg must remain a "final" climb of the Ronde only.

Goal: Bring the Vieux Quaremont closer to the finish to have a final similar to that of Flanders but also place the Paterberg as a detonator.

Way to achieve : The Paterberg is found more than 70km from the finish, in the perfect Trieu-Paterberg-Kortekeer-Taaienberg sequence. Vieux Quaremont remains the last cobbled climb but with two other small climbs behind, to play on the differences made in Quaremont.


6 - Gent-Wevelgem

Image

Observation: Gand-Wevelgem is an absolute success every year with a mad race. No need to add climbs or additional cobbled sectors.

Goal: Improve the race to avoid arrivals in too large committees.

Way to achieve: Reverse the 2nd and 3rd ascent of Kemmel, taking the traditional cobbled path at the last passage to favor the gaps. Goodbye also to Vidaigneberg on this last lap, replaced by a more direct and long climb of the Baneberg (1.6 km at 5%, max 12%). The Scherpenberg is also approached by a different slope on the second lap, longer, narrower and harder. Not enough to encourage attacks but enough to wear down the sprinters even more.


7 - Ronde van Vlaanderen

Image

Observation: The Ronde 2017 was perfect, but recent editions have taught us that a last key moment after the difficulties would not have been a refusal. On a more personal level, the mythical cobbled climbs deserve to be in the end.

Goal: Bring Koppenberg, Taaienberg, Oude Kruisberg closer to the finish line and find a way to harden the return to Oudenaarde.

Way to achieve: No surprise in the first 200 kilometers which generally resumes the 2017 route, with a start from Brugge however. The changes come after the second passage over the Vieux Quaremont, which follows a first Paterberg then the Koppenberg and the Taaienberg with returning to the Vieux Quaremont after the Oude Kruisberg. And in the final, the addition of the Varenstraat to offer possibilities of attacks in the final. Seven of the 16 paved sectors are in the last 60 kilometers.


8 - Scheldeprijs

Image

Observation: The Scheldeprijs is more of a echelons race than a cobblestone race but has two sectors to highlight.

Goal: Make the most of the possibilities of Zeeland before exploiting the cobbles on the final circuit.

Way to achieve: Unlike the current route, my race will go much further north to use the various bridges between the Zeeland Islands, starting with the Zeelandbrug and the Osterdam, very windy and favorable to the echelons. The return to Schoten is more direct (the finish line passed for the first time 10km earlier) before making three laps of a final 18km circuit including the two usual cobbled sections of the event, the Sint Jobsesteenweg. and the Broekstraat.


9 - Paris-Roubaix

Image

No change here. Paris-Roubaix is an absolute perfect classic et i only imagine one thing to make the race better : a rainy day. But i don't control the weather.... yet ^^


10 - De Brabantse Pijl

Image

De Brabantse Pijl is the link's race between Roubaix and the Ardennes and, as such, must in my opinion have a little more cobbles than it's its case. That's why i add the long Crucifix, the Chemin d'Ordimont and Duisburg. I also removed a little cobble hill (Herstraat) in the final circuit, with only the Moskestraat.


11 - Amstel Gold Race

Image

Observation: The Amstel is a magnificent race which is going much better since it no longer ends at the Cauberg. But the history of the race would like it to end in Valkenburg instead. Which would imply changing the final.

Goal: Keep the final Cauberg-Geulhermmerberg sequence but change the approach a bit to avoid smaller arrivals more often.

Way to achieve: Perform the Keutenberg-Cauberg sequence at the start of the final loop (Keutenberg-Cauberg-Geulhermmerberg each time), with Kruisberg and Eyserbosweg in the last 70 kilometers, just before the first sequence.


12 - Flèche Wallonne

Image

Observation: La Flèche is an hard uphill finish and it's good, it changes. But hoping to win from far is impossible and that's a shame.

Goal: Change the approach of the Mur de Huy in the circuit to allow more fighting, tire the riders and give more chances to the offensives, while facilitating the placement in the Mur de Huy.

Way to achieve: Exit Cherave, Ereffe or the Chemin des Gueuses, too easy to really skim the peloton and blow up the team members. The Côte du Grand-Marchin (1.1km at 8%) and especially the Côte des Deux Thiers (1.3km at 9.2%) will have to be crossed three times and will give the attackers more chances, with quickly dull teammates. . The addition of the Triple Wall of Monty and the Gayolle is more symbolic but will be felt in the legs.



13 - Liège-Bastogne-Liège

Image

Observation: Liège is recently just the clkimb of La Roche-aux-Faucons, yet not at all a historic ascent. Hoping to have an unbridled race from afar is, however, utopian.

Goal: To restore La Redoute to its letters of nobility but to harden the previous part, by alternating historical and new features.

Way to achieve: The first part of the race is quite traditional but everything changes after the Saint-Roch wall. The riders go through the Baraque de Fraiture before completing 11 climbs in the last 100 kilometers. Ancômont, Basse-Bodeux and Matrinfa are all new and sufficiently narrow and difficult to stretch the peloton before the traditional triptych Wanne-Stockeu (extended) -Haute Levée. The arrival on the Redoute is hardened by the narrow hill of Presseux (1.2km at 6.8%). La Redoute is the last ascent 20km from the finish, with 13km tactical hilly before plunging towards Liège.
Last edited by jibvalverde on 07/05/2021, 20:47, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Contest #3 - Improved spring Classics [Cat. 2]

Post by jajoejoe »

Here are my classics for this contest:
maps/tours/view/18449

Presentation:
Spoiler!
Omloop het Nieuwsblad
Image
This classic has a flaw and that is the finale. It's a waiting game for Muur and Bosberg and if nothing happens there you get a boring mass sprint like this year. So to counter that we went back to the old route finishing in Gent with some tweaks.

-Longer approach and added Kapittelstraat and Paddestraat.
-Eikenmolen removed in approach to Muur van Geraardsbergen.
-Haaghoek from the other side.
-Kaperij removed.
-Instead of Donderij and Taaienberg, Kortekeer en Koppenberg before.
-After Wolvenberg: Kerkgate and Molenberg. From Paddestraat finale is the same.

Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne
Image
This classic should be one where the sprinters and attackers both have a chance of winning, but for me the chance for attackers is too small. So here are the tweaks I hope will counter that:

-Other route to Oudenaarde.
-Wolvenberg instead of Volkegemberg.
-Added some climbs like the Berendries and Valkenberg in the loop after that.
-Karnemelkbeekstraat instead of Knokteberg, Knokteberg is now descent after Kwaremont.
-Kluisberg from the other side.
-Final run to Kuurne is different. Now goes via Tiechemberg and Varentstraat to invite some late attacks.

Strade Bianche
Image
Strade Bianche doesn't really have any flaws. So for this one I just made it a little harder because why not.

Removed Sectors:
-Vidritta

Added sectors:
-Strada Provinciale 105
-Padule
-Torrenieri
-Guistrigona

Milan-Sanremo
Image
Image
So for Milan-Sanremo I just made it the 2011 route, so Le Manie is back. This will increase the chance attackers win the race slightly, without compromising the chanses of sprinters.

E3 Saxobank Classic
Image
Image
E3 also doesn't really have flaws, but there is ways to improve it.

-Karnemelkbeekstraat is climbed twice now. The climb is the only piece of identity and uniqueness it has so that's why we climb it twice.
-As E3 is nicknamed as a mini Ronde van Vlaanderen there is an extra passage over the Oude Kwaremont before the Kortekeer.
-Rest stays the same.

Gent-Wevelgem
Image
Gent-Wevelgem has no flaws and there is no reason to change the race as it is now. It's a 50/50 sprint/attackers race and there is no reason to change that. If you add more Kemmelbergs or other hills it completely ruins the premis of the race.

Ronde van Vlaanderen
Image
So the flaw I tried to solve for De Ronde is the loop to the Muur van Geraardsbergen. It adds nothing to the race exept the name and it means nothing can happen untill the second Kwaremont.

-Start in Brugge.
-Rejoin current route underneath Oude Kwaremont.
-After Wolvenberg a northern loop with Paddestraat and other cobble sectors instead of just the Muur van Geraardsbergen.

Scheldeprijs
Image
There is no reason to change the Scheldeprijs. It is a sprinters race, not a cobble classic. Adding sectors would just take a way the whole premise of the race. Going more North in Zeeland too as it means the race wouldn't follow the Schelde anymore.

Paris-Roubaix
Image
What is there to change? There is nothing really that can be changed, except swapping out some cobble sectors for other sectors but that would be completely pointless.

Brabantse Pijl
Image
So the Brabantse Pijl in my opinion is a little bit too easy. As seen in past years there is a possibility for attackers to make it, but it's not really inviting to go on the attack. I tried to counter it by making the approach to the local circuits harder. I also added some things to the final circuits.
Added in approach:
-Wolfshaegen
-Dikkemeerberg
-Secteur de la Chapelle Saint-Martin
-Rue de Fichermont
-Chemin d’Odrimont
-Chemin du Bois Magonette
Added in local circuit:
-Extra Hertstraat cobbles.
-Korenarenstraat.

Amstel Gold Race
Image
So the Amstel Gold Race also needs no changing in my opinion. Removing the Cauberg from the last circuit was a golden move and the rest of the parcours is good enough and shows the whole southern part of Limburg. I know a great way to improve it, but that would mean changing the finishing town which isn’t allowed.

Fleche Wallonne
Image
Image
The problem with changing Fleche Wallonne is it's identity, the finish on the Mur de Huy sucks and makes the race boring, but it's also the only reason it's famous. So instead I tried to make the race harder. The approach is harder and the local circuit now has the incredible Thier de Huy, to invite attacks before Mur de Huy and make Mur de Huy less of a peloton sprint.

Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Image
Image
Image
Image
So the problem with LBL is the waiting game before Rocha-aux-Faucons. I tried to help this by adding 3 climbs and another route from Redoute to the bottom of the Roche. Using smaller roads instead of the long wide roads via Cote de Forges. This will help in breaks staying away. The road isn't necesarily easier though as the Champ de la Haze is really steep.
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Re: Contest #3 - Improved spring Classics [Cat. 2]

Post by Micek_52 »

My tour: maps/tours/view/18622

Because I spent way too much time and nerves on this and also it is probably a really bad attempt, I won't even bother making a presentation this time around. Hopefully the next contest will be slightly easier.

I will just put some brief course changelog here:
  • 01. Omloop het Niewsblad - stays the same, as I can't find anything to improve it.
  • 02. Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne - I made the race so it starts and ends in Kuurne, but also goes through Bruxelles. I had to cut down on the climbs, which some of you will probably hate
  • 03. Strade Bianche - Added a few Steratto sections, increasing their number to 18, comprising of 52% of the track. Most importantly, the uphill finish in Siena has been axed. This is because I want the race to be decided on the gravel and not the paved final climb.
  • 04. Milano-SanRemo - Mostly stays the same, as it is already leaning towards the 300km limit. I only took different (steeper) routes for Cipressa and Poggio (both in excess of 10% gradient)
  • 05. E3 Harelbeke - Never watched the race, so I guess it is ok as it is?
  • 06. Gent-Wevelgem - The race starts in Gent, and finishes in Wevelgem. In the middle part each of the climbs (Scherpenberg, Vidagneberg, Baneberg, Monteberg and Kemmelberg) is repeated 3 times, before the final flat section with 3 plugstreets. All in all parts of the track were changed around a little.
  • 07. Ronde Van Vlaanderen - I decided to ditch the climbs featured after the second passage of Kwaremont and instead doubling the climbs of the first "lap". The race uses the old finish in Ninove. Kwaremont/Paterberg is repeated 3 times, and Muur twice.
  • 08. Scheldeprijs - It is a flat race with a limited number of cobblestones. Any changes to it would make it worse, not better
  • 09. Paris-Roubaix - Made the race slightly longer, increased the number of cobblestones by four (from 29 to 33) and used six 5-star sections. I decided to use a few sections that do not appear in ROubaix and Might be interesting. Also some of the sections are run in reverse from original. Don't hate me for this
  • 10. Brabantse Pijl - Stays the same for the same reasons as E3.
  • 11. Amstel Gold - I combined the usual "maze"-pattern and this year's lap format. In the end the rider pass this'years lap 6 times.
  • 12. Fleche Wallone - I added another climb simmilar to the Muur in to the final loop. Also, after the 3rd passage of the Muur, the riders take a quick descent, before the 4th ascent. Three steep climbs in last 10 kilometres, could make the race slghtly more unpredictable.
  • 13. Liege-Bastogne-Liege - The track stays the same, as I think it is well done, only the finish line is moved from flat to a hill. I really hate seeing LBL ending in a sprint on flat ground.
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Re: Contest #3 - Improved spring Classics [Cat. 2]

Post by Diego12Alpe »

Here is my tour for this contest:

maps/tours/view/18448
Spoiler!
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Image
Kapelmuur - Bosberg is the perfect finish for this race. I tried to make the last 70km the part where the race will be decided, and mostly since the start of the Eikenberg.

Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne
Image
Same amount of hills and three more cobbled sectors added, but it won't make much difference in the race. Oude Kwaremont - Kluisberg is a good combination at 50km to go and what I changed is the approach to it. I decided to make the cobbled part of the Kruisberg and then the Scherpenberg which is a little bit harder than the Knokteberg. Also I wanted to add a few turns to the last part of the circuit to make it easier for late attackers.

Strade Bianche
Image
The biggest changes are that now the race will have six more white roads sectors and 20km more. It is known but every cycling fan that every year we have the discussion if this race could be considered as a monument or not, and in my opinion a race should have at least 200km to be a monument and then we'll see.

Milano-Sanremo
Image
I think Milano-Sanremo is one of the greatest races, but only in the last 30km. I decided to add Pian dei Corsi which is harder than other climbs used in this race and it is nearer to the end of the race. I also added Colla Micheri and Colla Oneglia which are two climbs where a few movements and attacks can be seen and if they race like every year, this hills won't change anything.

E3 Harelbeke
Image
The end of the race from the Paterberg to the finish line I think is perfect for this race, it always shows great spectacle and having the Paterberg before the Oude Kwaremont is something special. What I tried to do is make the race a little bit harder before the Paterberg and the hills and cobbled sectors also closer to it.

Gent-Wevelgem
Image
I added more hills to the race but also more distance between them so it shouldn't make a big difference in the race. The biggest change I decided to make is after the last ascent to the Kememlberg at 42km to go which is going to Wevelgem trough the Plugstreets again and adding Sentier Lucien Storme which is another white road sector. The pass trough Ieper and the added cobbled sector of the Palingbeekstraat will be made at around 120km to go instead at the end of the race.

Ronde van Vlaanderen
Image
Six more hills and four more cobbled roads. I changed the order of the hills and tried them to be closer to each other. The biggest change is that the Koppenberg will be climbed twice with the idea of making it a more key point than it is now. I also changed the final circuit adding the Berg Ten Houte and Kanarieberg after the Taaienberg and the Karnemelkbeekstraat between the Kruisberg - Hotond and the Oude Kwaremont.

Scheldeprijs
Image
One more lap to the circuit added and also a few more cobbled sectors during the race. The biggest change I wanted to do is make the final circuit shorter and adding more turns at the end just before the finish line. I did this in order to make the race more open and making it easily for the attackers.

Paris-Roubaix
Image
In Roubaix there is not a lot to be changed. What I did is add a few more cobbled sectors and make those cobbled sectors closer to each other with not much places to rest between them.

Brabantse Pijl
Image
The big change is the circuit at the end. It will be made in the opposite way maintaining the Moskestraat and adding one flat cobbled sector and one cobbled climb. Also instead of three hills there will be four. This changes are made to see attacks and movements from far and making the race a little bit more difficult.

Amstel Gold Race
Image
In my opinion, the problem we saw other years in this race was that the hard climbs where just at the end, so I decided that those hard climbs will be climbed during all the race and the Cauberg will be the last climb. I added a white road sector that will be twice in the race just after a climb. The second pass will be made between all the hard climbs so it can be a key point of the race.

La Fleche Wallonne
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The biggest problem of this race is that riders don't even think about it not being a sprint in the Mur de Huy. I decided to add two hard climbs and make all the climbs in the circuit as near as possible to each other. I did this with the aim of trying to see attacks and moves and not just a big group sprinting up the Mur de Huy.

Liege - Bastogne - Liege
Image
Maybe some of your won't think the same, but in my opinion Liege - Bastogne - Liege should have more climbs and it has to be harder. In the last years the winner of the race has been decided in a sprint in Ans or with an attack in the Roche-aux-Faucons when the finish line was moved. Côte Saint-Roch or Stockeu are far from the finish line and anyone expect attacks there, but what I can't understand is why we don't see big moves in La Redoute. This years we saw attacks but the peloton was too big that they caught them easily. So the main change I tried to make is add more climbs to make the race harder and see if a group of no more than 40 or 50 riders start the Redoute and the attacks we see there can have big opportunities of making it to the finishing line.
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Re: Contest #3 - Improved spring Classics [Cat. 2]

Post by AjachiChakrabarti »

My entry: maps/tours/view/18461
Spoiler!

OMLOOP HET NIEUWSBLAD
maps/viewtrack/425422

FLAW: As a "mini-Ronde", the Omloop really shouldn't be finishing in a bunch sprint, as it did this year.
IMPROVEMENT: I've made the parcours harder, with a greater focus on the Muur-Bosberg finish. Since it's called Omloop after all, have included three laps of a circuit.

Image


KUURNE - BRUXELLES - KUURNE
maps/viewtrack/425467

FLAW: Not enough cobbles.
IMPROVEMENT: I've taken the course as close to Brussels as possible, and included a number of relatively flat cobbled sectors, so that this can be the introductory race for those preparing for Gent-Wevelgem/Roubaix.

Image


STRADE BIANCHE
maps/viewtrack/425568

FLAW: This is more a consequence of the limited TV coverage, but we don't get to see all that many sterrato sections on the telecast. Also, there's too much distance between La Tolfe and the final climb at Siena.
IMPROVEMENT: I've added more sterrati overall, including a diversion to the south of Siena, with the final section coming eight kilometres from the end.

Image


MILANO - SANREMO
maps/viewtrack/425486

FLAW: Nothing ever happens in the early finale, as everyone just waits for the Poggio.
IMPROVEMENT: I've added a longish climb at Alassio, which can be used to put the sprinters in difficulty or launch an early attack. Either way, it should thin the bunch down enough that moves on the final climbs aren't so easily neutralised.

Image

Image


E3 HARELBEKE
maps/viewtrack/425709

FLAW: There really isn't a flaw in E3, but since I was going to change the Ronde finish, thought the Oude Kwaremont-Paterberg finish deserved a race of its own, like Muur-Bosberg has Omloop.

Image


GENT - WEVELGEM
maps/viewtrack/425989

FLAW: Does not start in Gent. Not enough cobbles.
IMPROVEMENT: Race now starts in Gent, and has more cobbles. I've kept the hills as is.

Image


RONDE VAN VLAANDEREN
maps/viewtrack/426118

FLAW: There's too much distance after the final climb, and too little cohesion to chase the final move. This means we just end up waiting for the final sprint.
IMPROVEMENT: I've added a new finish after the Paterberg, which involves the Koppenberg, Steenbeekdries, Taaienberg and the Eikenberg, all in the final thirteen kilometres. I also like the idea of the entire cobbled season being a familiarisation process for the Ronde course, so have extended this to include the Kemmelberg, with the race starting in Brugge.

Image

Image


SCHELDEPRIJS
maps/viewtrack/426195

FLAW: The finishing circuit is boring.
IMPROVEMENT: I've removed the circuit. Instead, the race follows a meandering course, much of it along the Schelde, with six cobbled sectors of varying difficulty, including the gnarly Pulderbos section close to the finish.

Image


PARIS - ROUBAIX
maps/viewtrack/426817

FLAW: None that I can see, not that I remember much about the last edition that took place. But even after playing around with the cobble map, I couldn't figure out a meaningful improvement, so I've kept the parcours unchanged.

Image


DE BRABANTSE PIJL
maps/viewtrack/426313

FLAW: Too much distance between the Hertstraat/Moskestraat—the real challenges of the circuit—and the finish.
IMPROVEMENT: I've made a new circuit, which features the climbs used in the world championship this year and has the two cobbled climbs at the end.

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AMSTEL GOLD RACE
maps/viewtrack/426364

FLAW: I appreciate the need of a closed circuit given the circumstances, but 12 Cauwbergs are too many. It needs a little more variety.
IMPROVEMENT: I've added three laps of a longer circuit before the race moves into the actual circuit.

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LA FLECHE WALLONNE
maps/viewtrack/426409

FLAW: Nothing matters in the race other than the final 1300 metres.
IMPROVEMENT: If the race is all about the Mur de Huy, I figured it should play more of a part in the race. So, I've added five laps of a shorter circuit, with a new climb just before the Mur.

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LIEGE - BASTOGNE - LIEGE
maps/viewtrack/426655

FLAW: LBL is almost always going to be a race of attrition, with the major action taking place on the final climb. The organisers tried to fix this by moving the final climb back, but now the major action takes place on the unclassified climb after the Roche aux Facons, after which nothing happens for 10 km.
IMPROVEMENT: I didn't watch the Ans finishes, but my sense of people's dislike with that parcours is that they didn't like the final climb, which was mostly an uphill sprint to a petrol pump parking lot. So I've picked a much tougher—and cobbled—climb to the citadel of Liege, followed by a descent to the finish line. This provides the best climbers a better opportunity to create separation, while also giving the rest of the front group a chance to catch up before the finish line.

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JoostvandeBeek
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Location: Eindhoven

Re: Contest #3 - Improved spring Classics [Cat. 2]

Post by JoostvandeBeek »

This is my submission for this contest: maps/tours/view/18470

Presentation:
Spoiler!
Omloop het Nieuwsblad
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The Omloop has been the traditional opener of the Belgian season showing us the first cobbles of the season. The weather most of the time the weather is harsh and the temperatures are low, making the racing even better. Ever since the Omloop changed the finish town to Ninove, and copied the old Ronde final, the racing has always been disappointing, especially this year which saw a mass sprint (!). The old route which finished in Gent always produced exciting racing with a route which saw the final hill (the Molenberg) more than 40 km's from the finish, followed by some cobbled sectors. Because of this, I chose to move the finish back to the Overpoortstraat in Ghent. The route is focused on the Haaghoek-Leberg combo which is done 3 times and the Molenberg which is done 2 times and again is the final hill. This route shows one extra cobbled sector of the Driesstraat after the Lange Munte, with a small climb to Munte in between them. This route should encourage the riders to attack from further out and the extra cobbles, in the end, can work as an extra decisive factor.

Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne
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Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, together with Gent-Wevelgem, has been dubbed the sprinter's classic of the cobbled classics. The route is challenging, but most of the time not selective enough to keep the strong sprinters out of contention. The current route is far from bad, most of the time producing some exciting racing, with a cat-and-mouse game between the strongman and the peloton. The organization already improved the route by choosing some smaller roads in between de Kluisberg and the final laps in Kuurne. Still, there is room for improvement. The roads between the Kluisberg and Kortrijk are a bit boring, so I chose to spice it up with the short climb of the Rollegemstraat in Bellegem followed by a short cobbled sector. Also, the final laps go over to big roads, especially towards the finishing line in Kuurne. Therefore I decided to take some smaller roads in between Kortrijk and the finish in Kuurne, slightly shortening the final laps. This still should give the sprinters the biggest chance for victory, but favors the attackers a little more.

Strade Bianche
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Arguably the best race in pro-cycling on a route that sees little flaws. The only flaw that I could point out, was that in between the sectors of Monte Sainte Marie and Monteaperti there are no white roads. Therefore I added two sectors one of Guistrigona and one uphill to Castell'in Villa. This gives the riders more points to place their penultimate or final attack.

Milano-Sanremo
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La Primavera, the greatest Italian classic. What used to be a climbers race, in the beginning, has evolved in the race for sprinters as the roads got better over the years, although real sprinters rarely win over the last years. With the current route, the race has become a little too predictable and is maybe a little on the easy side. There I added the climb to Verazzi, which shares the first slopes with the Melogno, an old climb used in the 1960s and 1970s. To spice up the final I thought of taking a harder side of the Cipressa, but that would not really change the course of the race in the end. Instead, I added the climb to Bussana just in front of the Poggio to encourage more long-range attacks. This climb is a little harder compared to the Poggio, but strong sprinters like Sagan, Ewan, and Kristoff should still be able to survive this new final.

E3 Harelbeke (Unchanged)
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The perfect warm-up for the Ronde, with its unique course always gives a good showdown between the Ronde-favorites. Because the route has no real improvement margin I chose to leave it as it is.

Gent-Wevelgem
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Gent-Wevelgem has been the odd one out of the Belgian cobbled classics, choosing to go over the West-Flemish Heuvelland instead of the Flemish Ardennes. The route has favored strong sprinters of the likes of Boonen, Sagan, Kristoff, and Pedersen. To current route, however, is too dependent on echelons and not hard enough for non-sprinters. For this route, I chose to move the start back to Deinze, which is closer to Ghent, and to reintroduce the French-Flemish detour over the Kasselberg, Katsberg, and Zwarteberg. The route firstly goes towards to coast through the Moeren where the wind is (almost) always blowing and then goes via France to the Kemmelberg zone. After the hills, the route goes to Wevelgem via Ieper and Menen. I chose to add some small sections of smaller roads to favor attackers.

Ronde van Vlaanderen
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The Muur-Bosberg combo should be reserved for one race only and that is the 'Hoogmis', the Ronde van Vlaanderen. The Ronde has moved the finish to Oudenaarde purely for commercial interests, as the current final gives the VIP three visits along with their huge tent on the Oude Kwaremont. But the route of the Ronde should not favor the commercial interest but the interests of the people and should go along one of the most sacred places in cycling, namely the Muur van Geraardsbergen. For my Ronde route, I chose the move the route to Bruges, as Antwerpen is not Flemish. Then the route firstly goes over some West-Flemish climbs as the Tiegemberg. The real final starts with the Oude-Kwaremont, Paterberg followed by the Koppenberg and the Taaienberg before we hit the final flat cobbled section of the Haaghoek at 40 km's to go. Then the follows the classic course over the Leberg, Berendries and Tenbosse towards the Muur, where the final decision should take place. The finish is moved back to the Halsesteenweg in Meerbeke. This route go back to the true roots of the Ronde van Vlaanderen, while also inviting for some very exciting racing.

Scheldeprijs
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The Scheldeprijs has always been a sprinters classic, but the last couple of years they chose to go through Zeeland, making echelons a big part of the route. I wanted to make the echelons more importing removing and shortening some of the final laps and bringing the echelons a little closer to the finish.

Paris-Roubiax
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L'Enfer du Nord is unique in its character with the hardest roads no one would willingly race their bike over. I chose to keep the route as it is, although the route is not flawless, as there is a little too much room to regroup after Mons-en-Pevele for example, but redrawing the route to include other sections would not fix that, and the flaw is only minor.

Brabantse Pijl
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My route of the Brabantse Pijl takes the route back in time moving the finish from Overijse to the old finish on top on the Alsembeg in Sint-Genesius Rode. The current route is a little too easy and the repaving of the Moskesstraat makes the area around Overijse not as exciting anymore. Therefore I moved the route back to the Alsemberg, also including the Bruine Put. The final route also includes one cobbled climb and two more punchy climbs before the relatively easy ascent to the finish on top of the Alsemberg. This route should be a better fit to the Amstel and the other Ardennes Classics

Amstel Gold Race
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Although the Amstel has greatly improved by removing the Cauberg the route can still be improved more. The normal route goes over the longer climbs like the Camerig and Drielandenpunt/Vlaaserberg to early, so there I chose to move this sector later in the route making the route even harder to control. The real final still starts with the Kruisberg, but that is now followed by the Hulsberg and then going to the trademark trio of Eyserbosweg, Fromberg, and Keutenberg, The Cauberg stays more or less in the same place but the finish is now in Maastricht, so the climbers will have to attack from further out to get a chance of winning.

La Flêche Wallone
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La Flêche Wallone must end with the Mur of Huy as the final climb, but the current route has been way too easy, which makes it far too easy for the big teams to control the race. Therefore I chose to make the much harder. This route can celebrate the steep walls of the Ardennes, including the Montage de la Croix in Dinant, the Côte d'Évrehailles, and the Triple Mur de Monty. They won't make the race more entertaining, but the riders will feel them in the final kilometers. The route continues following the Meuse, going to Namur before the first ascent of the Mur de Huy. Then the riders will do one final circuit where the focus will be on the final two climbs: the Thier de Huy and the Mur de Huy. The race won't finish on top of the Mur however, but the riders have to descend down to banks of the Meuse where the finish line is placed. With this route, the Mur is still the key point of the race, but the race should be more open and the winner a little harder to predict.

Liège-Bastogne-Liège
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Final km's:
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The oldest classic of them all, and arguably the hardest one, with many memorable versions: Merckx attacking on the Stockeu, Hinault winning in the snow, Vandenbroucke predicting his win and final attack in 1999. Over the years, the race has, unfortunately, become less and less memorable, except for last year's version, but not for the right reasons. ASO has been trying to address this issue and moving the finish back to the Liège has been a step in the right direction. However, like the Flêche Wallone, the race is too easy to control and is focussed on one climb only: the Rôche-aux-Faucons. Before that little real racing happens. In the current route, the Rôche-aux-Faucons is too close to the finish, and the route leading up to the climb is going over to wide roads. My route added the Saint-Nicolas back into the route while keeping the finish in Liège. The route follows the current route including the classic Wanne-Stockeu-Haute Levée triptych. Then it goes over the Rosier, which is followed by the Côte de Crêppe and the Côte de Desnié to make te run-up towards the Redoute harder the control. After the route, we go over the Côte de Hornay via a small road next to the big express road before we tackle the Rôche-aux-Faucons from the side used at the beginning of its introduction, where the Schlecks always placed their attack. Then it goes towards the Saint-Nicolas, but not via the normal big roads, but taking a small twisty descend with some hairpins. The top of the Saint-Nicolas is at 9 km to go, which is followed by a dragging descend of 3 kilometers followed by 6 flat kilometers towards the finish. Following the example of the Ronde van Vlaanderen and the Amstel Gold Race, moving the harder climbs away from the finish should encourage more long-range attacks, as the real climbers cannot wait until the Saint-Nicolas to make the difference.
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emmea90
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Re: Contest #3 - Improved spring Classics [Cat. 2]

Post by emmea90 »

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