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Present your December Tour proposals here!

Will Update

BRITISH ISLES VOYAGE
A 13 stage tour, half in Ireland, the other in the Great Britain.

Stage 1

Londonderry-Derry Prologue

3KM TT
A nice calm start to the tour. 3 km flat TT in Northern Ireland.

Stage 2
Londonderry -Belfast

112km Flat
Another calm flat race. First opportunity to get mountain jersey too.

Stage 3
Belfast - Irish Coast

117km Flat
Another calm flat race as the climbers riders are given their last day to prepare for the mountains. Also a final chance for a chancer to wear the red jersey for the day.

Stage 4
Collooney - Clifden

158km Mountain Finish
First Stage for the climber. Mostly flat stage until last 10km which will likely be fight for the yellow and the red jersey.
Last Climb ( 4 4 5 6 8 -4 -3 4 6 5 6)

Stage 5
Collooney - Clifden

167km Flat
The third last pure flat race of the tour, take it as a short rest for the climbers before another day of climbing.

Stage 6
Hilly Path To West Ireland

187km Hilly With Mountain Finish
As the rest day approaches a strong hilly race with a Cat1 climb finish faces the climbers. There are oppotunites for classics to try their luck before the 17km ending climb or prehaps the can hang on for their lifes and take it to a sprint.
Last climb (2 2 5 7 6 6 3 4 5 4 2 3 6 2 5 6 4)

Stage 7
Galway - Cork

201km Hilly With Mountain Close To Finish
Classics vs Sprinter. A short climb gives the sprinters 18km to try an grab back a sprint. With a rest day and then a TT to come, this will be the day they can burn their riders.
Climb from 177km to 183km (2 5 6 8 5 6 3)


REST DAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Go sleep or watch some one day sprint teams argue over who is the favourite of something.


Stage 8
Snowdonia TT

35km TT
No better way to return that with a TT. A mostly flat and downhill that ends with a strong climb towards the finish to start of the week of the climbers.
End climb (4 12 6 8 9 9 19)

Stage 9
Newport - Glouchester

179km Hilly
Another "anyone can win" race. The sprinters could take this but only if they can block attack from the (4 4 -4 -4) just 7km from the finish, only to be faced with an upward sprint at 2%.


Stage 10
Derby - Manchester

180km HC Mount in Middle
The first of the 3 big mountain days that will test riders to the max. The favs can decide to either duke it out today and hold their gap or save their energy for the hard coming tomorrow.
HC climb (7 11 10 10 15 6 11 13 12 4)

Stage 11
Road To Bealach-na-Ba

81km Cat 1 Climb
A short stage, but one with a strong finish to it, it will be upto the climb as to whether they want to push for it today of stay put for the queen stage tommorow.

Last Climb ( 3 6 5 4 8 10 6 9 7 8 8 13 7 7 7 6 9 9 13 8 8)

Stage 12
Lake District Climbs

197km HC Mount Queen Stage
The last day for the GC to be fought for on an incredibly hard stage. 10 climbs, from moderate to brutal. This will be the ultimate test to the the teams.
Last 15km ( -4 5 7 6 10 8 12 16 20 11 12 -15 -10 11 13 12)


Stage 13
Race Around Glasgow
147km HC Mount Queen Stage

The last day of the tour, and a nice sprint to finish it off, with only mere 4% climbs to worry about.

2 TT'S
4 FLATS
3 HILLY / MIDRACE MOUNTAIN
4 MOUNT FINISHES

LA IBERICA

Stage 1: Madrid - Madrid: Individual Time Trial - 5km: 2/5

A good stage to start making differences and crown the first yellow jersey

Stage 2: San Lorenzo del Escorial - Bola del Mundo: High Mountain: 117km: 5/5
Navacerrada (1st cat.): 6/5/3/7/2/6/7/6/10/8/8/7/5
La Najarra (1st cat.): 2/2/7/8/7/6/6/5/5/5/3/5/3
Bola del Mundo (H.C): 4/3/7/4/2/4/6/6/7/6/10/7/8/7/7/13/13

The second day, first mountain stage, 2 1st categories and an H.C. climb to La Bola del Mundo. The two first climbs can give a good amount of points for the red jersey.

Stage 3: Toledo - Ciudad Real - 172km: Flat: 2/5: 171km
Argés (4th cat.): 3/6/4/2/3
Marjaliza (3rd cat.): 2/2/2/4/9/4

First stage for sprinters, a flat, not to long stage to Ciudad Real.

Stage 4: Ciudad Real - Córdoba - 194km: Flat: 2/5
Puertollano (4th cat.): 5/5
Brazatortas (4th cat.): 4/-1/5/3
Horcajo (3rd cat.): 3/1/2/7/6/1
Ventillas (4th cat.): 1/3/5/1
Azuel (4th cat.): 4/6/4/4

The second flat stage leads us to Córdoba, where the favourites can start to rest to what is coming next day...

Stage 5: Alcalá La Real- Veleta: 118km: Mountain: 5/5
La Zubia (1st. cat): 4/6/11/10/11/10
Pico de Veleta (H.C): 5/4/-1/3/12/10/10/8/7/11/-2/6/-1/8/4/1/7/8/8/8/7/6/7/4/6/7/6/7/6/8/8/9/5/7/8/8/8/8/9

One of the queen stages, a first category looks easy when we look at the 35km climb Veleta, the highest paved road in Europe

Stage 6: Marbella - Cádiz: 210km: Flat: 2/5
San Roque (4th cat.): 2/2/-3/-1/4/4
Los Barrios (3rd cat.): 3/3/3/2/4/4/2
Vejer de la Frontera (4th cat.): 2/2/6

After the shock, a flat long stage follows, the riders beg for the rest day

Stage 7: Jerez de la Frontera - Huelva: 215km: Flat: 1/5
Arco de la Frontera (4th cat.): 3/3/3/2
Camas (4th cat.): 3/3/3/2

Another long stage, 210km after the rest day, Huelva is the finish place, the riders can look at the sunny portuguese Algarve

REST DAY - ALBUFEIRA (PORTUGAL)

Stage 8: Faro - Alto da Fóia: 209km: Medium Montain: 4/5
Malhão (2nd cat.): 11/8
Vermelhos (3rd cat.): 2/7/6/2
Malhão (2nd cat.): 11/8
Vermelhos (3rd cat.): 3/8/6/2
Malhão (2nd cat.): 11/8
Alferce (3rd cat.): 8/6
Alferce 2 (3rd cat.): 5/8/8
Monchique (3rd cat.): 6/7/6/2/2/2
Fóia (2nd cat.): 5/6/5/5/7/5/5

First stage in Portugal and the Algarve shows what it has to give: Hills. The sequence Malhão - Fóia is a good test for the favourites. Riders who want the red jersey have a good stage to earn precious points.

Stage 9: Almodôvar - Évora: 169km: Flat: 1/5
Alvito (4th cat.): 4/4/2

Now going through the warm Alentejo, a flat stage where the sprinters should win again, but a good escape could catch sprinters off guard.

Stage 10: Lisboa - Figueira da Foz: 202km: Flat: 2/5
Rio Maior (4th cat.): 2/1/5/4
Aljubarrota (3rd cat.): 2/6/4

Another day of monotony with sprinters once again battling for the win at Figueira da Foz

Stage 11: Águeda - Vale de Cambra: 46km: ITT: 4/5
Decide (2nd cat.): 2/4/9/5/8/8/7
Talhadas (2nd cat.): 8/8/3/4/6/7/4

To me, de most decisive stage, an hilly ITT to show who is the strongest rider, but the riders should keep some energy left to the last mountain stage

Stage 12: Seia - Penhas Douradas: 121km: Mountain: 5/5
Torre (H.C) - 7/7/9/8/7/6/5/6/-1/-4/5/8/7/8/8/5/4/7/2/8/7/5/3/2/-2/3/5
Penhas da Saúde (H.C) - 5/7/2/8/4/9/7/10/10/8/7/5/6/8/6/3
Penhas Douradas (1st cat.) - 2/4/22/16/9/8/9

The queen stage, (next to the Veleta one) that will give us the final winner of this amazing race, the Serra da Estrela gives us its hard mountains. Another stage to the riders interested in the red jersey.

Stage 13: Aveiro - Porto: 105km: Flat: 1/5

The last stage in this tour, short, easy and for sprinters, the riders can finally go home after two intense weeks.

OVERALL VIEW:
2x INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIALS
7x FLAT STAGES
3x MOUNTAIN STAGES
1x HILLY STAGES

RS Coesitz presents:

Israel Cycling Tour - ICT

11 stages right through Israel! This tour is suitable for any kind of team. Sprinter, Classic, Mountain or Time-Trial-Specialist, everyone can win stages here and with its diverse profile, also the classement and the jerseys are open to any kind of rider. Israel is always worth going there - your vote for the ICT!

Stage 1a:
TTT
mountain: 1-1-2-6-4-5-5-3


Stage 1b:
flat
Karmel: 3-6-4-7-1-8-9-3-4


Stage 2:
Hilly


Stage 3:
Flat
Carmel: 3-5-3-3-7
Horvat 2-0-7


Stage 4:
Hilly
Khirbet Raimond 2-3-2-2-6-2
South Lahav Reserve 5-2--1-7


Stage 5:
Hilly


Stage 6:
Hilly


Stage 7:
Mountain H.C.
Finish Scorpion Ascent: 5-4-12-10-3-4


Stage 8:
Hilly
Nahal Abu Reserve: 10-10-10--13
Tsurei HaYe´elim Reserve: 4-6


Stage 9:
Mountain/HC
Aljoun Castle: 4-7-3-8-4-8-4-5-3-6-4-3-8-4-6
Aljoun Forest: 5-10-9-9-3--2-9--1-6-5-1
Finish Mount Tabor: 4-7-9-10-9


Stage 10:
Hilly
Ashtol: 8--4-7-4-3
Ha-Tayasim: 2-11--1-6-10-6-6
Mount Herzl: 6-6-7-8


Stage 11:
ITT

Lately had a discussion:

"Ok, after designing the Campeonato... should I really invest the effort to design a December Tour?"
- "Well, C4F desperately needs a fantastic December Tour. Just look at the bullshit others are presenting"
"Yes, yes, but will people vote for a second tour of mine?"
- "Mimimi. Get rich or die trying, Gipfel."
"But there are no ideas. I put everything into Andes."
- "South America?"
"No. I mean, I put everything into Andes."
- "Latin America?"
"We have that every year again. Boring."
- "Africa?"
"Too complicated. Much research needed. Don't have that much time."
- "Australia?"
"Pah, each December the same stuff"
- "So what now?"
"Not sure. What do you think of .... ?"
- "Of what?"
"SPIH?"
- "SPIH !"
"SPIH !!!"
- "SPIH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

....
....
....

- "Ehm, Roby is going to kill you."
"Fuck it."
- "You sure? Many people have trouble with him."
"Okok, let's name it SPIH Nostalgia to give him comfort."
- "Yes. And give him some copyright."
"Alright, alright, everything for the Donkey."

So, after the most famous December Tour - SPIH 09 - I proudly present SPIH 17. We will hop over 13 islands over 13 days. It will be 1 ITT, 3 Flat Islands, 5 Hilly Islands and 4 Mountain/HC Islands. In total 1,880km and 19,830 meters to climb.

Stage 1 - Huahine Nui (ITT) - 26km - 290hm - 26min
We start with a hilly individual time trial, which will be important for the favos because the south pacific does not provide for super long mountain finishes. But actually only the first half is hilly (between -11% and +9%) and then it gets flat (between -1% and +1%).


Stage 2 - Raiatea (Hilly) - 125km - 840hm - 71min
Typical island stage. Mostly flat with a few hills. Last hill is +6, +8 at km 118. Ideal for a hill sprint or an attack.


Stage 3 - Tahiti (Hilly) - 179km - 1460hm - 105min
Already a first test for the favos mountain skills. Belvedere de Taravao is 3, 7, 7, 4, 6, 11, 7. But with 20km to the finish line a hill sprint is most likely.


Stage 4 - Niue (Flat) - 102km - 290hm - 63min
Really flat but as it is a super short stage and ends with a -4% km, some action is possible.


Stage 5 - Upolu (Hilly) - 137km - 1620hm - 98min
Now it gets really hilly with Mount Fiamoe. However, the last sieb-km is km81, so this might actually become a mass sprint.


Stage 6 - Savaii (Hilly) - 193km - 1250hm - 104min
Mostly a flat stage but the last km could provide some attack. The last hill is +3, +5, +3, +2, +3


Stage 7 - Tongatapu (Flat) - 120km - 160hm - 71min
Simple short flat stage on Tongatapu. Action is guaranteed because a rest day follows, but should be quite easy for the sprint teams.


****************************************************************
REST DAY
****************************************************************

Stage 8 - Vanua Levu (Mountain) - 203km - 3220hm - 119min
Week 1 was rather flat, but now the action begins with lots of hills and sieb-km. The short mountain arrival is a +3, +3, -1, +6, +1, +8, +6


Stage 9 - Viti Levu (Mountain) - 136km - 2720hm - 88min
Monasavu goes up to +17%, so this is going to hurt. However, we have 30km from the mountain top to the finish line. Those 30km are hilly, including some sieb-km >6%. But again you need a very strong team to gain time here.


Stage 10 - New Caledonia (Mountain) - 219km - 3860hm - 140min
New Caledonia provides the most mouintaneous stage with 3860hm to climb. The final in Poro is 6, 8, 7, 7, 9, 9, -6 , -9, -7, -9, -11, -7, 0, 0, 0, -1. This stage should go to a climber.


Stage 11 - Malaita (Hilly) - 128km - 1650hm - 128min
This short hilly stage includes only a few sieb-km, the last one is at km112. So the question is hill sprint or mass sprint. Or an escape after 3 Mountain stages?


Stage 12 - Guadalcanal (Flat) - 170km - 720hm - 170min
Before the final stage, riders can regenerate on this flat stage, which should be safe for sprinters.


Stage 13 - Bougainville Island (Mountain) - 141km - 1750hm - 87min
The last stage has the one and only HC-Mountain, which might bring the final decision. Pangunga provides 3, 6, 4, 7, 8, 11, 11, 15, 17, 12. With 20 km to the finish line it is not easy for the climbers, but this should give some time to them. The last 5km are 0, 12, -2, -1, -2.

South Africa tour 2017

DAY 1

Profile -3 -1 3 1 -5 -3 -3 1 2 6 -3 -1 0 0 0 4 1 3 -3 -3 1

DAY 2

Flat
Cat 4 Greenhills 2 3 4 1
IS Springs 1 1 0
IS Evander -2 0 1
Last 10 kms -1 0 -1 0 -1 -1 1 0 -3 -1
Min/tac 183

DAY 3

Flat
IS Volksrust 3 -2 -2
Gold km Newcastle -3 0 4
Last 10 kms 1 0 1 -2 -2 0 -1 -3 0 4
Min/tac 179

DAY 4

Middle mountain
Cat 3 / 3 2 5 4 6 5 6
Cat 3 Snowdon 2 9 8 4 3
Cat 3 / 5 5 6 5 2
Gold km Kwadlamini -3 -1 -4
IS Lothini Village -6 -6 0
Last 20 kms 7 3 -3 -2 2 5 5 -3 -3 2 -1 1 -2 1 2 1 2 -1 -1 -3
Min/tac 193

DAY 5

High mountain
Cat 3 / 6 3 2 4 3 5
Cat 3 / 6 5 9 3 2
Cat 4 / 11
Cat 1 Newton Peak 5 3 2 7 7 7
IS Cedarville 4 1 -1
Gold km Matatiele -1 1 0
Min/Tac 206

DAY 6

Middle mountain
Cat 3 / 12
Cat 3 / 2 4 6 7 6
IS Rossouw 1 3 1
Gold km Indwe 0 2 -1
Last km from 184 to END -1 -5 -2 -1 -3 -1 4 -8 -2 0 0 0 -1
Min/Tac 179

DAY 7

Middle mountain
Cat 4 / 2 5 4 2 2
Cat 3 / 13
Cat 2 / 7 7 5 2 7
Gold km Fort Beaufort 0 1 2
IS Great Fish River natural reserve 0 -18 0
Last kms from 187 to END 0 3 4 4 -1 -6 2 2 -4 -1 1 4 1 0 -1 -3 -5 -1 -2
Min/Tac 180

DAY 8

Flat
Cat 4 / 2 5 4 2 2
Cat 4 / 4 6 4
IS Kinkelbos 1 -1 -1
Gold km Wells Estate 0 -1 0
Last 10 kms -1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 -1 0
Min/Tac 136

DAY 9

Middle mountain
Cat 4 Van Standes n.r. 8 3 2
Cat 4 Jeffreys bay 1 3 5
Cat 4 / 4 6 -2 4 2 Kareedouw
Cat 4 Covie 5 6 5
IS Humansdorp 1 1 1
Gold km Thornham 0 1 0
Last 10 kms -8 -5 -4 -2 0 -1 0 1 0 2
Mit/Tac 218

DAY 10

Hight mountain
Cat 4 / 3 8 4 2 3
Cat 2 Cradok Peak 6 6 4 -2 -1 7 8 10 7
Cat 2 / 6 8 8 0 7 8
Cat 1 Seweweekspoortpiek 2 2 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 2 3 4 2 4
IS George 0 0 2
Gold km Calitzedorp -4 -4 -3
Last kms from 165 to END 1 -4 -2 -6 -1 0 2 -1 -3 -2 3 0 1 2 1 2 2 3 3 4 3 3 3 2 4 4 2 4
Min/Tac 159

DAY 11

Pavés/Flat
Cat 3 Tradouw Pass 5 5 7 8 3
Montagu IS -3 -2 -1
Gold km Barrydale -3 -3 2
White roads sector -3** -2*** -1** -1***
Last kms 10 kms -3 -2 -1 -1 -1 0 0 0 0 -1
Min/Tac 82


Flat
Gold km Hermon 0 0 1
Last 10 kms 0 0 -2 0 0 -1 1 0 0 0
Min/Tac 109

DAY 12

Cat 3 Splitskop 5 4 0 5 5 7 3
Cat 2 Eagle Nest 4 3 7 0 9 7 2 **
Cat 4 Mt. Rhodes 6 6
Cat 4 Kloof Rd 2 9 6
IS Wolfgat n.r. 0 1 2
Gold km Simon s Town 0 2 2
Last kms from 195 to END -12 -6 -1 -4 0 1 -1 3
Min/Tac 174

DAY 13

Profile 0 -4 -2 -2 -2 1 -1 0 0 2 -1 -1 0 1 -1 1 0 0 0 2 -1 2 8 10 9 -4 4

VUELTA A GUATEMALA

VUELTA A GUATEMALA ETAPA 1 : FLAT

http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... ension=c4f
VUELTA A GUATEMALA ETAPA 2 : MIDDLE MOUNTAIN

http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... ension=c4f
VUELTA A GUATEMALA ETAPA 3 : FLAT

http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... ension=c4f
VUELTA A GUATEMALA ETAPA 4 : MIDDLE MOUNTAIN

http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... ension=c4f
VUELTA A GUATEMALA ETAPA 5 : FLAT

http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... ension=c4f
VUELTA A GUATEMALA ETAPA 6 : ITT

http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... ension=c4f
VUELTA A GUATEMALA ETAPA 7 : MOUNTAIN

http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... ension=c4f
VUELTA A GUATEMALA ETAPA 8 : FLAT

http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... ension=c4f
VUELTA A GUATEMALA ETAPA 9 : MIDDLE MOUNTAIN

http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... ension=c4f
VUELTA A GUATEMALA ETAPA 10 : MIDDLE MOUNTAIN

http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... ension=c4f
VUELTA A GUATEMALA ETAPA 11 : MOUNTAIN

http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... ension=c4f
VUELTA A GUATEMALA ETAPA 12 : MIDDLE MOUNTAIN

http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... ension=c4f
VUELTA A GUATEMALA ETAPA 13 : MOUNTAIN

http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... ension=c4f

Wisata Jawa

A tour around the volcanic island of Java. The first half covers the western parts of the island and goes from the region of Jakarta through Banten and Western Java.
The second half starts in Surabaya East Java and makes its way through Yogyakarta to the beautiful Dieng Plateu in Central Java.

The tour is going to last for 14 days the eighth being a rest day and 2 half stages on day 11.
There are 4 Flat stages, 4 Medium Mountain stages, 4 Mountain stages , 1 Team Time Trial and 1 Individual Time Trial






The first stage is a flat one around the Jabodetabek metropolitan region.
There are no difficulties with just 3 intermediate sprints and no climbs at all.

Mintact: km 148
Last 5km: 0/0/0/0/0





The second stage goes from Balaraja to Pandeglang. A lot more difficult than the first one, but could still go to the sprinters

Mintact: km 125
Ciomas: 1km of 5%
Mandalawangi: 10km, 4,2% average, 7% max
Last 5km: 3/2/4/-2/1





Third stage is a difficult team time trial around Pandeglang. The route is quite hilly with the most difficult part coming 2 km before the end with a 5% gradient for one km.





Stage 4 is going to have the first real battles in the hills. There are 7 relevant hills in the last 50km.

Mintact: km 144
Gunungkentjang: 9km, 1,9% average, 6%max
Cat 3: 8km, 4,1% average, 8% max
Cat 4: 2km, 6% average, 8% max
Cat 3: 3km, 7,3% average, 10% max
Cat 3: 2km, 6,5% average, 8% max
Last 5km: -6/-2/0/0/-1





Stage 5 should be one for the sprinters again, but there are a few difficulties to overcome.

Mintact: km 159
Bantargadung: 2km, 5% average, 6% max
Warungkiara: 3km, 4,3% average, 6% max
Cat 4: 7km, 2,4% average, 4% max
Parakansalak: 4km, 2,8% average, 6% max
Rancamaya: 3km, 3,3% average, 6% max
Last 5km: 1/1/1/1/-2





The sixth stage is the first real mountain stage, but probably the easiest of the four.

Mintact: km 160
Puncak Pass: 28km, 4,4% average, 9% max
Ciherang: 5km, 5,4% average, 7% max
Campaka: 10km, 5,1% average, 7% max
Rawabogo: 8km, 7,5% average, 13% max
Ciwidey: 6km, 4,2% average, 6% max
Last 5km: -5/-5/-6/-4/-3





Stage 7 is a difficult mountain finish, which could see the first bigger gaps before the riders get their well deserved rest.

Mintact: km 120
Kamojang: 9km, 8,8% average, 19% max
Nagreg: 3km, 7,3% average, 11% max
Palintang: 10km, 8,6% average, 13% max
Tangkuban Perahu: 9km, 7,1% average, 10% max
Last 5km: 9/9/10/9/5





Rest Day

Now it is time for a rest day and a transfer from Bandung to Surabaya



After the rest day the favos can relax a bit. Apart from a 14km ascent in the middle of the stage, there are no difficulties with the second half being almost completely flat. Sprinters could be in trouble, but keeping them away for 100km is a difficult task.

Mintact: km 174
Rojopasang: 14km, 4,8% average, 8% max
Last 5km: 0/0/0/1/-1





On the tenth day the classics should have the best chances. There are 5 difficult hills, but they aren't long enough or too far away from the finish to gain a lot of time.

Mintact: km 190
Kertowono: 7km, 6,4% average, 10% max
Cat 3: 9km, 4,7% average, 7% max
Cat 2: 9km, 5,8% average, 8% max
Klepu: 3km, 7,3% average, 13% max
Last 11km: 7/8/0/3/-3/-2/-4/-5/-1/-3/0





The first half of day eleven is a short and easy flat stage and the last chance for the sprinters. There are no difficulties of note.

Mintact: km 96
Last 5km: 0/0/0/0/0





The second half stage is more of a challenge. The riders will have to ride 31km from Tulungagung to the Wonorejo Dam on their own. The first 20km are flat, followed by a short and not too difficult hill. This should be one for the specialists

The hill: 1/2/4/1/3/2/6/4





The grand final of this tour starts with a short and brutal mountain stage. The climbing starts after about 30km and doesn't stop until the end. If there was time to appreciate the cultural value, the riders could take a look at the two Buddhist temples on the western slopes of Mount Lawu that they are passing, but that's also where the climbing gets the most difficult.

Mintact: km 93
Poncol: 11km, 5,8% average, 8% max
Cemoro Kandang: 16km, 7,1% average, 11% max
Candi Sukuh: 13km, 5,6% average, 18% max
Candi Ceto: 7km, 8,6% average, 17% max
Last 5km: 13/5/6/11/17





The second to last day looks almost easy in comparison. This time there are six difficult hills and a finish at the World Heritage Site of Borobudur.

Mintact: km 168
Gunung Tugel: 3km, 8,7% average, 16% max
Terong: 4km, 7,5% average, 15% max
Dlingo: 4km, 6,8% average, 10% max
Gunung Lanang: 8km, 7,1% average, 15% max
Plono: 8km, 4,8% average, 14% max
Cat 4: 4km, 6% average, 8% max
Last 5km: -1/-1/1/-1/0





The last day is going to be the decider. The climb up to the Dieng Plateau takes the riders up to the highest point of this tour. The finish is reached 9km after the mountain price at Lake Warna, which provides an amazing scenery for the award ceremony.

Mintact: km 151
Gunung Merbabu: 10km, 6,5% average, 12% max
Cat 3: 3km, 11,3% average, 19% max
Kledung Pass: 8km, 5,9% average, 8% max
Dieng Plateau: 14km, 7,3%, 13% max
Last 10km: 13/-2/3/5/5/-1/1/-1/2/-2



Telaga Warna at the finish:

Last year, was Atlantico - Pacifico . For this winter , i propose to go back to Atlantico Coast, with PACIFICO - ATLANTICO

FIRST STAGE
From Panama City to El Valle. There is a hill in last kms , but not very hard ( average 5% )



STAGE 2
Team Time Trial from Anton to Penonomé



STAGE 3
Flat stage from Santiago de Veraguas to David


STAGE 4
Flat stage from David in Panama to Ciudad Nelly in Costa Rica



STAGE 5
First hard stage in Costa Rica from Ciudad Nelly to Uvita . Very difficult stage with sometimes slopes at + 15%



STAGE 6
Hard stage again from Uvita to San Pablo . Last kms % 6 8 10 8 5



STAGE 7
2 Half stages
Stage 7a ITT from Cartago to San Jose


Stage 7b Short hilly stage around San Jose



REST DAY IN SAN JOSE



STAGE 8 Flat stage



STAGE 9 Hard stage Last kms :4% 1% 7% 7% 11% -4% 1% 15% -3% -8% 7%



STAGE 10 Flat stage from Villareal ( Costa Rica ) to Rivas ( Nicaragua )






STAGE 11 From Granada to Jinotega ( Nicaragua ) Mountain Last kms -8% -5% -4% +19% +7%


STAGE 12 From Somoto ( Nicaragua ) to Talanga ( Honduras )


STAGE 13 Last Stage

UGANDA TOUR

CircleCycle wrote: Las Islas Canarias

Details to follow, stay tuned

Took me more time than I thought but now it is time to present you my proposal for Dec.Tour

Las Islas Canarias


8 Riders per team will enjoy (or maybe not) the mild temperatures and the beautiful scenery in a very challenging tour with the following stages

1 TTT
1 TT
3 flat stages
3 middle mountain stages
2 HC stages with downhill finish
3 HC stages with mountain top finish

divided on the 7 main islands, and for that reason maybe too hard for a typical december tour (feel free to use the discussion/critics thread).




The Tour starts with a 6km TTT at Maspalomas finishing at Playa del Inglés

Immediately followed by the 2nd halfstage bringing the riders from Playa del Inglés to Las Palmas, the biggest city of Canary Islands. Along the way we have the first GPMs, so the fight for the prestigious mountain jersey can start. Categorized as flat stage, sprint teams will have a lot of work to do, if they want a MS.

cat.3 at km 50 4 1 4 3 3 4 2 3 3 3 5 5
cat.3 at km 61 5 5 4 3 7 8 1 0 1
cat.4 at km 79 4 7 6 6 7 4
cat.4 at km 88 6 6 2
cat.4 at km 103 1 5 3 4 4

Santa María de Guía de Gran Canaria

The 2nd stage, just 83km but the first mountain top finish, will show who of the gc favos is trying to get an early advantage over his rivals.

cat.3 at km 46 Alto de Temisas 2 4 8 7 5 7 2 -1 3 7 5 7
cat.2 at km 66 Cruz Grande 4 6 6 6 3 6 8 6 6 7
cat.1 at km 83 Pico de las Nieves 3 2 3 4 9 8 10 4 2 3 2 8 4 6 6

Peloton goes east and here we have the Lanzarote stage. Starting at the very far north-east point, going around the Island with a finish after 167km at Arrecife.

cat.4 at km 65 Femés 5 5 3 1 0 4 2 7 -1 1 2 2
cat.4 at km 104 Montanas de Fuego 2 1 0 1 2 1 3 1 2 3 2 3 3 3 3 3
cat.4 at km 147 Teguise 2 5 6 5 5

Stage 4, the Fuerteventura stage, ist the last stage in the Provincia de Las Palmas. Unlike stage 1b this is a "real" flat stage with 156km.

cat.4 at km 47 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 6

Tenerife welcomes the teams with a challenging stage with start and finish in Puerto de la Cruz. 135km, 4 categorized climbs and a 42km downhillfinish will guarantee an interesting race.

cat.1 at km 40 Puerta de Erjos 5 8 5 6 5 4 6 4 3 6 6 6 5 4 6 4 5 5
cat.3 at km 47 Santo Ángel 6 8
cat.1 at km 77 Narices del Teide 5 5 5 6 7 5 6 5 6 5 6 4 6 6 6 6 7 5 5 6 6 5 5 5
cat.1 at km 93 El Tabonal Negro 3 7 4 4 6 6 6
Icod de los Vinos, where the climb to Puerta de Erjos begins

Santiago del Teide is the host city of the ITT. 20km up and down, yet alone very difficult, and even more so, for the riders who gave too much yesterday.

-4 -5 -6 -6 -5 -5 -4 5 4 4 0 4 6 7 8 9 -2 -7 -6 3


RESTDAY with a transfer to El Hierro for further adventures.....

The El Hierro stage starts the 2nd week of the tour. And it is not going to be easy, as the riders will face 5 categorized climbs and a mountain top finish on Malpaso after 166km.

cat.1 at km 22 3 5 5 5 5 5 7 5 6 6 6 6 5 7 5 2 6 6 6 7 5 5
cat.3 at km 42 4 13 13
cat.1 at km 97 4 7 8 8 3 6 7 1 9 6 7 6 8 7 6 6 6 4 6 6 4 6 4 4
cat.1 at km 139 4 5 7 6 4 6 7 6 7 7 7 6 8 7 7 6 8
cat.1 at km 166 6 6 5 6 6 5 5 3 5 4

Back to Tenerife there follows a 139km transfer stage from Los Christianos to San Andrés.

cat.4 at km 10 La Camella 5 7 6 6 6
cat.4 at km 56 Pozo Yaco 4 3 5 5 5 6 7

Mountain jersey fighters will have their go again in the stage to Santa Cruz, when after a difficult start the stage finishes with a circuit in the capital city of Tenerife. The climb "Boque de la Esperanza" is the first part of the climb to Izaña, but we decide to take a turn at the crossing of TF-24 with TF-523 and go back to Santa Cruz. 178km

cat.2 at km 11 El Bailadero 4 4 7 6 6 6 7 6 3 7 8
cat.3 at km 15 5 1 8 5
cat.3 at km 21 Pico del Inglés 7 6 6
cat.1 at km 55 Boque de la Esperanza 3 5 6 2 8 8 4 4 6 5 6 6 7 6 6 4 5 6 7 3 6 3
cat.4 at km 92 4 5 6 3
El Bailadero

The last stage taking place at Tenerife offers no gpm, but 5 intermediate sprints on what should be the last "easy" 107km of this tour.


The La Gomera stage, penultimate stage offers 4 categorized climbs in the first 100km and a 10km downhill finish. Will any of the gc-favos take a risk before the final showdown?

cat.2 at km 22 Degollada de Peraza 3 6 4 5 6 6 5 7 6 9 8 7 7 7 6
cat.1 at km 50 Alto del Contadero 4 7 8 7 7 8 7 7 7 8 7 9 7 5 8 2 9 7 6
cat.2 at km 81 Alto del Jimonete 3 6 7 4 5 6 6 4 2
cat.2 at km 100 Alto de la Cumbre 1 7 6 8 8 3 7 4 7 1

The final stage. 223km with the final climb to the Roque de los Muchachos will decide the winner of "Las Islas Canarias". 6 climbs and 5 intermediate sprints and on the way to the decisive 40km climb, could make the fight for red and green jersey interesting.

cat.3 at km 10 3 2 1 4 4 6 5 8 3
cat.4 at km 26 1 2 1 2 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 1 3 3
cat.4 at km 31 1 5 2 3
cat.2 at km 65 2 2 6 7 7 6 5 6 6 6 6 6 3 2 2 2 2
cat.2 at km 100 1 6 9 6 7 6 6 1 2 3 2 2
cat.2 at km 120 2 3 2 8 7 7 5 7 5
cat.HC last climb 6 8 8 6 4 7 9 8 6 8 10 4 7 7 3 7 10 7 5 8 8 11 6 5 7 7 7 6 8 9 3 -2 -1 1 -4 -4 -3 8 6 9

2007 for the first edition of the December Tour vote, RKL designed a fantastic Tour of Ethopia. That incredibly didn't win the vote, we went to the Balkans instead. Bojan Krizaj then won that December Tour I think.
Anyway, what better country to make a 2017 proposal than Ethiopia? None, so here is the

Tour of Ethiopia

First, some general information:

-No intermediate sprints, the Ethiopian cycling federation demands that their youth become climbers, by adding intermediate sprints they feel we might mislead their youngsters and have them rethink their career goals. So only GPMs for this December Tour.
- 9 riders
- At least 30 km minute tact
- No pavé. Even if parts of the stages are on dirt road. Most of it is paved, but not all.

But let's start with the stages! Since I'm too stupid (and lazy) to find a cool site like Gipfel to post a nice overview map..... if he tells me how I might try that too, and add it later.

Stage 1: We start with a long TTT. Since 2017 hasn't really seen many TTTs, time to offer something for TTT teams. 52 km, at the start a climb, slightly hilly for another 10 km, then mostly flat, and the last 20 km downhill. It will be a very important day for the GC, while you most likely won't be able to win the Tour here, you can definetly lose it. The team will need to have a bit of all, some mountain for the start an especially downhill for the long end. The danger is dropping riders in the early climb and then in the long downhill.

We start in Harar. A historical city, according to UNESCO the fourth holy city of Islam, with 110 mosques. And people feed hyenas.
The finish is Dire Dawa. It was founded only in 1902, since it was regarded as too expensive to lay the railway up to Harar, so a railway station was built here, and in the end the city grew out of it.


Harar, where the race starts: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 186913.jpg
Here the downhill starts: Title of this picture in google earth: Donkeys on the way to Dire Dawa. Still the full team as you can see.

Dire Dawa: Some other team training.http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 192451.jpg



http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... n=eth17_01

Stage 2:From Dire Dawa to Mieso, 156 km, slight up and down at times, but no steep hill, highest incline 4%. So normally an easy sprint, if the sprinter teams are fit from the TTT at least. Mieso is a pretty nondescript town with roughly 10'000 inhabitants. Started off as a railway station too.
Erer, : http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 042068.jpg



http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... n=eth17_02

Stage 3: Mieso to Awash, 80 km away, but we take a detour over the mountains. So 176 kmThe hardest climb is the second one, that finishes in the village of Arba Reketi. In the others there's only 1 km at 6% or more. So while this is a middle mountain stage, it's certainly not a very difficult one. And with last siebable km at 123, the sprinters have a chance to fight for the victory again. Basically a question of how many are there, how much they are ready to invest, since the next stage will be a sprint stage again.

View from Asebe Teferi: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 869425.jpg
Gelemso: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 611444.jpg
Awash, the train station on the old original line: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 754675.jpg


http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... n=eth17_03

Stage 4

Another flat stage. 194 km from Awash to Assela. We stop at the bottom of the town, otherwise it would have finished with a 6... Like this no 6+% km in the whole stage, but a series of 5, 4 of them in a row, from km 164. Which could put some sprinters into trouble, low mountain and or low flat could prove deadly, since we can expect many classics or climbers in the race, that could try to drop some sprinters.

After 30 km today we reach Metehara, and more importantly Lake Basaka. It's a growing saline lake. The original road is already submerged, a new road further around the lake has been built. And according to Wikipedia it is expected that in 20-30 years the city of Metehara will have to move.
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 626798.jpg
We then pass Adama, the second biggest city of Ethiopia, but don't go into the city.
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 880176.jpg
The end will be in Assela, the hometown of Haile Gebreselassie! Although he probably comes from the surroundings, Assela itself has 100'000 inhabitants.
Street in Assela, but we finish before this climb. http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 787238.jpg

http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... n=eth17_04

Stage 5

The first mountain stage, it's long, but normally easy to control for the climbers. A cat 2 early, short but rather steep, followed by a longer, but not as steep cat 2, then it's basically flat before the final downhill down to the Shebelle river. Followed by the steep last climb, which is in 2 parts, the last part 10 km is steep.
The start is in Bekoji, the hometown of Kenenisa Bekele, and actually a lot of the ethiopian long distance runners are from around there. The finish in some town that happens to be at the top of the Shebelle River canyon.

Bekoji: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 380388.jpg
REgion around Bekoji, but some km south of it, we won't actually pass here http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 951429.jpg
The canyon we'll pass at the end of the stage: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 599920.jpg


http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... n=eth17_05


Stage 6:

The next mountain stage. Short and sweet. Or sweaty? Another one climb stage, but in a way it's 2 climbs. First we reach the Sanetti Plateau, a 15 km climb, the middle part the hardest. But then on the plateau itself, there are 16 flattish km, between +4 and -4, before we turn right to climb the fourth highest mountain of Ethiopia and highest peak of the Bale mountains, Tullu Dimtu. Seems to be the third highest road in Africa too. So with the long ride on the plateau, it offers different options for climbers, go early? Wait for super classics?

On the Sanetti plateau:
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 616489.jpg
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 701669.jpg
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 666055.jpg
Tullu Dimtu: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 051452.jpg


http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... n=eth17_06

Stage 7:

The third mountain stage in a row. First we climb the Bale mountains again, this time from the other side, partly through the wild Harenna forest up to ca 2500, after that the landscape becomes more barren. After crossing the Sanetti plateau, the long downhill, a flat part, followed by 2 rather shortish and not too steep climbs, followed by the final downhill. A stage that could very well be won by superclassics too, since the 2 final climbs aren't really difficult. Coming back seems possible, anticipating too. But of course the climbers have their chances too, a lot depends on what the managers want.
The start is in Dola Mena, the finish in Washa, there's nothing to say about either place.

Harenna Forest:
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 379581.jpg
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 787976.jpg
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 616507.jpg

Some more Sanetti plateau

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 673859.jpg
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 925142.jpg
As you can see the road on top seems to be paved, the one from the south, that we climb today isn't, that's still a dirt road, the one from the north should be paved nowadays. (No guarantee, if necessary RKL will pave it just for the race, like he did with the dirt road to Tullu Dimtu and some other roads in Ethiopia.

Dinsho, the center for toursim in the Bale mountain regions. Lots of trekking etc starts from here:
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 691026.jpg
Road towards the last pass http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 962574.jpg



http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... n=eth17_07

After this stage will have the rest day, but no transfer, since Washa is so small that we are not sure there are any hotels the teams will transfer to Adaba the same evening, since that's only around 20km away, shouldn't be a problem

Stage 8:
After first 3 hard stages, then the rest day, the sprinters will be back at the front. An rather easy stage, we pass through the Great Rift valley basically. The only problem could again be a 5+5 combination at the GPM at km 178. The 6-7 combination at the first GP in Aje shouldn't really bother the sprinters too much, too far from the finish line.

Outside Adaba: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 319281.jpg
Near Aje: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 627631.jpg
Shone: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 889311.jpg



http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... n=eth17_08


Stage 9:
The ITT. 39 km, mostly flat, a light climb, up to 4 followed by a light downhill up to -5 in the second part. Clearly one of the decisive stages of the Tour.
We start in Shone, where we arrived the day before, and there is not more to mention about it even one day later. Sodo on the other hand is a city of 76'000 inhabitants. Or 109'00. Or 153'000. Depending on which language you check on Wikipedia. My guess is the middle number probably seems about right.

Sodo, overview: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 216017.jpg
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 215989.jpg


http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... n=eth17_09

Stage 10

Stage 10 is the 4th, but already last HC stage. And the one with the most altitude difference. 3690 meters. The climbing starts once we cross the Omo river. The first climb is the hardest of the day. But after that there are not many flat km, only 3 "0", but of course more flatish kms. Since this should be the last chance for climbers, we can hopefully expect lots of action during this stage.
The arrival is in Chida, again, nothing really exiting to write about it.

Omo River. They are building a dam around there, so soon the road will pass somewhere else I guess. Hopefully not yet.
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 212437.jpg
Near the top of the cat 1 climb: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 664706.jpg
Close to Chida, but not that close either... http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 212396.jpg


http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... n=eth17_10

Stage 11:

Stage 11 is a middle mountain stage, we haven't really had many until now. Stage 3 could be one, but more likely a sprint of some sort, either hill sprinters or all sprinters. Stage 7 could be one too, but again, could be for climbers as well. This one here is too easy for climbers, but with 2 late 6, at the 2 GPM, to hard for pure sprinters. Hill sprinters or classics sprinters or an escape looks likely. The start of the stage is hard, as you can see from the profile, followed by a long flat part, and the 2 GPMs in the end.

Jimma http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 151059.jpg
Near the finish: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 488030.jpg
Welkita: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 416789.jpg


http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... n=eth17_11

Stage 12:

Another middle mountain stage. Similar to stage 11 in that the start is the hardest. But this time the flat part in the middle is less flat, and much shorter. The final climb to Jejeba is easy, only 2 km at 6%, the rest flatter, which normally should guarantee the win of a classic rider.

Road near the start: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 488028.jpg
After the last climb: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 879121.jpg



http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... n=eth17_12

Stage 13:



The final stage, the 4th official, possibly the 5 stage for sprinters. We start in Tulu Bolo, so a short transfer before the stage, then go to Addis Abeba, where we have 5 flat laps.

Tulu Bolo http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 805654.jpg
Approaching Addis Abeba: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 804838.jpg
Approaching the finish: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 520118.jpg
Near the finish (might be just after the finish): http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 189975.jpg
Finish around here: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/phot ... 444775.jpg

http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... n=eth17_13

So, to finish the presentation:
1 TTT
1 ITT
4 HC stages, 3 mountain top arrivals
3 middle mountain stages (but one to me looks good for sprint too)
4 flat stages

In theory there's something for everybody, in practice as usual with Big Donkey designs the classics might not really have that many chances for stage wins.
For the GC, you need TT, mountain, reg, downhill. Not necessarily in that order. And not all for the winning rider, a lot of it can be outsourced to teammates. The favorite, usually RKL designs are for a fight Huber vs climbers, this time I think a strong Habermacher, a classic with TT, has good chances too. With the right team.
The Donkey btw is not fully convinced of this design either, last real GC stage 10? (OK, stage 12 can be interpreted as one too in a way). Twice the same thing for sprints, 5+5 vs 5+5+5+5... once ok, twice 2 much of the same. Mountain stages ok, even if one kind of sucks, one is kind of boring.. .bah.