Tour of Britain 2013 route

No_Ta_Doctor
No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,646
edited March 2013 in Pro race
Looking good, finally some decent riding in The Lakes.

http://thetour.co.uk/

no Hardknot/Wrynose, but Honister pass is no slouch, if I've read this map right.
http://thetour.co.uk/tourofbritain/292.php#.UUtaZcpfaSo
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Comments

  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    That looks good.

    I've said it before, but I think they are doing a good job of moving the race onwards and upwards, particularly considering the limitations of budget and the way it's funded.

    Also good news that their may be a women's one day race this year and a 5 day race in 2014.
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    It looks like they have settled on Caerphilly Mountain as their trademark climb.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,646
    RichN95 wrote:
    It looks like they have settled on Caerphilly Mountain as their trademark climb.

    Twice this time. Though I think that's a bit cheesy.
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  • thistle_
    thistle_ Posts: 7,218
    Will the lions be out for stage 3 to quicken the pace a bit?
  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    We shouldn't moan, it's so much better than it was 5 years ago.
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • simonhead
    simonhead Posts: 1,399
    Excellent, I live in Epsom so that's me sorted for 21st
    Life isnt like a box of chocolates, its like a bag of pic n mix.
  • cammer
    cammer Posts: 55
    Great to see a proper Lakes route. Will be out for that one!

    3rd time lucky for a nice day because the last two round here have been dreadful.
  • Richmond Racer
    Richmond Racer Posts: 8,561
    No tA Doctor wrote:
    RichN95 wrote:
    It looks like they have settled on Caerphilly Mountain as their trademark climb.

    Twice this time. Though I think that's a bit cheesy.


    Personally I've never caerphillied for it much. Alternatively they could ride to Cheddar
  • petemadoc
    petemadoc Posts: 2,331
    woohoo, good route through Snowdonia too. Passes a few miles from my house over one of the best climbs in the area.
  • campagone
    campagone Posts: 270
    And the Llanberis finish and Machynlleth start aren't too far from me so no excuses not to go and watch this year.
  • Richmond Racer
    Richmond Racer Posts: 8,561
    Sweetspot have responded rather well to being made to tender for new ToB contract, non? Inc the womens' race plans...
  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,598
    so sweetspot won the rights to keep hosting then? i wonder how/if the contract changed.
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • Richmond Racer
    Richmond Racer Posts: 8,561
    gsk82 wrote:
    so sweetspot won the rights to keep hosting then? i wonder how/if the contract changed.


    This year's the last year of the existing contract - BC putting it out to tender for 2014 onwards
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,646
    cammer wrote:
    Great to see a proper Lakes route. Will be out for that one!

    3rd time lucky for a nice day because the last two round here have been dreadful.

    Any idea what Honister is like from West to East? I think it's the other way that's got the really steep sections - so some dodgy descents there (watch the cattle grids).
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  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    thistle (MBNW) wrote:
    Will the lions be out for stage 3 to quicken the pace a bit?
    It will be a dilemma for them. Do they chase the skinny climbers who will be slower but have less meat on them or the bigger but faster TT specialists?
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • thegibdog
    thegibdog Posts: 2,106
    Honister Pass from the West is 2.2 miles at 7% according to Strava. Seems to get steeper and steeper as you go up - averages 10% for the last 1.3 miles and looks like it's 15%+ for the last half a mile with sections above 20%. Should be interesting!

    Looks like a good route even though less of it is local to Manchester this year.
    https://gibworth.mypixieset.com
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,646
    RichN95 wrote:
    thistle (MBNW) wrote:
    Will the lions be out for stage 3 to quicken the pace a bit?
    It will be a dilemma for them. Do they chase the skinny climbers who will be slower but have less meat on them or the bigger but faster TT specialists?

    They prey on the weak and frail, the very young and the very old, they can spot weakness a mile off.

    And this is why Andy Schleck won't be riding the ToB this year.
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  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,646
    thegibdog wrote:
    Honister Pass from the West is 2.2 miles at 7% according to Strava. Seems to get steeper and steeper as you go up - averages 10% for the last 1.3 miles and looks like it's 15%+ for the last half a mile with sections above 20%. Should be interesting!

    Looks like a good route even though less of it is local to Manchester this year.

    Cheers. You have now been designated to confirm Strava's accuracy. ;-)
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  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,462
    Should be some excellent scenery with the Lakes stage, a finish under Snowdon, the Mach to Caerphilly stage appears to go along the Llyn Clywedog road which is a great cycling road with some decent climbs and then through the Beacons and then the Devon stage. Haytor seems an odd place to finish though! To top it all we have Stoke :lol:

    It should be a decent route to get some good racing and hopefully the quality of the field will continue to improve.
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,820
    Looking for some of the Worlds contenders that cba with the La Vuelta with some of those stages.

    225km through the Lakes, Bettini would've loved it
  • thegibdog
    thegibdog Posts: 2,106
    No tA Doctor wrote:
    thegibdog wrote:
    Honister Pass from the West is 2.2 miles at 7% according to Strava. Seems to get steeper and steeper as you go up - averages 10% for the last 1.3 miles and looks like it's 15%+ for the last half a mile with sections above 20%. Should be interesting!

    Looks like a good route even though less of it is local to Manchester this year.
    Cheers. You have now been designated to confirm Strava's accuracy. ;-)
    I'll take a sextant with me next time I visit the lakes. :)

    I'll be honest, when I saw the summit finish headline and mention of the lake district on road.cc, I was hoping for Great Dun Fell at the end of a day including the Honister, Hardknott and Kirkstone passes. :twisted:
    https://gibworth.mypixieset.com
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,646
    thegibdog wrote:
    No tA Doctor wrote:
    thegibdog wrote:
    Honister Pass from the West is 2.2 miles at 7% according to Strava. Seems to get steeper and steeper as you go up - averages 10% for the last 1.3 miles and looks like it's 15%+ for the last half a mile with sections above 20%. Should be interesting!

    Looks like a good route even though less of it is local to Manchester this year.
    Cheers. You have now been designated to confirm Strava's accuracy. ;-)
    I'll take a sextant with me next time I visit the lakes. :)

    I'll be honest, when I saw the summit finish headline and mention of the lake district on road.cc, I was hoping for Great Dun Fell at the end of a day including the Honister, Hardknott and Kirkstone passes. :twisted:

    See, if the Italians manage to get hold of the race then that's exactly what they'd do. Sounds like ASO want it though.
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  • r0bh
    r0bh Posts: 2,436
    thegibdog wrote:
    Honister Pass from the West is 2.2 miles at 7% according to Strava. Seems to get steeper and steeper as you go up - averages 10% for the last 1.3 miles and looks like it's 15%+ for the last half a mile with sections above 20%. Should be interesting!

    Looks like a good route even though less of it is local to Manchester this year.

    Honister from the West is not as steep as some of the other Lakeland passes, and is very picturesque. It's a harder climb from Seatoller I think where the bottom section is very steep indeed. Hope they patch up the road along Derwentwater before the peloton heads that way as it is terrible!
  • andyrac
    andyrac Posts: 1,197
    That's a good route, and to be fair to the organisers, they've improved it year on year. What is in the best interests of the race? To stay with the current organisers, or ASO or RCS???

    I do wonder what either of the latter would with it?
    All Road/ Gravel: tbcWinter: tbcMTB: tbcRoad: tbc"Look at the time...." "he's fallen like an old lady on a cruise ship..."
  • JackTar
    JackTar Posts: 77
    Definitely get out for the Epsom-Guildford stage, but do I want to go to Snowdonia as well? Hmm... maybe if I take a few days and do some climbing.

    Here's a thought - the ToB should have something to make it different and distinctive. If the grand tours can have ITT and TTT stages, why couldn't the ToB have a track stage? Or even more than one, there's Glasgow, Manchester and London to choose from. I'm thinking probably ITT on the track, but something more creative might work too, like team pursuit for time bonuses :D

    *lights blue touch paper and stands well back*



    Edit: I'm not jack tar, didn't realise he was logged in to this iPad.
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    Looks like very good route. Nice.

    Pity it's just cat. 2.1 again
  • Kendal Black Drop
    Kendal Black Drop Posts: 638
    Glad to see that the Lake District day (Stage 2) is a bit more exciting than last years Cumbrian stage.

    I think I'll watch it passing the top of Dunmail Raise then ride home quickly to catch the finish in Kendal.

    I just hope the weather is slightly better than last year.
  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,598
    Id expect ASO would increase the races profile dramatically. I don't see any reason they wouldn't aim for world tour status within a few years and that would never happen with sweetspot. Whether local councils and police would allow the extra "disruption" I don't know.
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • hommelbier
    hommelbier Posts: 1,556
    ASO showing interest according to BBC

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/21906851
  • Cleat Eastwood
    Cleat Eastwood Posts: 7,508
    Only get a dull TT - but on the plus side get to go to the safari park. :lol:
    The dissenter is every human being at those moments of his life when he resigns
    momentarily from the herd and thinks for himself.

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