Campeonato de los Andes 2019

[Gipfelstuermer]

August 2019. Giro, TDF & Vuelta are designed. Season Calendar looks great. Time to talk about Off-Season Calendar. Especially about the Campeonato, because it takes a lot of time to design it.

I am offering to design the Campeonato for the third time. After 2017 and 2018, I have some nice ideas, but I don't want to promise too much before designing. Just a few things I can mention already:

1.) Focus on one country in the Andes, which has mostly been forgotten in previous Campeonatos.
2.) Introduce new famous mountain passes, which were forgotten in previous Campeonatos.
3.) A heavy first week. In the past, the first week was sometimes too easy. Guaranteed, this time it will be hard.
4.) Guarantee a Campeonato for pure climbers, but I will allow some TT and/or TTT as well. Just the main decision should be in the mountains and not in the TT.
5.) Include some sterrato and dirt roads to keep it realistic for the road condition in the area.
6.) I will finish before October 31, so it doesn't come as a surprise in November.

If I can do 2019, I will also promise two things for the future:
1.) I don't participate in December Tour contest 2019.
2.) In 2020, somebody else can do the Campeonato, if somebody else wants to do it. For example, Roby applied in 2018 for 2020, but later withdrew his application. If nobody wants to do 2020, I can do it. But I think after 3 times Campeonato, somebody else should get the chance. Also, that would allow me to participate in December Tour contest 2020

So can I do the 2019 Campeonato, please?

[Alkworld]

Go for it!
Once I have time for it (2025 maybe), I'd be interested in designing it as well again. I'm already curious, which country you have in mind, although I think we covered them all over the years. And in case you do a TTT (which I think is a great idea), keep in mind to do it rather early in the tour.

[Gipfelstuermer]

I proudly present Campeonato de los Andes 2019.

The Campeonato will mainly take place in CHILE, plus a few stages in ARGENTINA. In recent years - mainly due to Camino de la Muerte - the race focus was very often on Bolivia, while Chile was often forgotten, although it has the largest stretch of Andes mountains and has plenty of exciting mountain passes, as you will see in this year's version. The race direction is from South to North.

GENERAL FEATURES OF THE 2019 VERSION
- 2 Half stages, 1 ITT, 1 TTT, 2 Flat, 5 Hilly, 7 Mountain & multiple Pave/Dirt Road stages: Something for everybody
- Something for everybody, but focus on 7 (SEVEN!) HC mountain stages, including 4 mountain arrivals
- Dirt Roads: 7 Stages include realistic sterrato parts.
- 2,625km to be completed (Third longest Campeonato since 2010)
- 50,460m to be climbed (Fourth largest Campeonato since 2010)

KEY HIGHLIGHTS 2019
- Abra Cadabra: Finish on the highest mountain pass ever used in C4F. Abra del Acay at 4.972m.
- Valparaiso stands for Pavé: A stage finish, an ITT and a stage start on Valparaiso's famous Pavé.
- HC HC HC HC: 4 HC-Mountains included, which is insane as the rule for HC Category is "2000hm >6% OR 2500hm".
- Cerro Torre RT: Cerro Colorado, Cerro El Roble, Cerro Pelado included to honor Cerro, the creator of the Campeonato.
- Alkworld: Stage 11 honors Alk, who created the stage in 2013, but didn't include it in the Campeonato (nobody knows why).
- Impossible to control: The mountains and the length of stages make it impossible. That's what people love (and hate) about Andes.

THE MAP

andes2019.png (433 KiB) Viewed 4982 times

GENERAL DESIGN RULES

Mountains:
HC-Cat.: 2000hm >6% OR 2500hm
1-Cat.: 1500hm >6% OR 2000hm
2-Cat.: 1000hm >6% OR 1500hm
3-Cat.: 500hm >6% OR 1000hm
4-Cat.: 250hm >6% OR 500hm

Sprints:
3 IS on Flat stages
2 IS on Hilly stages
1 IS on HC stages

THE RACE

Et.1a (Flat): Osorno - Parque Nacional Alerce Costero - 83km - 370meters to climb - 46.5min

The Campeonato 2019 starts with two half-stages which couldn't be more different. The first one from Osorno to the Parque Nacional Alerce Costero with 80 flat km is probably a gift to sprinters. Wait... Sprinters? This is the Campeonato! So probably no sprinter around and everything is possible.

´
Full Profile here



Et.1b (Hilly): Parque Nacional Alerce Costero - Hueicolla - 61km - 1430meters to climb - 58min

The second half-stage goes through the Parque Nacional Alerce Costero with three GPM on only 60km. The dirt roads in this part will be paved until the start of the Campeonato, so no sterrato yet. Looks like a stage for Classics, but with a tough classic stage and a TTT following, the chance is there for escapes as well. In any case, the winner will most likely take yellow.


Full Profile here


Et.2 (HC / Pave): Hueicolla - Reserva Costera Valdiviana - 187km - 4040meters to climb - 112min

For the second stage, the organizers did not have enough money & time to pave all the dirt roads, so it will become a tough race through the hills of the Parque Nacional with a lot of sterrato. Some teams will try to stay fit for the TTT, others might focus on this stage if they don't have hopes for GC anyways . Even a GC attack is thinkable - if you have a lot of Reg.


Full Profile here


Et.3 (TTT): TTT Curinanco - Valdivia - 38km - 700meters to climb - 37.5min

The TTT on stage 3 is the first important showdown for the GC teams. 38km on a hilly route (700hm) from Curinanco to Valdivia require very good energy management, especially with an HC stage preceding and two 220+km following.


Full Profile here

Et.4 (Hilly): Victoria - Cunco - 222km - 3120meters to climb - 123min

Stage 4 leads the peloton away from the coast over 222km towards the Andes mountains. It is a classical transition stage and may be ideal for escapes after a hard TTT and another important GC stage ahead. However, time gaps might not be that large yet, so giving a lot of time to an escape seems dangerous in terms of GC.


Full Profile here

Et.5 (HC / Pave): Cunco - Reserva Nacional Alto Bio Bio - 235km - 4370meters to climb - 135min

Is stage 5 the first real test for GC riders? 235km with a lof of up- and downhill suggest so, but here in the South of Chile, the Andes are not as high and as steep as in the North. Riders will have time to admire the beautiful Reserva Nacional Alto Bio Bio perhaps. But after 4 hard days and ahead of a flat stage and then a restday, this stage will be something for strong teams with good reg. A GC attack seems likely, although the finish is not very steep and on dirt road.


Full Profile here

Et.6 (Flat): Reserva Nacional Alto Bio Bio - Victoria - 201km - 1720meters to climb - 106min

Riders will be craving for the restday, but first they have to complete the third 200+km stage in a row. The stage is very flat (for Andes stages) and should be O.K. to control ahead of the restday. However, 200km is very long, riders might be very tired already and in the past, some teams have been very smart to attack GC on such a day. As always in C4F, it depends on the peloton and the managers.


Full Profile here

+++++ RESTDAY +++++ RESTDAY +++++ RESTDAY +++++ RESTDAY +++++ RESTDAY +++++

Et.7 (Hilly / Pave): San Antonio - Valparaiso - 159km - 2570meters to climb - 94min

The second week kicks off with a short stage for Andes standards. The riders have to complete hilly 159km along the Chilean coast before they arrive in the UNESCO Historic Quarter of the Seaport City of Valparaiso. Not only a beautiful sightseeing spot, the Historic Quarter provides three steep cobble climbs. (Marquez at +7****, Cajilla +6**** and Urriola at +5***) Will GC teams control before the ITT? Will an escape take the opportunity? Or do pavé experts take this stage?


Full Profile here

Et.8 (ITT): ITT Valparaiso - Valparaiso - 37km - 870meters to climb - 36.5min

Stage 8 gives the Time Trial specialists another chance and will create some gaps in the GC. The riders have to complete hilly 37km and will learn to love the Valparaiso pavè once more. Only 2 of 37km are cobbles, but they might make a difference. Overall, this might not even be a TT for pure TT riders. Some uphill, downhill & cobble skill is necessary to win this stage.


Full Profile here

Et.9 (HC / Pave): Valparaiso - Cerro El Roble - 171km - 4390meters to climb - 101min

The weaker pavé riders will be happy to leave Valparaiso on stage 9 and head towards the larger mountains. Cerro El Roble (at least the name reminds us of the genius designer Cerro Torre RT) will be a nice showdown for the GC contenders. On a road with up to 15% steepness, the steepness is for sure more important than the sterrato, so this will be a race for pure climbers, most likely. However, GC contenders have to be careful. Another, longer, steeper climb follows the next day.

Full Profile here

Et.10 (HC / Pave): Cerro El Roble - La Parva - 244km - 4720meters to climb - 135min


The beginning of stage 10 provides some relaxed downhill, but even the "flat" part provides two Cat.3 climbs with multiple sieb-km. Riders will need to complete 200km before they arrive at the bottom of La Parva. The peak is not the highest yet, but maybe the most difficult stage finish of the 2019 Campeonato. Roughly 40km climbing up to 14% on a 244km stage will hurt. The road is paved until the skiing village, but continues to the summit on a few sterrato km. This is clearly a day for climbers - if they are fit enough from the previous days and can control 244km.


Full Profile here

Et.11 (HC / Pave): Santiago de Chile - Mendoza - 244km - 5120meters to climb - 160min

Tired of long mountain stages already? Better be fit for the second 244km stage in a row. This stage was invented by Alkworld in 2013 and for mysterious reasons did not make it into the Campeonato 2013... Let's honor his design skills and include this genius stage. Cristo Redentor de los Andes is a monument on top of a very long climb. The climb could be done on a flatter, paved road, but we are taking the old, original route including a bit of dirt road towards the monument. From the top of the mountain pass, the riders will enjoy a long downhill road to Uspallata, where they enter into two more climbs before the final descent to Mendoza. A strong climber/GC attack is possible and the descent to Mendoza could provide a very nice downhill battle.


Full Profile here

Et.12 (Hilly / Pave): Mendoza - Observatorio Astronomico El Leoncito (CASLEO) - 173km - 2910meters to climb - 93.5min

After three long HC stages, riders will be happy about this "relaxed", "short" 173km to the Observatorio Astronomico El Leoncito. The final climb to the Observatorio sounds tougher than it is. The dirt road is never steeper than +5%.


Full Profile here

Et.13 (HC): Tres Cruces - Pascua Lama - 177km - 7020meters to climb - 112min

On stage 13, the riders will have the possibility to visit the controversial mining project Pascua Lama on the border between Chile and Argentina at an altitude of over 4,500 metres. They can decide themselves, if they want to protest (will it be a Friday?) the mining, protest the 7020 meters to climb on this stage or collect some gold on the top of this most difficult 2019 stage measured by meters to climb. The roads, by the way, I assume will be 100% paved for the Pascua Lama project.


Full Profile here

Et.14 (Hilly): Tafi del Valle - San Miguel de Tucuman - 196km - 2300meters to climb - 116min


If you survived stage 13, you have high chances to finish Andes 2019. This is the only goal for most the riders. Finish without dying. For those who are still in the race, stage 14 provides some relief with an initial 1500m downhill from Tafi del Valle before the riders enter a very hilly passage towards San Miguel de Tucuman. Probably the last chance for an escape or at least for a non-Climber.


Full Profile here

Et.15 (HC / Pave): Salta - Abra del Acay - 197km - 4810meters to climb - 112min

Abra Cadabra. Stage 15 is no Champs-Elysee-Style Champagner race. It is essentially a 197km climb from Salta to the highest mountain pass of the Campeonato: Abra del Acay at 4,972m. And to make it even more fun: The last 45km are sterrato, sterrato, sterrato. Here is a nice picture of the road. A final showdown for the best teams and GC contenders!


Full Profile here


CRITICS
Just one obvious criticism: No Camino de la Muerte. The managers love it, but the riders hate it.Two years in a row no Camino de la Muerte. But simply impossible to reach Camino de la Muerte from the South of Chile without ridiculous transfer distances. However, this year features much more sterrato than many previous versions, so you cannot complain about both and nobody will miss the Camino. Plus, hereby, I make it a rule for 2020 Andes. No matter who designs it, it has to include Camino de la Muerte.

I take advice if you find an error or have an opinion about min-tact. Other than that, take it as it is and provide your own criticism. (Or invest your time in designing December Tour.)

Gipfel

[Robyklebt]

Donkey comment!

Excellent presentation, very nice to have all the links to google street, the mine project etc. Haven't clicked on all yet, since one of the things my computer hates most (and he hates a lot of things, old age) is google maps, which often sends him into a prolonged thinking mode, a deep thinker he is). But very nice, very interesting.

- Abra Cadabra: Finish on the highest mountain pass ever used in C4F. Abra del Acay at 4.972m.

Hahahahahahahahaha. 4972 hihihihihi. Highest c4f, hahahaha. Probably not even top 5? Or barely. Khardung La, ok, we had in in the wrong fake altitude of 5600, while it's nowhere close to that, it's still 5300. Lalung La, over 5000 as well.

- Valparaiso stands for Pavé: A stage finish, an ITT and a stage start on Valparaiso's famous Pavé.

Looking at these 3 pavé links.... what rating would you give Arenberg? 25? The 2 **** look hard to classify, due to the size of the cobbles, I would still think **** is very high, the last one looks a clear * to me... But ok, designers decision.

CRITICS

Interesting title, are you telling the critics (persons) what criticism is allowed and what not?

Just one obvious criticism: No Camino de la Muerte. .......Plus, hereby, I make it a rule for 2020 Andes. No matter who designs it, it has to include Camino de la Muerte.

Stupid ass rule.

[Robyklebt]

Ah, more important: Times? Last year 4, same this year? Which times?
Last year
9h 5
14h 7
19h 7
22h 13
Opinions?

[Pokemon Club]

Ah, more important: Times? Last year 4, same this year? Which times?
Last year
9h 5
14h 7
19h 7
22h 13
Opinions?

10-15-19-22 this year ?

[Gipfelstuermer]

Mhhhh, 10-15-19-22 would be same as Vuelta, so maybe we should change it a bit?

I have three suggestions:
1.) 9h instead of 10h: Maybe 9h is better for the morning-guys because Andes has some long stages and I understand some want to have lunch at 12h. However, I do not know, maybe somebody from the morning-guys can answer, if they prefer 9h or 10h?

2.) 5 times: For the evening, my impression is that it is recently much stronger than morning and afternoon. Even Guanxi has 28 teams in the evening, only 10 in morning and afternoon together. That would justify 5 versions (9-15-19-21-23). (And I am playing Guanxi afternoon but will for sure play Andes evening)

3.) If only 4 times, test 20h-22h instead of 19h-22h: If we only want 4 versions, I am thinking 9-15-20-22 as an option? I think 20h-22h might be more balanced than 19h-22h. With 19h-22h i expect participation be like 8 teams / 18 teams or somethink like that.... So 20h-22h might be more balanced. I think so because 22h Giro and 22h Vuelta were the biggest editions of these GT's. But, maybe there are many people who can only ride 19h and cannot ride 20h... never heard somebody say that, but I'm not sure.

Ok, so I would like to test 9-15-20-22 or do five version 9-15-19-21-23. But if you decide 10-15-19-22, I can even live with that.

@Roby: Thanks for feedback on the design. Maybe you are right with pavé. If more agree with you, I will change from ****/*** to ***/**, but * would be too low in my point of view. Btw, I am also looking for feedback regarding Min-Tact Stage 11. Currently before both last mountains, but makes it a 3h stage basically. Any opinion?... Last but not least, Camino de la Muerte rule for Andes 2020: Stupid ass rule, but some teams demanded that already in 2018. Well, rules can be broken

[Robyklebt]

The proposal I sent to Luques has 10-15-19-22 as times, just took the first thing somebody proposed...but of course that can be changed, once the PDF is posted.

20-22 to me though looks extremely bad. You say 28-10 evening-morning afternoon, correct. But it's also correct that it's 18h=10, the 2 others 9.... so putting the 19 to 20... it's going in the wrong direction If not 19-22 to me would rather be 18-22 then. The problem with 18 (and 19 too) is actually not the time, but Freudenfeuer. People tend to be scared shitless of 90 climbers, especially if they are in strong teams, doesn't matter if the manager is inept (not Freudenfeuer, talking about the Donkey and Zafzaf now), they still try to avoid those 90 guys. So if that time will be bad, we can blame him, not the time itself..... But I would go for 18 or 19 plus 22, if we go for 4 editions.
5... 23 seems late if you say you have 3 hour stages, but ok, if there's a lot of requests for 23, 21, 5 editions, the big risk is that it will just all be smaller and less fun.

Long stages, ok then 9-14 better than 10-15? But yes, let the morning-afternoon guys talk about it here or once the PDF preview is online.

[GreenMotion]

I would be glad if there would be a tour between 16 and 19 o'clock

Thanks in advance

mfg
Jäger

[CrazyV]

21 or 22 o'clock i prefer

[fantasticos]

what About 5 times? (10-14-18-21-23) probably i can only ride at 23h or later.

[Rasmussen]

9:00, 10:00 14:00 in that priority.

[Alkworld]

Clearly 9am here.