Volta Rio de Janeiro 2011
Stage 1: Angra dos Reis - Itaguaí (173 km)
The first stage leads the peloton over very hill terrain into the direction of the city Rio de Janeiro, which is also the capital of the state also called Rio de Janeiro.
This should be a stage for classic riders, classic sprinters.
Stage 2: Itaguaí - Miguel Pereira (168 km)
Stage 2 heads northwards away from the Atlantic and into the highlands in the Hinterland of the state Rio. Miguel Pereira is a little town at the end of a 8 km hill with a slope of 5,6%. The last 4 kms are flat so that this stage should become a fight between 80-70's and maybe strong climbers. But also good classic riders wont lose much time today.
Stage 3: Petrópolis - Magé (167 km)
Stage 3 is again a mountaineous one which starts in Petrópolis and goes curvy into the direction back to the coastal region. Finish will be in Magé after a long downhill and a 20 km long flat part. A stage for classic sprinters or escapers.
Stage 4: Magé - Rio de Janeiro (186 km)
Stage 4 goes from Magé to Niteroi and from there over the
Ponte Pres. Costa e Silva into Rio de Janeiro where the peloton takes some rounds through the hills of the city. The final kms lead the peloton along the famous beaches Ipanema and Copacabana right into the last difficulty of this tour. The Morro do Leme is a 3 km hill with 5% slope on the first km and then a little downhill. The last km then becomes very steep again with a slope of 10% which can maybe decide this tour. This should be a stage for an attacking climber on the last km. But this is maybe not enough to win the tour for a climber.
Please introduce this tour in the Calendar, maybe in December or January 2012? I hope there is a possibility to start the tour between the week on a Monday or Tuesday...