Campeonato de los Andes 2013

[Alkworld]

The Campeonato committee is proud to present this year's Campeonato de los Andes. As chief designer of the course, Alkworld was chosen this year. After years of preparation and deep research in the Andes, he was finally allowed to get a shot. This year's route will start in Chile and then follow a route to the North, in total crossing five countries, many beautiful cities and even more awe-inspiring mountains during 15 stages and finally finishing in Ecuador. The committee had an eye on having some great races for the fans alongside the roads and making the transfers between the stages not too tiresome for the riders (they'll be tortured on the road already).

Stage 1: Valparaíso - Santiago de Chile
This year's Campeonato will start at the Pacific coast in the beautiful city of Valparaíso, one of the oldest Spanish settlements on the continent. The road will climb a few minor hills and finally finish in Santiago, the capital and biggest city of Chile, on the main street Alameda (Av Bernardo O'Higgins) in Santiago de Chile for a possible mass sprint.

Total length: 196 km
Minute tact: km 158
Total ascent: 2560 m

[Alkworld]

Stage 2: Los Andes - Mendoza
During the second stage, the Campeonato will already cross the Andes from West to East for the first time. We'll start in the aptly named city of Los Andes in the foothills of the Andes on the Chilean side. The riders will then cross the border to Argentina at the Christ statue on almost 4000m on the way to Mendoza. They will pass places that feel like the end of the world, the Aconcagua (the highest peak of the Americas), Puente del Inca and Uspallata on the way, all of them already having been a part of previous editions of the Campeonato. The race will end in Mendoza, home of Argentina's best wine, which some of the riders may still enjoy with a steak after a long race.

Total length: 258 km
Minute tact: km 207
Total ascent: 4900 m

[Alkworld]

Three more stages are ready now, all located in the Salta region.

Stage 3: San Miguel de Tucuman - Cafayate
After a flight from Mendoza to Tucuman, the riders start in the City Centre of Tucuman on their next stage to the wine region of Cafayate. The race starts flat, but then climbs steeply over the first high ridge of the Andes to the finish flat in the pleasant wine region of Cafayate.

Total length: 220 km
Minute tact: km 210
Total ascent: 3240 m

Stage 4: Cafayate - Salta
Today's stage is what we call a rest day in the Andes. Except a few short passages uphill, the race is mostly flat or even downhill. Starting in Cafayate, where the previous stage ended, the road descends slowly down a beautful valley and then heads towards Salta, the most interesting city of whole Northern Argentina. If there's no sprint at that stage, then there may be none at all. After the race, the riders may still enjoy a nice afternoon with steaks and wine before the fun part will end the next day.

Total length: 189 km
Minute tact: km 179
Total ascent: 500 m

Stage 5: Salta - Abra de Pives
From Salta we are going to the next real mountain stage. First, on the shortest way to Jujuy, along a hilly and winding road. After a little detour to the Lagunas de Yala, the road is continuing through the famous Quebrada de Humahuaca and up to the first mountain top finish at Abra de Pives. Most riders will then have to continue to the the start of the next stage, unless they want to camp out in the desert of the Altiplano with little oxygen.

Total length: 228 km
Minute tact: km 194
Total ascent: 4460 m

[Alkworld]

Stage 6: Tupiza - Potosí
After a long transfer from Argentina to the Bolivian border and on to Tupiza, the riders will start another long stage, which doesn't look that hilly, but still shouldn't be underestimated. The race ends on the infamous Cerro Rico in Potosí, a great source of wealth for the colonial masters and a great source of misery for the local people over centuries.

Total length: 251 km
Minute tact: km 219
Total ascent: 4080 m

Stage 7: Potosí - Sucre
From Potosí, the peloton will be heading towards Sucre, the official capital of Bolivia, a pleasant city below the altiplano with more oxygen than most of the places in this country. After following the main road most of the time and a little detour coming into Sucre, the race will end with a circuit through the beautiful historic centre of Sucre and a nearby hill. Usually this should be a perfect finish for strong classic riders.


Total length: 190 km
Minute tact: km 140
Total ascent: 2480 m

[Alkworld]

Stage 8: Cochabamba - Inquisivi
After another transfer from Sucre to Cochabamba, preferrably by air, the real fun is about to start. Forget flat roads, now it's basically up and down all the time, about 12km of total ascent within two days. The race actually doesn't start in Cochabamba but somewhere out in the suburbs to skip the boring flat section. The race ends somewhere in the middle of nowhere after the final climb. Buses (even some ambulances) will then be ready to bring the riders to Coroico at the lower end of the notorious Camino de la Muerte. Have fun!

Total length: 203 km
Minute tact: km 191
Total ascent: 5630 m

Stage 9: Coroico - La Paz
Stage 8 was still pretty harmless compared to what's following then. It's actually the shortest stage (except TT) of this year's Campeonato, but there's a catch: As starting in Coroico (1800m) would be too easy, the race will start in the valley below (around 1100m), climb up to Coroico for warming up, going down again and then up the Camino de la Muerte (Death Road) all the way to La Cumbre (ca. 4600m). After the descent to La Paz, Central Bolivia's biggest city and cultural and economical centre, it's still not over. The riders will have to complete a circuit between La Paz Centro and El Alto three times before going up to El Alto again and finishing in the market area around the Che Guevara memorial in El Alto.

Total length: 168 km
Minute tact: km 109
Total ascent: 6750 m

[Alkworld]

Stage 10: Lima TTT
After a day of rest and a flight from La Paz to the Lima, the capital of Peru, the next task for the remaining riders will be a 66km long team time trial first through the suburbs of Lima and later through the historic city centre and on to Miraflores. Apart from the sheer length of the race, the other major difficulty today is a steep hill in the beginning of the TTT.

Total length: 66 km
Minute tact: km 1
Total ascent: 940 m

Stage 11: Paramonga - Huaraz
Stage 11 involves a long climb from the coast north of Lima to one of the high valleys of the Andes, although the climb isn't very steep. As some teams may need some rest from the tough TTT the day before, this may be a good stage for escapers or even for a sprinter team.

Total length: 206 km
Minute tact: km 196
Total ascent: 4110 m

Stage 12: Around Nevado Huascaran
Another real highlight of this year's Campeonato will take place in the Cordillera Blanca with a stage circumnavigating the Nevado Huascaran, the highest mountain of Peru. The race will start in Carhuaz, then climb to the Laguna Cancaragá, down on the other side, anti-clockwise around the Nevado Huascaran, and back up again, passing the Lagunas de Llanganuco and down to Yungay, where the race will end. The climbs here are not extremely steep either, but the sheer length and the physical conditions the riders are facing in the high altitudes will make it difficult.

Total length: 211 km
Minute tact: km 152
Total ascent: 4640 m

[Alkworld]

Stage 13: Guayaquil - Riobamba
After a direct charter flight from Anta to Guayaquil and a good night of sleep, the riders will start on the Malecón 2000 in Guayaquil (today without the risk of having their bikes stolen) and head towards the Andes again. After a long, but not too steep climb, there's just another short hill on the way to Riobamba, where the race in the city centre.

Total length: 231 km
Minute tact: km 178
Total ascent: 4370 m

Stage 14: Avenida de los Volcanes
The next stage is a real highlight from the sightseeing point of view with most of Ecuador's active and extinct volcanoes lining the way. The race starts in Riobamba, perched between El Altar and Chimborazo, Ecuador's highest peak. The first difficulty will be the climb up the slopes of Chimborazo. On the way down to Ambato, the currently active Tungurahua will come into sight before the road climbs again in the direction of Laguna Quilotoa. But before reaching that one, the road turns and continues down to the valley again, passing the Illinizas and Rumiñahui and finally climbing up to the Cotopaxi with views of Cayambe, Antisana and the Pichinchas.

Total length: 236 km
Minute tact: km 211
Total ascent: 4760 m

Stage 15: Quito
After two tough weeks it's time to celebrate. The final stage will take place in a circuit through Quito, starting and finishing in Parque La Carolina, climbing up one side the valley Quito is situated in, heading down to the historic centre passing all the important sights on the way and going back North to Parque La Carolina.

Total length: 171 km
Minute tact: km 135
Total ascent: 2520 m

[Alkworld]

I'm done for now, but I'm not 100% happy with the result. However, I also really don't know exactly why. Any comments by you?
- Is it too much?
- Are the real highlights already too early?
- Not enough stages for classic riders / sprinters / climbers?
- Too many transfers?

By the way: For details of the stages, pls use the following links:
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5
Stage 6
Stage 7
Stage 8
Stage 9
Stage 10
Stage 11
Stage 12
Stage 13
Stage 14
Stage 15

[Rockstar Inc]

lack of sprinterstages is ok....it's the Campeonato de los Andes
i'm not really objective but i would have liked a mountain ITT while the race too...

in general: a lot of effort to create the tour...ok, i guess you'll have done some work while the year...but doesn't matter...effort is effort

[Alkworld]

lack of sprinterstages is ok....it's the Campeonato de los Andes
i'm not really objective but i would have liked a mountain ITT while the race too...

in general: a lot of effort to create the tour...ok, i guess you'll have done some work while the year...but doesn't matter...effort is effort

I was thinking about a quite difficult ITT in Quito as last stage, or even a simple sprint stage, just couldn't really decide

[Robyklebt]

It suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks goat balls!

Ok maybe not, haven't really really looked at it yet, will do that and post a negative assessment later!

[Robyklebt]

Ape destroys this creation!

Negative:
1: The name on the designer. Alworld. A multi! (Yes, yes, he had a second account that never rode even a single race, but to check the spectators chat after the race!!! Multi, Multi!= He should be banned, not let design the Andes. Banned until he's 20'000 points behind Petit Singe in the eternal classification! Mmhh, ok maybe that's a bit too long, let's say 5000. Otherwise the poor guy will have to wait too long)
2: 16 days, thought the Andes standard was 15? 14 and 1 rest day? But ok, will survive that
3: The TTT: a) IMO a TTT is not necessary every year in the Andes. Now third year in a row with one. Ok, as a superb TTT specialist I won the last 2 editions (but not the TTTs, grr), so.... But still, IMO the Andes don't need a TTT every year. IMO a TT would have been better.
b) Especially after the TTT last year this year one wasn't necessary. The one last year was superb, most interesting, hard to manage TTT I ever rode. Was brilliant. So this year a TTT can only lose the comparison, this one does too.
c) Too late. Yes, everybody will tell me that the UCI rules sucks, but this one actually makes lots of sense. A TTT has to be in the first x days of the race. 5 maybe? Don't remember. Here on day 11, stage 10, after the rest day. And with the stages we had before quite a few teams risk not having 9 riders anymore. With that Alk basically favors old and big teams a lot. A new, newish team simply can't put up a team like Petit Singe can for exampe. 3 climbers, probably 2 classics, around or just below 70, maybe a third one, then 2 60-80. 1-2 riders left won't be too low in mountain either. A guy with 100 races can't afford a team like that. 2 climbers, 2 classics, then... .50-80... Which will be out sooner or later I guess. If there is no TTT after, that's still ok, but with the TTT... Some teams will very likely have 9 riders left. Other teams will start with 6.
Positive about the TTT is that it's after the rest day, in TTTs at RSF energy is sooo important ,that otherwise it would kind of kill the stages directly ahead. Like that too, some guys will have to pay attention, only double reg, not triple, Rakhat M. can't go under 300, but that's ok.
4: The last stage. A circuit with 9 8.. ok, why not. But IMO the risk is there that finally this will be the decisive stage. Everybody waiting, and waiting, then go all out the last day... decsion on the last day, no problem, but then would be nice to have a 'real' GC stage somehow, profile wise.

My biggest problem is 3 clearly, followed by 4 and 2, while ok, 1 isn't such a big problem, if that dude at least shows up in the afternoon for it! After 2 years it gets boring beating BW in the Andes, rather lose against Alk

Stages:
1 Like it ok. Pretty tough last hill, then not too long to the finish. That's good. Negative maybe that the beginning is kind of hard too. IDEAL for a team like me to sieb, keep riding, control for Tasman, already weaken other teams with less mountain than me. If a group rides in the back, won't be hors delai, but the guys without reg will never be fit again, until they are kicked in a few days. Like the finish, looks good, the start for me would have been better a bit easier. Make it so that the peloton comes to the decisive hill pretty much all together.
2 LIke it too... only thing I don't like is the flat km at the end.. IMO more interesting with the finish directly at the downhill. Makes it an easier GC stage. Like that it still can be one but... 43 km for the top of the last climb to the finish. 33 downhill is long already, add 10 basically flat ones and... in many groups any GC attack in the climbs will most likely be pointless. IN the 10 flat Km any attacker will most likely die. Groups very likely too, if there is a cute litte idiotic 80-70 or a superclassic in the chasing group. So.. finally looks like another classic stage almost. Which is ok, but with that profile a GC stage would have been nice
3 Ok, a transition stage, for escapers or for something like sprinters, classic ones, maybe hill sprinters. A GC stage for the big RSF morons fraction of course.
4 Down, sieb, recovery. For me in this build up here misplaced. 2 in a row? IF the TTT was the next day.. ok, like it, for recovery purposes, here... not really, let's not have a 2 day GC break. Ok, we want have since in the last years the most dangerous Andes attacks in most groups use to happen in flat stages.... Yeah, A is off, lets go kind of SM tactic... other negative thing, we'll have 2 days in a row of that. For me here one easy stage too many. And one more ciriticism, due to the high risk of GC attacks, especially in the Andes where usually there is nobody who wants to control, help control those stages I'd have liked a longer mintact. NOt just 10 km. I would have gone for my usual 30 of course, but here IMO would even make sense. Just give somebody who misses the oh so brillant GC attack because he's smoking, on the toilet, listening to something his wife has to say, masturbating, actually working in the office for a few minutes a smaller "penalty". Only miss 3 km in 3 minutes, not 6.
The general concept, very likely a classic in yellow (is it yellow?) after 4 days, ok, (despite my wish to have nr 2 more climbers friendly), but maybe another stage similar to stage 1 for stage 4 would have been nicer.

5: First mountain top arrival, ok, not much before for a first real GC fight is ok too IMO. One doubt about the last climb? Sure about those percentages, looks like a regular not too steep climb, then all of the sudden 15 0 9 15 6? Looks kind of "suspicious", but can be like that, don't know.
6: Don't really like this one. Another long one, which is ok, but looks like a transition stage with a shirt mountain in the end, Due to the length hard to control, yes, helpers need reg, yes, but... just doesn't excite me really this one. Rather have had something more like a mountain stage.
7 Similar, don't really like that one too much either. Another classic stage, some up and down. It has the potential for GC riding too, but with what follows not that much really.
8 Great stage, possibilites for attacks everywhere. Great.
9 Another great stage, kind of like that the camino de la muerte for once is a bit further away from the finish. Circuit in the end will be decisive One problem with this nice double header here is: Most likely the first one (who I actually like even better) will suffer enormously from the second one. much less action than if it was more isolated. Good though to have 2 hard ones in a row too, it will make those non reg guys suffer automatically. Which the ape approves of. Rakhat can say whatever he wants.

Generally 5-9: Here.... somehow too little happening after 5, then almost too much at once at 8-9. Yes, there needs to be a hard 2 days somewhere, because otherwise we have idiots like Fahrny winning in the end, no reg, but winning. But one thing I learned from the Aix Andes in 11 is that: hard, easy, hard easy hard in the end is more likely to give 3 stages ridden hard than easy hard hard easy hard, which will have 2. But ok, the double hard stuff needs to be there, so good. Just a shame about stage 8 somehow. Other thing I miss here is the downhill arrival. IMO in 9 stages one should have been there.

10 TTT, as I said, don't like it here, don't like it in the Andes at all this year. Stage 1-2 could already kick out some riders. Stage 8+9 will kick out some for sure, just gives a too big advantage to old teams I think. Somewhere a TT, or 2 TTs would have been better.
11 YES! A real Andes stage like I like them. Looong climb, followed by flat, downhill. Ok, here the flat downhill is a bit too long maybe. But there has to be a stage like this in every Andes, so like it. And after the TTT which will cost energy, some GC stuff is not completely out of the question either. Although unfortunately what follows will be too hard. I'd have liked this here a bit more GC friendly, so somehow shorter after the top and no hard hard stage the next day. But ok that's me.... like these type of Andes stages, try the GC attack each year and fail each time, but they are fun! And how they shold be. The first Cerro edition had 3 or 4 stages roughly in this type, so historically it has to be here, at least one. Done, so this stage gets a 10 regardless
12 Finally the downhill arrival. But ape still not completely happy.. .downhill maybe too long? Hihi. Basically a question of reg. We're in the middle of a long series of GC stages, by having the downhill this long, costs more energy, that risks missing the next day, so it makes big GC fights more unlikely. Plus the climb itself is not that hard, so it makes attacks even more unlikely. In the end it becomes a "don't lose time stage". Still prevents 11 from being ridden hard, because if you do on 12 you'll lose more than you gained on 11 (most likely 0 anyway), but isn't too inviting as a attacking stage either really. Most likely either 1 big group, or 2, depending on the size of the whole group 3 groups that then either collaborate or don't.
13: Great stage. Nothing to complain about that one really.
14: Fits here, an "easier" stage with a hard finish, fits nicely after 13 I think. Long term attacks still possible with fit classics and fitter climbers, but just a final fight on the climb possible too. Good.
15: As I said, don't like this end too much, risks becoming another GC stage somehow, which with this profile, compared to the ones before it shouldn't really be. But ok.

10-15... A bit clustered, but somehow due to the profiles AND the clustering 11-12 risk being just some sort of transition stages. Here for example I would have like to see the hard, easy, hard thing. Or since I have the fix idea that 11 should be a GC stage, make it more GC like, keeping the general idea, long up, followed by flat-down, long, but a bit shorter, which offers the GC possibilty if you're ready to invest, then an easier 12, followed by the great 13 and the well fitting 14.

Your questions, my answers in red:

- Is it too much? Yes, one day too many!!!!! Otherwise, no, the Andes should be like this
- Are the real highlights already too early? No. 8+9+13, then 14 are the highlights IMO. 8-9 will suffer from each other, especially 8. 13 will not suffer from much, 14 IMO fits nicely.
- Not enough stages for classic riders / sprinters / climbers?Fits IMO. What I don't like too much is the "clustering". Stage 1-4 risk all being for some sort of classic. 1 sprint, 2 superclassic, 3 escape or sprint classic, 4 the same. Then transition stage clustering, 6+7 maybe I judge them too hard, but somehow they don't really inspire me. 6 probably can be opened up, but to me looks like 2 transition stages used to get north more than stages with a deeper meaning. (why don't kangaroos have pockets on their back?) Then the final "clustering" around stage 13. Here a bit more change would have been nice. Different kind of riders have their opportunities, don't see a problem there at all.
- Too many transfers? Probably yes... A map[ like Cerro used to post, google earth stuff or so would have been nice. Ape just checked a bit with google maps, yep, lots of transfers. Your problem here only that you wanted to put in 5 countries. 3 or 4 would have done it too I think. We had the north, Colombia and Ecuador last year, 2 years ago the south, Chile and Argentina, just focusing on Bolivia-Peru this year would have been ok I think. Or start in Salta, just cut one country, but 3 stages (doing something like stage one, which is a very good start, around Salta, then start and continue north, with less transfers. But ok, in the end doesn't really matter since we don't have the effects of the transfers in the game. But seems you wanted to put everything in... you could have spread that out over 3 or so years, don't think anybody will demand a new designer next year, so..

[Alkworld]

First of all, thanks for all the input. The design is certainly not final yet and I'm really thinking about some changes.

Ape destroys this creation!
Negative:
2: 16 days, thought the Andes standard was 15? 14 and 1 rest day? But ok, will survive that

I think we had both. I had two weeks / three weekends in mind.

3: The TTT: a) IMO a TTT is not necessary every year in the Andes. Now third year in a row with one. Ok, as a superb TTT specialist I won the last 2 editions (but not the TTTs, grr), so.... But still, IMO the Andes don't need a TTT every year. IMO a TT would have been better.

I definitely prefer TTT over ITT, but that's a personal opinion

c) Too late. Yes, everybody will tell me that the UCI rules sucks, but this one actually makes lots of sense. A TTT has to be in the first x days of the race. 5 maybe? Don't remember. Here on day 11, stage 10, after the rest day. And with the stages we had before quite a few teams risk not having 9 riders anymore. With that Alk basically favors old and big teams a lot.

Definitely a valid point I'm thinking about to change. But I'm still a fan of the TTT, but I'd put it at the beginning then. Stage 11 can easily be changed into something "normal".

4: The last stage. A circuit with 9 8.. ok, why not. But IMO the risk is there that finally this will be the decisive stage. Everybody waiting, and waiting, then go all out the last day... decsion on the last day, no problem, but then would be nice to have a 'real' GC stage somehow, profile wise.

I agree that I'm not happy with the last stage, but I still don't know what would be the right way. Luckily, Quito makes it easy to put any kind of stage there, flat, hilly, mountainous, long, short, everything is possible. I'll think about it again.

Stages:
2 LIke it too... only thing I don't like is the flat km at the end.. IMO more interesting with the finish directly at the downhill....

RSF-wise it would be more interesting, but Mendoza is unfortunately still a few km to go (and that's already the shortest way to get there). That was the main reason here.

5: First mountain top arrival, ok, not much before for a first real GC fight is ok too IMO. One doubt about the last climb? Sure about those percentages, looks like a regular not too steep climb, then all of the sudden 15 0 9 15 6? Looks kind of "suspicious", but can be like that, don't know.

Maps and satelite pictures weren't that good in that area, but something close to that is definitely possible, as it's a loooong valley climbing high up.

6: Don't really like this one. Another long one, which is ok, but looks like a transition stage with a shirt mountain in the end, Due to the length hard to control, yes, helpers need reg, yes, but... just doesn't excite me really this one. Rather have had something more like a mountain stage.
7 Similar, don't really like that one too much either. Another classic stage, some up and down. It has the potential for GC riding too, but with what follows not that much really.

I think I made those a bit long anyway, tried to cover too many km too make the finish spectacular for the audience in the streets. Shorter stages would allow small detours up some hills (which actually isn't that simple in the Andes, often roads uphill are one-way)

Other thing I miss here is the downhill arrival. IMO in 9 stages one should have been there.

Ok, a loong downhill finish in stage 2, but there should be more, I agree with that.

11 YES! A real Andes stage like I like them. Looong climb, followed by flat, downhill.

Take a closer look, it's actually not really steep and I'm not sure if that fits your wishes

Your problem here only that you wanted to put in 5 countries.

7 at least

Or start in Salta, just cut one country, but 3 stages (doing something like stage one, which is a very good start, around Salta, then start and continue north, with less transfers.

That actually sounds like a really good idea. I can keep stages 1 and 2 for later and just add two stages within 3-7. That would reduce long transfers and may shorten the distances to cover in single stages.

[Robyklebt]

Don't criticize stage 11!
Ok, thought there were more 6+ in their when first looking, grrr... but it's still an Andes 06 type of stage, so stays a 10!

[Robyklebt]

MOre answers by the ape

15-16 yeah, yeah, no problem wrote that too... I mostly like it better shorter because: 1) Andes are tiring, everyday GC. 2 Andes are for very specialized teams, which usually gives small groups, the longer the race, the smaller the group gets too I think. But no problem with 16 days either really.

TTT yes yes.... personal opinion, mine is better a TT Not sure why the opinion is personal actually, isn't it always. Point is, since my opinion is that a TTT isn't necessary every year wrote that, hoping to convince you of the infinite wisdom of my opinion and maybe not put a TTT in next year or so.... but that of course is up to you still, you're the designer.

Last stage: You'll think it over again, ha! TT, TT! MOuntain stage, mountain stage!!! I don't really know... just felt that this stage, while kind of nice, is almost the worst possible one, makes a classic stage a potential super GC stage

Mendoza.. as I thought, damn Argentines. Ask them to move the city?
Mendoza.. as I thought, damn Argentines. Ask them to move the city?

5: First mountain top arrival, ok, not much before for a first real GC fight is ok too IMO. One doubt about the last climb? Sure about those percentages, looks like a regular not too steep climb, then all of the sudden 15 0 9 15 6? Looks kind of "suspicious", but can be like that, don't know.

Maps and satelite pictures weren't that good in that area, but something close to that is definitely possible, as it's a loooong valley climbing high up.

My problem here isn't the 15. It's the combination that looks doubtful.
15
0
9
15
6
Did a short check yesterday with tracks4bikers, both Google map and OSM . Both showed some flat parts too, but when I checked it on GMap the road is wrong, so ignored that, on OSM the road is correct, and seems the flat part is close to some rather cool switchbacks... One flattish part was just before some switchbacks, but following the valley, another one was kind of in the switchbacks. So to me looks doubtful that it's really 15 followed by 0 followed by 9 and another 15. Personnally I would make a closer review (was pretty fast and oh, ok, saw it yesterday), more tracksforbikers, then google earth etc. To see how it looked etc. And if it looks like it's just measurement errors, which I suspect it is, I would adjust the whole thing. Instead of 15 0 9 15 6 something more regular, which very likely it is. Up until then and after that the climb is pretty regular, getting steeper, then here a strange supersteep km followed by a completely flat one? Looks like a measurement error to me.

I think I made those a bit long anyway, tried to cover too many km too make the finish spectacular for the audience in the streets. Shorter stages would allow small detours up some hills (which actually isn't that simple in the Andes, often roads uphill are one-way)

Actually don't mind some long stages at all.. makes it hard on the favorites in a different way, now they might have to control a flat part for a long time, helpers need reg, not only mountain and downhill like most of the time otherwise.

Or start in Salta, just cut one country, but 3 stages (doing something like stage one, which is a very good start, around Salta, then start and continue north, with less transfers.

That actually sounds like a really good idea. I can keep stages 1 and 2 for later and just add two stages within 3-7. That would reduce long transfers and may shorten the distances to cover in single stages.

All my ideas are good
But as I said, you da boss! You da man! Your Andes, you can do whatever you like. And like the whole thing, but of course I still find things to criticize.

[Alkworld]

Working on some updates now. Quick summary, details will follow soon:
- old stages 1 and 2 are saved for next year, skipped here
- stage 1: Tucuman - Cafayate (stage 3 before)
- stage 2: Cafayate - Salta (stage 4 before)
- stage 3: Salta - El Carmen (TTT, 67km, first part of old stage 5)
- stage 4: Jujuy - Abra de Pives (second part of old stage 5, plus some downhill)
- stage 5: Tilcara - La Quiaca (completely new, flat stage, shortening the transfer to Tupiza)
- stage 6-9 remain the same
- stage 10 (formerly TTT) will be changed to a hilly or mountainous stage
- stage 11-14 remain the same
- stage 15 might be changed, but not sure yet

[Alkworld]

And here's the updated Campeonato de los Andes 2013:

Stage 1: San Miguel de Tucuman - Cafayate
This year's Campeonato will start in Northwestern Argentine in the city of Tucuman. The race begins City Centre of Tucuman on its way to the wine region of Cafayate. The race starts flat, but then climbs steeply over the first high ridge of the Andes to the finish flat in the pleasant wine region of Cafayate.

Total length: 220 km
Minute tact: km 210
Total ascent: 3240 m

Stage 2: Cafayate - Salta
Today's stage is what we call a rest day in the Andes. Except a few short passages uphill, the race is mostly flat or even downhill. Starting in Cafayate, where the previous stage ended, the road descends slowly down a beautful valley and then heads towards Salta, the most interesting city of whole Northern Argentina. If there's no sprint at that stage, then there may be none at all. After the race, the riders may still enjoy a nice afternoon with steaks and wine before the fun part will end the next day.

Total length: 189 km
Minute tact: km 179
Total ascent: 500 m

Stage 3: Salta - El Carmen
The team time trial starts in Salta and is then going North in the direction of Jujuy along a hilly and winding road. As all the way to Jujuy would be a bit too long for a TTT, we'll stop short of it in El Carmen.

Total length: 67 km
Minute tact: km 1
Total ascent: 530 m

Stage 4: Jujuy - Abra de Pives
From Jujuy we are going to the first real mountain stage. After a little detour to the Lagunas de Yala, the road is continuing through the famous Quebrada de Humahuaca and up to Abra de Pives, where the race ends after a relatively short downhill section. Most riders will then have to continue to the the start of the next stage, unless they want to camp out in the desert of the Altiplano with little oxygen.

Total length: 150 km
Minute tact: km 100
Total ascent: 3780 m

Stage 5: Tilcara - La Quiaca
Another easy one covers the distance from the Quebrada de Humahuaca to the Bolivian border in La Quiaca. The riders can use this stage to relax a bit, if that's even possible in those altitudes.

Total length: 199 km
Minute tact: km 190
Total ascent: 1290 m

Stage 6: Tupiza - Potosí
After a transfer from the Argentinian border to Tupiza, the riders will start another long stage, which doesn't look that hilly, but still shouldn't be underestimated. The race ends on the infamous Cerro Rico in Potosí, a great source of wealth for the colonial masters and a great source of misery for the local people over centuries.

Total length: 251 km
Minute tact: km 219
Total ascent: 4080 m

Stage 7: Potosí - Sucre
From Potosí, the peloton will be heading towards Sucre, the official capital of Bolivia, a pleasant city below the altiplano with more oxygen than most of the places in this country. After following the main road most of the time and a little detour coming into Sucre, the race will end with a circuit through the beautiful historic centre of Sucre and a nearby hill. Usually this should be a perfect finish for strong classic riders.


Total length: 190 km
Minute tact: km 140
Total ascent: 2480 m

Stage 8: Cochabamba - Inquisivi
After another transfer from Sucre to Cochabamba, preferrably by air, the real fun is about to start. Forget flat roads, now it's basically up and down all the time, about 12km of total ascent within two days. The race actually doesn't start in Cochabamba but somewhere out in the suburbs to skip the boring flat section. The race ends somewhere in the middle of nowhere after the final climb. Buses (even some ambulances) will then be ready to bring the riders to Coroico at the lower end of the notorious Camino de la Muerte. Have fun!

Total length: 203 km
Minute tact: km 191
Total ascent: 5630 m

Stage 9: Coroico - La Paz
Stage 8 was still pretty harmless compared to what's following then. It's actually one of the shortest stages of this year's Campeonato, but there's a catch: As starting in Coroico (1800m) would be too easy, the race will start in the valley below (around 1100m), climb up to Coroico for warming up, going down again and then up the Camino de la Muerte (Death Road) all the way to La Cumbre (ca. 4600m). After the descent to La Paz, Central Bolivia's biggest city and cultural and economical centre, it's still not over. The riders will have to complete a circuit between La Paz Centro and El Alto three times before going up to El Alto again and finishing in the market area around the Che Guevara memorial in El Alto.

Total length: 168 km
Minute tact: km 109
Total ascent: 6750 m

Stage 10: Lima - Huaycho
After a transfer to Lima and hopefully a day on the beach for the riders, more mountains are coming their way. The stage starts in Lima's outskirts and climbs over two big mountains this time to finish in the tiny village of Huaycho.

Total length: 204 km
Minute tact: km 163
Total ascent: 5460 m

Stage 11: Paramonga - Huaraz
Stage 11 involves a long climb from the coast north of Lima to one of the high valleys of the Andes, although the climb isn't very steep. As some teams may need some rest from the tough stage the day before, this may be a good stage for escapers or even for a sprinter team.

Total length: 206 km
Minute tact: km 196
Total ascent: 4110 m

Stage 12: Around Nevado Huascaran
Another real highlight of this year's Campeonato will take place in the Cordillera Blanca with a stage circumnavigating the Nevado Huascaran, the highest mountain of Peru. The race will start in Carhuaz, then climb to the Laguna Cancaragá, down on the other side, anti-clockwise around the Nevado Huascaran, and back up again, passing the Lagunas de Llanganuco and down to Yungay, where the race will end. The climbs here are not extremely steep either, but the sheer length and the physical conditions the riders are facing in the high altitudes will make it difficult.

Total length: 211 km
Minute tact: km 152
Total ascent: 4640 m

Stage 13: Guayaquil - Riobamba
After a direct charter flight from Anta to Guayaquil and a good night of sleep, the riders will start on the Malecón 2000 in Guayaquil (today without the risk of having their bikes stolen) and head towards the Andes again. After a long, but not too steep climb, there's just another short hill on the way to Riobamba, where the race in the city centre.

Total length: 231 km
Minute tact: km 178
Total ascent: 4370 m

Stage 14: Avenida de los Volcanes
The next stage is a real highlight from the sightseeing point of view with most of Ecuador's active and extinct volcanoes lining the way. The race starts in Riobamba, perched between El Altar and Chimborazo, Ecuador's highest peak. The first difficulty will be the climb up the slopes of Chimborazo. On the way down to Ambato, the currently active Tungurahua will come into sight before the road climbs again in the direction of Laguna Quilotoa. But before reaching that one, the road turns and continues down to the valley again, passing the Illinizas and Rumiñahui and finally climbing up to the Cotopaxi with views of Cayambe, Antisana and the Pichinchas.

Total length: 236 km
Minute tact: km 211
Total ascent: 4760 m

Stage 15: Quito ITT
After two tough weeks it's time to celebrate. The final stage may still be the one that decides this tour. It's quite short, but every rider will be on his own.The ITT starts in Parque La Carolina, going on the main road to the historic centre of Quito and then climbs up to the upper end of the teleferiQo on almost 4000m altitude.

Total length: 23 km
Minute tact: km 1
Total ascent: 1090 m

[Alkworld]

For details of the stages of the new version, pls use the following links:
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5
Stage 6
Stage 7
Stage 8
Stage 9
Stage 10
Stage 11
Stage 12
Stage 13
Stage 14
Stage 15

[Vea Olio]

for me, it's a bit simple....

[luques]

for me, it's a bit simple....

You should never trust about simple things, more a thing is simple and more the rsf managers will try to make it complicated

[Alkworld]

for me, it's a bit simple....

Take the scale into account. Races that go up to 5000m look flatter than they actually are

[Vea Olio]

well...I'm trying to win enough race points....if I play the tour, it will be very hard...only one thing...I prefer a lot of uphill finish.. but the stage are very good