Tour du Maroc 2019
Ladies and Gentleman - It is 2019 the 10 year Cycling 4 Freaks anniversary for Team Trojer Vellau.
Reason enough to go for the first own (finished) Tour and what would fit better then the December Tour Voting?
So we decided to go for it and went to Maroc to find some nice stages for all riders (okay except pave guys sorry for you you have your own tour!).
The Tour will be ridden with 9 riders and consist of 13 Stages and a rest day featuring 5 flat stages, 4 middle mountain stages,
3 HC stages and one ITT.
The team management hopes you like it´s proposal.
Just some explanation before we start with the tour:
We will name the length of the stage and where the mintact starts before presenting the route and show you the profile.
The "Mountains" thing will for nameless mountains still categorized tell you about the last km of the mountain and the elevation.
Location of the Intermediates, Last +6 and Last 10 kms should explain itself
The mountain classifications follow a bit the giro rules so only one HC here called Souvenir Lulei but might also take in context a bit how important a mountain is in the context of the stage decision and more focussing on steepness then on total hm what fits better for Cycling 4 Freaks after the organizing comitees thought.
So lets go!
Stage 1: Casablanca - Rabat
KM: 211
Mintact: 181
On the first day we will see a sprintstage that might only hurt the really weak sprinters without helpers.
The Tour starts in Casablanca by far the greatest city in Maroc with over 3 million inhabitants and situated directly on the atlantic coast while its finish is in the capital of Maroc Rabat not far from Casablanca.
But before that the riders will head a bit inside the land to the Tamasne Dam where the first mountain points of this tour will be given in a Cat. 4, followed of a little hilly part that should not hurt the sprinters to much. Afterwards they go back into the direction of the coast visiting Benslimane a province capital where the first sprint will take place.
Around 30 kms before the finish and after some downhill we will reach sealevel again and from there it goes totally flat alongst the coast to Rabat where we will most likely see a nice mass sprint near the harbour.
Location of the intermediate sprints:
KM 150
Mountains:
KM 85 - Cat.4 - 2km 120 hm 6% average - 6 6
Last km +6: 141
Last 10km: -1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -1
Stage 2: Sidi Allal Tazi - Tanger
KM: 194
Mintact: 170
After this first little test and a short overnight transfer of about 30km a real sprint stage follows.
The riders start in the small village Sidi Allal Tazi not far from the coast and nearly follow it for the next nearly 200km.
The first sprint will be taken in Oued Loukus not far from the city of Larache.
Now the riders go all the time to north to reach Lakhoua where we will see the next sprint intermediate and after that it goes straight into the center of Tanger Marocs third biggest town and located next to the Street of Gibraltar for another final sprint.
Location of the intermediate sprints:
KM 101, KM 161
Mountains: -
Last km +6: -
Last 10km: 1 3 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 0 -2 0
Stage 3: Tanger - El Jebha
KM: 214
Mintact: 171
This is the first day where classics riders will want to win. Riders will start again in Tanger early in the morning.
While the later part of the stage follows the coast we will head again inside the country again in the beginning to avoid Ceuta well known as a problematic spot and take the way over Anjra that is a little hilly but much shorter reaching the coast again around km 100.
On the way there we will have a some Cat 4 Mountains for example Lake Ecraux another dam and Tetouan for a sprint.
Before it gets a really hilly another sprint waits at Oued Lalaca and in the lack of another road we will follow the street to El Mouhamad / Bou Ahmad where the first higher categorized mountain price categorized as a 2 will be given. After a steep downhill it goes on with very short hills
into the centre of El Jebha located directly at the Mediterranean Sea where most likely a classic with some sprint will win.
Location of the intermediate sprints:
KM 81 Tetouan, KM 156 Oued Lalaca
Mountains:
KM 27 - Cat. 4 - 2km 130 hm 6,5% average - 6 7
KM 45 - Lac Ecraux - Cat. 4 - 4km 210hm 5,25% average - 5 6 5 5
KM 67 - Cat. 3 - 5km 300hm 6% average - 5 8 10 5 2
KM 176 - Bou Ahmad - Cat. 2 - 15km 1010 hm 6,7% average - 10 9 11 8 3 11 8 2 9 7 6 0 5 9 3
KM 199 - Cat. 4 - 3km 180hm 6% average - 10 4 4
Last km +6: 207
Last 10km: 0 4 7 0 -7 -8 -2 0 -2 1
Stage 4: Bni Gmil - Tazaghnine:
KM: 39
Mintact: 1
Oh great we can sleep a bit longer. Thats what some riders might think after yesterdays stage.
But they are wrong as the first and only ITT of the tour follows.
After going the few kms from El Jebha to Bni Gmil (hopefully by bike) another slightly hilly thing but without difficulties as yesterday awaits the riders.
Always away something like 20km from the coast it goes through Sidi Younes but not without having a short Cat. 4 mountain before to finally reach Tazeghine. After this one most likely a ITT specialist with a good mountain skill or a classics rider with good ITT will be wearing the GC Jersey but also most likely only for one day as the first real hard stage follows the next day.
Location of intermediate sprints: -
Mountains:
KM 19 - Cat. 4 - 4km 210hm 5,25% average - 3 4 9 5
Last km +6: 18
Last 10km: 3 3 4 -4 -4 -1 -1 0 -1 1
Stage 5: Ouel Feddal - Kassita
KM: 203
Mintact: 180
Day 5 awaits the riders and it will be the first day for the mountain guys to really show their potential. After a hilly start in Ouel Feddal
and the first little mountain the riders head back to Bni Gmil where the ITT started but on another road then the day before.
There also the only intermediate sprint of the day takes place before the first real mountain of the tour is waiting.
When the riders reached its top and the village of Tizi Itchene a downhill splitted in 2 by a flat part will give the weaker guys some
chance to regenerate and maybe catch up to the peloton again. But it wont help to much as some km before Bni Hadifa the riders leave the main road
to the right and start into a very long but not to steep mountain named after the village of Zouiat Sidi Abdelkader that is also splitted a bit by flatter parts and beeing not to steep all in all.
This might give the riders some interesting opportunities for a long shot to the win but it will also make them suffer then.
The next downhill will give a chance to regenerate if not one of the guys out for the win decided to attack already before the short but pretty steep road will decide who can win the first HC stage in the end.
Location of intermediate sprints:
KM 35
Mountains:
KM 24 - Cat. 3 - 9km 530hm 5,9% average - 5 4 7 5 7 6 7 7 5
KM 62 - Cat. 1 - 21km 1320hm 6,3% average - 3 9 6 6 5 5 3 4 9 10 12 11 11 5 5 6 3 6 4 4 5
KM 148 - Zouit Sidi Abdelkader - Cat. 1 - 24 km 1310 hm 5,5% average - 11 7 9 8 9 7 5 1 3 2 1 4 3 8 8 6 8 8 3 4 2 1 6 7
KM 192 - Arbiou Touariant - Cat. 2 - 7km 680hm 9,7% average - 5 5 16 10 14 14 4
Last km +6: 191
Last 10km: 1 -4 4 -1 4 -4 -7 -7 -7 -6
Stage 6: Kassita - Nador
KM: 153
Mintact: 130
After that first hard day some kind of rest day will be very welcomed by the most guys so give them ... No no rest day but a mostly easy to handle
sprint stage that will not be a problem for the most guys. Starting in Kassita again after a first downhill a intermediate sprint at Ouarduna will take place before the second short downhill starts bringing the riders back to sea level but not directly to the coast.
In Beni Boughafer the second sprint of the day will be ridden out just after half of the stage. After passing two very short non categorized hills the coast is reached bringing the riders to Nador for the last sprint of the day.
But before the stage ends a little round inside the country will lead to Zeghangane and then back again to Nador for the next final (flat) sprint.
Location of intermediate sprints:
KM 42 - Ouarduna
KM 85 - Beni Boughafer
KM 126 - Nador
Mountains: -
Last km +6: 95
Last 10km: -1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
Stage 7: Nador - Oudal El Hammame
KM: 217
Mintact: 185
The riders had a chance to regenerate now a bit so they will go for another long stage before the real rest day where we might see a nice fight
between strong classics with sprint, hill sprinters and maybe even normal sprinters. Starting at yesterdays finish place the riders leave the coast
again and head to the south what also makes that one some kind of translation stage before it goes to another part of Maroc.
Starting absolutely flat with intermediate sprints at Hassi Berkane and Taourirt the riders will also pass the "Mohammed V lake"
in the last quarter of the race a quite long but also not very steep hill will end in Debdou before the last 40km to Oudal El Hammame will go flat and even slightly downhill.
Location of intermediate sprints:
KM 41 - Hassi Berkane
KM 112 - Taourirt
Mountains: KM 174 - Debdou - Cat. 2 - 15km 750hm 5% average - 4 4 6 4 6 7 6 5 5 6 2 6 5 5 4
Last km +6: 171
Last 10km: 0 0 0 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0
!REST DAY!
Time to keep it cool - Go out - Taste the Maroc food! Transfer to Beni Mellal for the night.
Stage 8: Ouled Bourahmoune - Marrakesch
KM: 184
Mintact: 164
After the rest day most riders will use it as another rest day before the great final starts. So this stage is flat, flat, flat with a little flat and not all too long so it should be a easy sprinters win. Starting at Ouled Bouhrahmoune after the long transfer it will go more far to the south with a first sprint at Es Kelaat Es Sraghna just beeing mentioned because it might be the village with the longest name of the hole tour.
Before the road changes a bit into the western direction we will see another sprint at Ras El Ain and then go straight into the beautiful city of Marrakesch with its great tradition. By the way Marrakesch will because of its beauty also be the the only city to be honoured with a stage beginning, a stage final and beeing visited while another stage.
Location of intermediate sprints:
KM 109 - Es Kelaat Es Sraghna
KM 144 - Ras El Ain
Mountains: -
Last km +6: -
Last 10km: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Stage 9: Marrakesch - Ouneine
KM: 164
Mintact: 133
The riders had 3 rest days now so what does that mean? Right they are fit enough to go to the mountains again. As it is december and cold they begged the organizer to go even more far to the south from Marrakesch into the Atlas mountains.
Before the mountains are reached a sprint will be fought out at Lalla Takherkoust another lake (we could really name this tour of the lakes too) before after one third of the race the action starts with the ascent to ouazguita a small hill compared to the following ones.
A downhill followed by a flat part will lead the riders to the village of Ouirgane located at the samely named lake (another dam can also be found there) where the second and maybe hardest ascent of the day starts up to Ameslane making it a total up of 1400hm in over 25km with some really steep parts divided by flat and even downhilll kms.
A really speedy downhill is following giving some guys the opportunities to regenerate again for the last climb starting near Irjoukak that is totally different as its 700hm will be climbed in just 8 km making it nearly 8% average. Now the last short part to Ouneine follows a downhill with a little flat in the end but much too less for the classics to keep up again, but maybe a strong 80-70 rider could make it with some help.
Location of intermediate sprints:
KM 38 - Lalla Takherkoust
Mountains:
KM 54 - Ouazguita - Cat. 3 - 9km 540hm 6% average - 3 7 8 6 7 7 6 4 6
KM 108 - Ameslane - Cat. 1 - 26km 1470hm 5,7% average - 6 7 9 11 6 0 0 -4 6 5 -1 10 11 9 9 -3 5 3 6 9 7 12 15 9
KM 143 - Cat. 1 - 9km 700hm 7,8% average - 9 11 11 10 10 12 10 7
Last km +6: 143
Last 10km: -6 -7 -5 -7 -5 -5 0 -1 -1 0
Stage 10: Tafingault - Agadir
KM: 174
Mintact: 150
After the mountains the last sure sprinters chance is waiting with a stage starting in Tafingault and going pretty fast downwards again with a first sprint at Ouled Aissa afterwards. Then the route is heading to the west into the direction of Agadir another famous city. On the way there the riders will pass a city with a non less known name called Medina but its not the one you might think of now. The final will be then directly on the beach promenade.
Location of intermediate sprints:
KM 47 - Ouled Aissa
KM 90 - Medina
Mountains: -
Last km +6: 24
Last 10km: 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 -1 0 -1
Stage 11: Agadir - Assif El Mal
KM: 223
Mintact: 193
Classic riders not beeing so good in sprint might have felt a bit lost in that tour until now so what would be better to change that then the longest stage of the tour starting directly in Agadir again. The riders will head back to the north again passing Ismide and shortly after that the first long but not very steep hill of the day just followed by one of two intermediate sprints of the day at Abdelmoumen dam reservoir (as you see really much dam reservoirs all over maroc).
Now it goes up for a second time over a nameless pass nearly Afalla Issen. As flat as all the uphill was as flat is the downhill giving an escape group
the chance to save some time and the classics to save some power. After the second sprint in Sidi Ghanem the action will be directly starting with a hilly finish. The last steep part then will indeed not so steep but with a siebkm in it followed by 2 flat kms into the finish at Assif El Mal.
Location of intermediate sprints:
KM 78 - Abdelmoumen reservoir
Mountains:
KM 57 - Cat. 3 and Cat. 4 - 17km 640hm 3,8% average - 4 6 6 6 4 3 2 1 -1 2 7 4 3 3 5 4 4
KM 127 - Afalla Issen - Cat. 4 - 5km 210hm 4,2% average - 5 4 4 4 4
KM 221 - Assif El Mal - Cat. 3 - 6km 270hm 4,5% average - 7 3 4 3 5 5
Last km +6: 216
Last 10km: 1 2 7 3 4 3 5 5 1 1
Stage 12: Gmassa - Barrage Moulay Youssef
KM: 195
Mintact: 154
The final is near so after a long stage yesterday where some teams might have really suffered today anything can happen.
Will the classics teams able to hold the field together? Will some brave escapers go for the win? Or will someone move early for a gc attack before tomorrows kings stage?
The riders will start in Gmassa not far from yesterdays finish and head towards Marrakesch for a third time, this time not taking the main ring street around the city but going through the narrow historic center with also some paved roads and also going for the first sprint before leaving town again. After that historic lesson it goes to the east and always slightly upwards before passing Ait Ourir for the last intermediate sprint of the tour.
From Ait Ourir the road gets a bit steeper reaching its top nearly Toufliht. A short downhill is followed by the last and steeper hill of the day then leading the riders to a plateau followed by a pretty long downhill with only a few flat parts in the finish at Moulay Youssef dam (And we promise its the last dam of the race!). So who will win today?
Location of intermediate sprints:
KM 66 - Marrakesch
KM 101 - Ait Ourir
Mountains:
KM 131 - Cat. 3 - 13km 510hm 3,9% average - 6 6 -1 -4 -2 2 4 5 5 5 6 6 7
KM 159 - Cat. 3 - 10km 520hm 5,2% average - 5 4 4 2 6 5 9 8 5 4
Last km +6: 157
Last 10km: 2 3 2 -1 1 -1 -4 -3 -4 1
Stage 13: Lalla Takerkhoust - Oukamaiden
KM: 140
Mintact: 108
Starting at Lalla Takherkoust the last lake (we said the last dam before!) of the tour just 140km sounds like a short and nice rollout for the riders but indeed it will be the king stage also using some km from stage 9 again but with a totally different finish.
So the riders will again have to ride the Cat. 3 up to Ouizguita known from stage 9 but then pretty soon leaving the street we rode before again to head into another direction.
Now it goes up again passing Tansghart where the riders have the final already in view and already reached half of the way to the top ... but
organizers decided to make it a bit harder and go left downhill again to Tahannaout before leaving the main road again shortly before Tnine l´Ourika for the final and maybe not steepest but surely longest climb of the tour that might feel like a TTT under special conditions for some teams from now on as it will not be not controllable otherwise.
So lets go for the final - For the climb up to Oukamaiden the biggest skiing resort all over Maroc and maybe Africa beeing a bit special as it is controlled by the military - So dont be mad to each other in the fight for gc as the lift guys will have a weapon with them!
Location of intermediate sprints: -
Mountains:
KM 18 - Ouazguita - Cat. 3 - 9km 540hm 6% average - 3 7 8 6 7 7 6 4 6
KM 41 - Cat. 3 - 11km 640hm 5,8% average - 3 6 6 6 7 7 5 5 7 7 5
KM 140 - Oukamaiden - HC - 33km 1730 hm 5,2% average - 6 3 7 4 3 6 6 7 6 5 7 7 5 6 5 6 4 6 7 6 7 5 6 6 5 6 3 1 3 6 6 8 9
Last km +6: 140
Last 10km: 6 5 6 3 1 3 6 6 8 9
So after 14 days, 13 stages and all in all 2323 kms what makes an average of 178km per stage the organizing team will be happy to welcome all jersey winners but also the guys that fought hard for the win and may not have been able to finish in the end in Rabat for a big party.
We hope we presented you some nice stages and will see us in december!