Pokemon Club wrote: ↑Wed Oct 28, 2020 10:30 pm
Mediterranean Islands Tour,
by Olmania & Pokemon Cycling Organization
First collaboration of the history between OL & Pokemon, Mediterranean Islands Tour (MIT), which visit 9 differents countries, is a tour that offers opportunities for various kinds of riders. Actually, almost all kinds of riders. And the GC fight might not be (only) a climber's affair. Why so ? Because 2020 was already a dream year for climbers with plenty of GC, stages and jerseys to win. More than the past years. So, MIT gives a chance for other kinds of leaders to compete for a long tour win !
Having dirt roads and pavés sections is something that might give a challenge for climbers; and having 1 ITT and 1 TTT is also challenging for GC competition.
Many stages are open, which means that the favorites of the stage will depend on the scenarii and the line-up of each tour. Many stages could be nervous, with fears of GC moves in various parts of stages, especially if the GC contenders are not only climbers and can be offensive on flatish/hilly stages.
Sprinters will have their word to say of course. Sprint stages are not all that easy, but some hilly stages could end up in a MS in case no one decides to spice up the race early enough.
Riders will visit many mediteranean islands during these 2 weeks times, and unlinke during 2020 Giro, they won't complain about waking up at 6am for early transfers by plane or boat. There is actually a ferry and a plane that are reserved for the race staff and riders !
Stage 1 : Djerba (Tunisia), 152 km, flat, mintact km 137
Race side :
The first stage takes place in Tunisia, at Djerba Island. A first stage for sprinters, 152 km totally flat, without a single hill. There is an intermediate sprint at km 61 at Aghir.
Km 61 Aghir (IS)
Last 5 km : 0 0 -1 0 0
Full details : http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... t0120final
Wiki side :
Djerba is, at 514 square kilometers (198 sq mi), the largest island of North Africa, located in the Gulf of Gabès, off the coast of Tunisia. It had a population of 139,544 at the 2004 Census which rose to 163,726 at the 2014 Census. Citing the long and unique Jewish minority's history on Djerba, Tunisia has sought UNESCO World Heritage status protections for the island.
Stage 2 : Lampedusa (Italia), 195 kms, flat, mintact km 180
Race side :
The first stage takes place in Italia, at Lampedusa Island. A second stage for sprinters, 195 km length but it is 15 times a loop of 13 km around the island in fact. There are no big difficulties too, IS at km 104.
Km 104 Lampedusa (IS)
Last 5 km : 1 1 1 1 0
Full details : http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... t0220final
Wiki side :
Lampedusa is the largest island of the Italian Pelagie Islands in the Mediterranean Sea.The comune of Lampedusa e Linosa is part of the Sicilian province of Agrigento which also includes the smaller islands of Linosa and Lampione. It is the southernmost part of Italy and Italy's southernmost island. Tunisia, which is about 113 kilometres (70 miles) away, is the closest landfall to the islands. Sicily is farther at 205 kilometres (127 miles), whilst the island nation of Malta is 176 kilometres (109 miles) to the east of Tunisia. In 2013, Rabbit Beach (it. "Spiaggia dei Conigli"), located in the southern part of the island, was voted the world's best beach by travel site TripAdvisor.
Stage 3 : Gokceada (Turkey), 140 km, hilly, mintact km 100
Race side :
We fly to Gokceada, a small turkish island where the riders will experience a short and nervous stage. The profile offers plenty of shorts climbs, where sieb is possible most of the time. 2 uphill dirt road sections will create even more opportunities for early sieb and moves. From km99 to km 115, 4 short hills offer the last sieb options (7 % max), and are followed by a flattish section until the final push. The last kms are hilly, but not impossible to block, and offer a downhill finish for a potential specialist's sprint !
In short, that stage could have plenty of different scenarios and favorites : regular sprinters, hillsprinters (of all kinds), downhill specialists able to sprint a bit, and of course breakaway warriors !
Km 30 Derekoy (cat 3), 2 km at 7,5% : 8 7
Km 50 Ugurlu (IS)
Km 66 Climb 2 (cat 3), 7 km at 3.3% : 4 4 2 2 2 6 3
Km 101 Egelek (cat 3), 2 km at 6.5% : 7 6
Last 5 kms : -1 1 4 -3 -8
Full details : http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... t0320final
Wiki side :
Imbros or İmroz, officially Gökçeada since 29 July 1970, is the largest island of Turkey and the seat of Gökçeada District of Çanakkale Province. It is located in the north-northeastern Aegean Sea, at the entrance of Saros Bay, and is the westernmost point of Turkey (Cape İncirburnu). Imbros has an area of 279 km2 (108 sq mi) and has some wooded areas.
According to Greek mythology, the palace of Thetis, mother of Achilles, king of Phthia, was situated between Imbros and Samothrace.
The stables of the winged horses of Poseidon were said to lie between Imbros and Tenedos.
Homer wrote in the Iliad:
“In the depths of the sea on the cliff
Between Tenedos and craggy Imbros
There is a cave, wide gaping
Poseidon who made the earth tremble,
stopped the horses there.”
Stage 4 : Malta (Malta), 43 kms, TTT, mintact km 1
Race side :
The first stage that will create a gap between favori is the Malta TTT. A 43 km TTT with some light hills and downhills that can be complicated to manage. We start at La Valette, heading west of the island before returning to La Valette.
Full details :
http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... t0420final
Wiki side :
Malta, officially known as the Republic of Malta and formerly Melita, is a Southern European island country consisting of an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. It lies 80 km (50 mi) south of Italy, 284 km (176 mi) east of Tunisia, and 333 km (207 mi) north of Libya. With a population of about 515,000 over an area of 316 km2 (122 sq mi), Malta is the world's tenth smallest country in area and fourth most densely populated sovereign country. Its capital is Valletta, which is the smallest national capital in the European Union by area at 0.8 km2 (0.31 sq mi).
The Maltese islands are home to a wide diversity of indigenous, sub-endemic and endemic plants. They feature many traits typical of a Mediterranean climate, such as drought resistance. The most common indigenous trees on the islands are olive (Olea europaea), carob (Ceratonia siliqua), fig (ficus carica), holm oak (Quericus ilex) and Aleppo pine (Pinus halpensis), while the most common non-native trees are eucalyptus, acacia and opuntia.
Stage 5 : Corsica (France), 172 km, middle mountain, mintact km 147
Race side :
And now direction France and Corsica island. 172 km between Ajaccio and Bastia where everything can happen, a MS like GK move. IS is km 10, and we have 3 mountains, Scalella, Vizzanova and Belle Granaje but they are in the first part of the stage.
Km 10 Ajaccio (IS)
Km 49 Scalella (cat 1), 7 km at 5,9% : 3 6 7 7 7 8 3
Km 69 Vizzanova (cat 1), 8 km at 6,9% : 4 7 5 9 10 7 9 4
Km 93 Belle Granaje (cat 3), 7 km at 4,2% : 3 5 3 6 5 4 4
Last 5 km : 1 -2 1 -1 1
Full details : http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... t0520final
Wiki side :
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and politically one of the 18 regions of France. It lies southeast of the French mainland, west of the Italian Peninsula, and immediately north of the Italian island of Sardinia, the land mass nearest to it. A single chain of mountains makes up two-thirds of the island.
The island has a natural park (Parc Naturel Régional de Corse, Parcu di Corsica), which protects rare animal and plant species. The Park was created in 1972 and includes the Golfe de Porto, the Scandola Nature Reserve (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and some of the highest mountains on the island.
Stage 6 : Elba (Italia), 173 km, mountain, mintact km 140
Race side :
Direction Elba Island for an explosive mountain stage. Starting at Portoferraio, the peloton will face 3 times the terrible Monte Perone and its 3 km part over 11% (max 13%). The last time just before the finish at Bagno-Sprizze. Colle Reciso and Monumento will exhaust the riders a lot during this stage where GK fights promise to be interesting.
Km 12 Santa Caterina (IS)
Km 17 Colle di Santa Caterina (cat 2), 4 km at 7,3% : 7 7 8 7
Km 43 Colle Reciso (cat 3), 3 km at 6% : 5 6 7
Km 49 Monumento (cat 3), 3 km at 7,7% : 7 8 8
Km 63 Monte Perone (cat 1), 9 km at 7,3% : 4 6 6 4 6 11 11 13 5
Km 92 Colle Reciso (cat 3), 3 km at 6% : 5 6 7
Km 98 Monumento (cat 3), 3 km at 7,7% : 7 8 8
Km 112 Monte Perone (cat 1), 9 km at 7,3% : 4 6 6 4 6 11 11 13 5
Km 141 Colle Reciso (cat 3), 3 km at 6% : 5 6 7
Km 147 Monumento (cat 3), 3 km at 7,7% : 7 8 8
Km 161 Monte Perone (cat 1), 9 km at 7,3% : 4 6 6 4 6 11 11 13 5
Last 5 kms : -6 -8 -7 1 2
Full details : http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... t0620final
Wiki side :
Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the coastal town of Piombino on the Italian mainland, and the largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago. It is also part of the Arcipelago Toscano National Park, and the third largest island in Italy, after Sicily and Sardinia. It is located in the Tyrrhenian Sea about 50 kilometres (30 mi) east of the French island of Corsica.
Elba is famous as the site of Napoleon's first exile, in 1814–15.
The island has a network of trails for road racers looking for more technical routes for their training, trails and dirt roads for bikers to have fun on, and accessible routes for families with children who need safe and relaxing routes. On the road from Rio nell'Elba going to Porto Azzurro is the "Fonte di Coppi". Towards the end of his career Fausto Coppi, the "campionissimo", came here to train on the roads of Elba. He still retained a celebrity status but was no longer at the peak of his career that ended with his death a few years later. The plaque on the fountain reads: "1960–2010, here the champion quenched his thirst, since fifty years on the run".
Stage 7 : Ibiza (Spain), 133 km, hilly, mintact km 90
Race side :
A short stage with a lot of short but hard difficulties. If only Can Vengut (km 42) and Cala de Sant Vincent (km 94) count as GPM, the rest of the race is never totally flat.
Km 42 Can Vengut (cat 3), 3 km at 6% : 5 6 7
Km 63 San Miguel de Balansat (IS)
Km 94 Cala de Sant Vincent (cat 3), 3 km at 7,7% : 7 8 8
Last 5 kms : -2 -1 0 1 0
Full details : http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... t0720final
Wiki side :
Ibiza is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea off the eastern coast of Spain. It is 150 kilometres (93 miles) from the city of Valencia. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. Its largest settlements are Ibiza Town (Catalan: Vila d'Eivissa, or simply Vila), Santa Eulària des Riu, and Sant Antoni de Portmany. Its highest point, called Sa Talaiassa (or Sa Talaia), is 475 metres (1,558 feet) above sea level.
Ibiza has become well known for its association with nightlife, electronic dance music and for the summer club scene, all of which attract large numbers of tourists. The island's government and the Spanish Tourist Office have worked toward promoting more family-oriented tourism.
Ibiza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ibiza and the nearby island of Formentera to its south are called the Pine Islands, or "Pityuses".
RESTDAY
Wiki side :
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant.
Ten largest islands by area:
Country Island Area in km2 Population
Italy Sicily 25,460 5,048,995
Italy Sardinia 23,821 1,672,804
Cyprus Cyprus 9,251 1,088,503
France Corsica 8,680 299,209
Greece Crete 8,336 623,666
Greece Euboea 3,655 218.000
Spain Majorca 3,640 869,067
Greece Lesbos 1,632 90,643
Greece Rhodes 1,400 117,007
Greece Chios 842 51,936
Stage 8 : Krk (Croatia), 160 km, flat, km 129
Race side :
A flat stage in Croatia. Krk island welcomes the race and a final circuit offers the sprinters a chance to take the win. The categorized (4cat) climb of the final circuit is a 6 %, the only sieb possible. The final km is uphill, but nothing impossible to block for organized sprint teams. Offensive riders could of course try things on such circuits. 2 early pavé sections in small towns early in the race and a steep climb (8%) near the start could spice thnigs up !
Km 5 Climb 1 (cat 4), 3 km at 5.3% : 5 8 3
Km 43 Malinska (IS)
Km 65 Gabonjin (cat 4), 1 km at 6%
Km 97 Gabonjin (cat 4), 1 km at 6%
Km 129 Gabonjin (cat 4), 1 km at 6%
Last 5 kms : 1 3 2 2 1
Full details : http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... t0820final
Wiki side :
Krk is a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea, located near Rijeka in the Bay of Kvarner and part of Primorje-Gorski Kotar county. Krk is the largest Adriatic island, with an area of 405.80 km2 (156.68 sq mi), Krk is the most populous island in the Adriatic Sea, with multiple towns and villages that contain a total of 19,383 (2011) inhabitants.
Krk is a popular tourist destination, due to its proximity to Slovenia, southern Germany, Austria, and northern Italy. Since the collapse of the Eastern Bloc, many tourists have appeared from Hungary, Romania, and other former Eastern Bloc countries.
Stage 9 : Brač (Croatia), 166 km, hilly paves, mintact km 151
Race side :
A sprint is also possible here ! But probably with not all sprinters. Or maybe with no real sprinters and only riders who attacked in that tricky circuit.
The climb in the final lap is 5 % max (3 3 5 5 5 1 1 2 -1 4** 4 ) with a short dirt road section.
2 early climbs are way more steep, will someone sieb here ?
Km 29 1St climb (cat 3), 6 km at 6% : 5 7 6 6 7 5 / dirty road -3 2** 2** -2**
Km 60 Obrsje (cat 2) 8 km at 7% : 3 9 8 8 7 9 6 6
Km 94 Lozisca (IS)
Km 124 Lozisca (cat 3), 3 km at 5% : 5 5 5
Km 154 Lozisca (cat 3), 3 km at 5% : 5 5 5
Last 5 kms : -8 -8 -3 -6 -0
Full details : http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... t0920final
Wiki side :
Brač is an island in the Adriatic Sea within Croatia, with an area of 396 square kilometres, making it the largest island in Dalmatia, and the third largest in the Adriatic. It is separated from the mainland by the Brač Channel, which is 5 to 13 km wide. The island's tallest peak, Vidova gora, or Mount St. Vid, stands at 780 m, making it the highest island point of the Adriatic islands. The island has a population of 13,956, living in numerous settlements, ranging from the main town Supetar, with more than 3,300 inhabitants, to Murvica, where less than two dozen people live. Brač Airport on Brač is the largest airport of all islands surrounding Split.
Stage 10 : Cyprus (Cyprus),, 176 km, flat, mintact km 151
Race side :
Nicosie – Limassol, the last chance for sprinters ! No big difficulties in the roas, soi t will be hard for braves in the escape to beat the peloton !
Km 89 Larcana (IS)
Last 5 kms : 0 -1 0 0 1
Full details : http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... t1020final
Wiki side :
Cyprus, officially called the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean. The third largest and third most populous island in the Mediterranean, it is located south of Turkey; west of Syria and Lebanon; north of Egypt, Israel and southeast of Greece.
The earliest known human activity on the island dates to around the 10th millennium BC. Archaeological remains from this period include the well-preserved Neolithic village of Khirokitia, and Cyprus is home to some of the oldest water wells in the world.
A well known traditional art that dates at least from the 14th century is the Lefkara Lace (also known as "Lefkaratika", which originates from the village Lefkara. Lefkara lace is recognised as an intangible cultural heritage (ICH) by Unesco, and it is characterised by distinct design patterns, and its intricate, time-consuming production process. A genuine Lefkara lace with full embroidery can take typically hundreds of hours to be made, and that is why it is usually priced quite high.
Stage 11 : Pantelleria (Italia), 178 km, mountain, mintact km 153
Race side :
The final week-end of MIT arrives soon. We are back in Italia, at Pantelleria island. 178 km between Scauri and Montagna Grande. There are 8 GPM during this hard stage : Martingana, Khamna and Sciuveki 2 times, the terrible Muro de Burgeber and the final climb to Montagna Grande, and its last km at 14%. The show will be exceptionnal !
Km 10 Martingana (cat 3), 4 km at 5,8% : 5 7 5 6
Km 15 Khamna (cat 3), 1 km at 11%
Km 24 Sciuveki (cat 3), 3 km at 6,3% : 6 7 6
Km 63 Scauri (IS)
Km 73 Martingana (cat 3), 4 km at 5,8% : 5 7 5 6
Km 78 Khamna (cat 3), 1 km at 11% : 11
Km 87 Sciuveki (cat 3), 3 km at 6,3% : 6 7 6
Km 155 Muro di Burgeber (cat 2), 3 km at 8.3% : 5 6 14
Km 174 Montagna Grande (cat 1), 6 km at 9,3% : 7 6 10 11 8 14
Lasts 10 km : -8 2 -2 0 6 10 11 8 14
Full details : http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... t1120final
Wiki side :
Pantelleria , the ancient Cossyra or Cossura, is an Italian island and comune in the Strait of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, 100 km (62 mi) southwest of Sicily and 60 km (37 mi) east of the Tunisian coast. On clear days Tunisia is visible from the island. Administratively Pantelleria's comune belongs to the Sicilian province of Trapani.
With an area of 83 km2 (32 sq mi), it is the largest volcanic satellite island of Sicily. The last eruption occurred below sea level in 1891, and today phenomena related to volcanic activity can be observed, such as hot springs and fumaroles.
The highest peak, the Montagna Grande, reaches 836 m (2,743 ft) above sea level.
Pantelleria National Park was established in 2016, and covers an area of 66.4 km2 (25.6 sq mi), or 80% of the island.
A Middle Bronze Age village was on the west coast, 3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of the harbour, with a rampart of small blocks of lava, about 7.5 m (25 ft) high, 10 m (33 ft) wide at the base and 5 m (16 ft) at the top, upon the undefended eastern side. Remains of huts were found there, with pottery, tools of obsidian, and other artifacts. These objects are in the museum at Syracuse.
Pantelleria is noted for its sweet wines, Moscato di Pantelleria and Moscato Passito di Pantelleria, both made from the local Zibibbo grape.
Stage 12 : Chios (Greece), ITT, mintact km 1
Race side :
Welcome to Chios island for an ITT of 34kms. The route is flat (max 3%), for specialists. The key for the win between specialists ? Their ability to keep a fast tempo on the dirt road sections (5kms in total).
34Kms is long enough to see some leaders with low reg think twice about going full speed in that TT knowing the last stage is quite something !
Full details : http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... t1220final
Wiki side :
Chios is the fifth largest of the Greek islands, situated in the northern Aegean Sea. The island is separated from Turkey by the Chios Strait. Chios is notable for its exports of mastic gum and its nickname is "the Mastic Island". Tourist attractions include its medieval villages and the 11th-century monastery of Nea Moni, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Stage 13 : Chios (Greece), 161 km, flat pave, mintact km 131
Race side :
Final stage of the tour, in Chios, and what a stage ! During 120kms, it’s ups and downs non stop, with only a few dirt road sections. Early sieb is possible in all categorized climbs and sometimes even in uncategorized climbs.
And then, the last 30kms offer an intense circuit with a dirt road section and a serious pavé section in the city. It’s only ** for dirt roads and *** for the pavé section, but it’s almost non stop for 30kms, so we expect gaps to be opened and GC to see final changes here.
Km 8 Kardamyla (IS)
Km 12 Kardamyla (cat 4), 2 km at 5% : 3 7
Km 29 Climb 2 (cat 3), 6 km at 5,2% : 4 7 9 2 6 5
Km 41 Climb 3 (cat 3), 4 km at 5,5% : 4 8 5 5
Km 66 Climb 4 (cat 3), 3 km at 7% : 8 6 7
Km 106 Climb 5 (cat 3), 3 km at 6.3% : 5 8 6
Last 5 km : 1** -1 0*** 0 1**
Full details : http://www.radsportfreaks.de/radsport/p ... t1320final
Wiki side :
The island's climate is warm and moderate, categorised as Temperate, Mediterranean (Csa), with modest variation due to the stabilising effect of the surrounding sea. Average temperatures normally range from a summer high of 27 °C (81 °F) to a winter low of 11 °C (52 °F) in January, although temperatures of over 40 °C (104 °F) or below freezing can sometimes be encountered.
The presentation of MIT finishes here, we hope you enjoy it !