CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Sport

If there was a stage race in Scotland, where would it go?

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  1. Kim
    Member

    Scotland has great variety of landscape, it is highly photogenic, it is also compact enough to get around easily, and such it should be an obvious place to run a grand tour cycle race.

    Currently the Tour of Britain occasionally visits Scotland, but never gets north of the central belt, however there is far more to Scotland than just this. So if there was a ten day stage race in Scotland, where should it go? The obvious finish point would be Edinburgh, although the obvious finish straight along Princess Street now has a few issue with the tram line, lets just say it was possible.

    The start point could be anywhere in the country, or following the habit of other Grand Tours, in another country (I understand that Yorkshire is hosting the start of such a race next year). After that there would be need to be a mix of stages, Sprints, Mountains, TT etc.

    Anyone care to suggest a route for any or all of these stages? Just a wee bit of fun ;-)

    Posted 10 years ago #

  2. Charterhall
    Member

    At least one of the stages should follow the example of certain Audax events by including a ferry crossing.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  3. Nelly
    Member

    I would include some highland perthshire - perhaps a route including Killin, Loch Tay, Ben Lawers, Glen Lyon, Aberfeldy, Grandtully, Pitlochry, and Schiehallion.

    Has a lot of great scenery, climbs, tight twisty bits - kind of make it as tough as you want?

    Then a TT section right down the (closed !) A9 to Perth

    Posted 10 years ago #

  4. gibbo
    Member

    The obvious finish point would be Edinburgh, although the obvious finish straight along Princess Street

    Surely the obvious finish line would be the Castle Esplanade?

    When I fantasise about Edinburgh having a classic-style race, it thins out the field with various uphills: laps of the park, going up Dundas Street to Geo IV, and the finish is straight up the Royal Mile.

    Narrowness wouldn't be a big deal because there'd be no bunch sprint. Though, of course, they'd have to fix the cobbles over the last few hundred metres.

    PS It might start in Dundee, go along the Fife coast, over the Bridge...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  5. gibbo
    Member

    To answer the actual question, if it's 10 days, then there probably have to be finishes in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen.

    There should be a borders stage.

    Obviously stages in the biggest hills that can be cycled up.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  6. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    Stages around Skye, Arran and the Black Isle. The route of the Bealach na Ba sportive. Perthshire, taking in Pitlochry, Glen Shee, Royal Deeside and Loch Tay. A twisting route through East Lothian and the Lammermuirs. Dumfries and Galloway - it's so quiet you barely need to close the roads - Penpont, Drumlanrig etc.

    Some of the Scottish Tour of Britain stages on television have looked a bit bleak. So I would avoid long sections through the Southern Uplands.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  7. chdot
    Admin

    In the 80s Health Race used to finish in Holyrood Park.

    (After a few laps of Arthur's Seat.)

    Posted 10 years ago #

  8. gibbo
    Member

    That would be an excellent finish. Imagine racing for a victory coming down that hill (with the sharp roundabout as well).

    Could someone please bring this back?!?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  9. chdot
    Admin

    "Could someone please bring this back?!?"

    This used to be the Scottish Milk Race then Health Education Board for Scotland (HEBS) provided the sponsorship and rebranded the event.

    The jury is still out on whether spectator sports inspire sufficient changes in the general population.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  10. Charterhall
    Member

    A mountain time trial stage starting in Aviemore up to the ski station.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  11. Focus
    Member

    " Imagine racing for a victory coming down that hill"

    With or without the speed bumps? ;-)
    The Scottish Provident sponsored City Cycling Series of criteriums used to finish on Princes Street, with the lap being Waverley Bridge, Market Street, The Mound and back onto Princes Street. I met the great Aussie Alan Peiper one year. What a character!

    If Princes Street was understandably (and sadly) ruled out, they could use the route that the Edinburgh Nocturne used till it too was axed: Grassmarket; West Bow; Victoria Street; George IV Bridge; Candlemaker Row, Grassmarket. That would make for an exciting multi-lap finish after coming into Edinburgh from outside the city, similar to the Tour de France.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  12. chdot
    Admin

    Posted 10 years ago #

  13. gibbo
    Member

    @focus:

    With or without the speed bumps? ;-)

    The speed bumps mystify me. The only thing I've seen slowed down by them is the tourist buses. And they're hardly likely to be speeding in the first place.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  14. Focus
    Member

    Exactly. I either ride round them or just practice my bunny hops!

    Posted 10 years ago #

  15. PS
    Member

    That would make for an exciting multi-lap finish after coming into Edinburgh from outside the city, similar to the Tour de France.

    As long as there wasn't a break away with something approaching a 5 minute lead... ;-)

    Assuming there'd be a helicopter doing the TdF-style chateaux and scenery shots (the lack of one is a shortcoming of the ToB - maybe they'll get round to it as the race gets bigger), you'd need a stage past Eilean Donan Castle on to Skye (Inverness to Portree).

    A Loch Lomond/Trossachs stage (Aberfeldy/Killin/Loch Lomond/Balloch/Callander/Stirling).
    A Cairngorms stage (like the 3 pistes sportive).

    Posted 10 years ago #

  16. EddieD
    Member

    We've got plenty of scenery, and many spectacular castles Eilean Donan as mentioned, Castle Menzies, Edinburgh, Dunvegan, Stirling, the one in Aberdeenshire whose name escapes me and many many more...what we may not have are the cerulean blue skies and searing sunshine that France gets...things never quite look so good through a Scotch Mist or haar...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  17. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Urgh, Eilean Donan is a Victorian recreation with frills. For some reason never been particular impressed by that castle as we passed. Nor Dunvegan, though I guess that's me being contrary as after complaining about ED, Dunvegan just seems a bit 'blank'.

    Thinking of Slains Castle in Aberdeenshire?

    A Scottish stage race would have to make a point of being hilly... Helicopter views with the lochs and glens stretching out... (though as pointed out, it would more than likely be misty with no visibility).

    Posted 10 years ago #

  18. twq
    Member

    I'd love a grand tour in Scotland, even just for the re-surfacing that would happen!

    Posted 10 years ago #

  19. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Turns out it's even later than I thought, an Edwardian reconstruction:

    "The present castle buildings are entirely the result of 20th-century reconstruction and, although the rebuilding followed the extant ground plan, the details of the present castle differ from its original appearance. The survey drawings by Lewis Petit were not rediscovered until the restoration was almost complete, and the restorers therefore were forced to rely on less accurate interpretations such as the work of MacGibbon and Ross, who attempted a plan of the remains in the late 19th century. Indeed the clerk of works, Farquhar Macrae, is said to have based the reconstruction on a dream in which he saw the restored Eilean Donan. Rather than a genuinely medieval castle, Eilean Donan is described as "a romantic reincarnation in the tradition of early 20th-century castle revivals." John Gifford, analysing the building against the Petit survey, notes a "fussy elaboration of what was probably plain originally, and an omission of decoration where it once existed",[74] and describes the interior as "a rubbly Edwardian stage-set for life in the Middle Ages"."

    Posted 10 years ago #

  20. PS
    Member

    To be fair, there's very little that we think of as medieval or just generically old that isn't heavily Victorian (or Edwardian).

    ED is a "big deal" because of its location rather than its intrinsic architectural worth.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  21. Kim
    Member

    @gibbo of course your right the final finish should be on the Castle Esplanade, great money shot for the TV.

    @Charterhall I like the idea of a finish at the Cairngorm Ski Centre, could have a route over Glenshee and the Lecht, to sort out who the KoM contenders would be.

    @PS one would hope for helicopter coverage, so look as the Scottish weather was whiling to play along. One of the reasons these sort events are possible is the fact that the can act as a showcase for the host country, which helps to get local support and bring in money.

    @Focus I like the idea of the final stage coming from outwith the city, then routing through Holyrood Park, passed the Parliament and up the Royal Mile.

    It is a shame they axed the Edinburgh Nocturne, as that was rather fun. I wonder if there is a way of bringing it back?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  22. EddieD
    Member

    Aye Wilmington,but we're living in city that sells itself on twee romanticisations - so I don't think we should throw too many stones, and give the viewing public the deep fried shortbread they desire

    Posted 10 years ago #

  23. Focus
    Member

    "Thinking of Slains Castle in Aberdeenshire?"

    Or Dunnottar Castle, just south of Stonehaven. It's even next to NCN 1 ;-)

    Posted 10 years ago #

  24. Charterhall
    Member

    What colour for the leader's jersey ? Saltire blue ? Heather purple ? Irn Bru orange ?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  25. EddieD
    Member

    I forgot... Castles Anthrax and Argh...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  26. Kim
    Member

    @Focus not sure you could use Dunnottar Castle as a finish point, unless a CX element was added, but it could provide some great passing shots from a helicopter, al la TdF.

    @Charterhall hadn't thought about the colours for the jerseys, it is usually some thing the sponsors like to have a hand in. Humm, I wonder if Barr would sponsor an Irn Bru orange jersey?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  27. Focus
    Member

    Well no, I wasn't suggesting Dunottar as a finishing point;-D But it would give Paul Sherwin something to talk about as the chopper fliesbover, what with it being a location for filming the Mel Gibson Hamlet movie.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  28. Charterhall
    Member

    I'm wondering if Avon would like to sponsor a jersey, the Skin So Soft Sprints competition has a good ring to it.

    Posted 10 years ago #

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