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

[HJ]

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 bit of fun ;-)

 

[machew]

The Mountain stage should include one or more of the Munro's

 

[ColinJ]

Not very practical probably, but the loop over Bealach na Bà, through Applecross and round the coast.

 

[Scoosh]

He's planning something, is HJ ...

 

[DiddlyDodds]

Round Skye, over the bridge and finish at Eilean Donan Castle.

 

[ColinJ]

Round Skye, over the bridge and finish at Eilean Donan Castle.

I looked at one that started on Skye and then did my Applecross loop but the overall distance was too long.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Stage 1 - Edinburgh - Dundee
Stage 2 - Dundee ITT up the Law Hill as per Milk Race from 90s
Stage 3 - Dundee - Stonehaven
Stage 4 - Stonehaven - Inverness
Stage 5 - Durness - Ullapool
Stage 6 - Skye TTT
Stage 7 - Skye - Oban
Stage 8 - Oban - Glasgow
Stage 9 - Glasgow - Dumfries
Stage 10 - Dumfries - Edinburgh

 

[Herbie]

Not very practical probably, but the loop over Bealach na Bà, through Applecross and round the coast.

top choice Colin

 

[ColinJ]

top choice Colin

I have never done it but a friend did and he said it was one of the finest rides he's ever done!

I have a younger second cousin on the west coast who is a keen cyclist. Perhaps I will do the ride with him one day? I am going to visit next autumn so I might suggest it.

 

[srw]

The trouble with Northern Scotland from this perspective is that there are basically only enough roads for one 10-day tour route. You couldn't do what the big tours do and vary the route each year - you'd run out of roads pretty soon.

You're just about limited to the mainland, unless you do a short island TT - Orkney Mainland is only about 60 miles long, and Shetland's too much of a bugger to get to.

 

[HJ]

There are some real good suggestions here, I take your point @srw which is why it would need to be the whole of Scotland, with only one or two stages in the North or North West each year. Don't for get there is a lot of potential south of the Central belt as well. Although my original suggestion was 10 day, maybe a week would be a better option?

I like the idea of a stage on the Orkney Mainland, logistically it might be an issue with the ferries, but probably do able. There might also be options for the Western Isles as well, the winds out there would certainly make for interesting racing condition and would mitigate the shorter distances.

More suggestions welcome, there is some really good stuff here.

 

[Rasmus]

Some stage suggestions (with no particular thoughts to linking them up...):

From Glasgow over the Campsies to the Trossachs, around loch Katrine, back into Stirling, finishing below the castle.

Galloway Forest Park, something inspired by the Obree sportive.

Pitlochry or Dundee to Aberdeen via Glenshee and the Lecht

Stage finish at Cairngorm ski centre

ITT (half-)loop of Arran

Oban-Fort William-Glenfinnan-Ardnamurchan lighthouse

 

[Dusty Bin]

Try googling the 'Girvan 3-day' - that race used to be on the premier calendar...

 

[Herbie]

I have never done it but a friend did and he said it was one of the finest rides he's ever done!

I have a younger second cousin on the west coast who is a keen cyclist. Perhaps I will do the ride with him one day? I am going to visit next autumn so I might suggest it.

It really is a great route.....did it in May....weather was fab and scenery equal

 

[Booyaa]

Something to include Loch Ness and Loch Lomond. The Trossachs and Cairngorm parks have some amazing roads that I would like to see a pro pellet on do.