Tour de France 2013 *spoilers*

[ColinJ]

It will probably be a cat 3, 5.5 miles is 8,851 metres, so the points for the cat would be 3.3 * 8,851 = 29,208, above 16,000 is a cat 3 and above 32,000 would have made it a cat 2.

Is there a website with a climb category calculator? I always thought that the categories were a bit flexible.

 

[ColinJ]

Some of the comments about Froome remind me of some of the things people said about Andy Murray...

People accused Andy Murray of being Kenyan?

 

[BSRU]

How do you get to the 3.3?

Also do we know for sure it will be going over Cragg Vale? I thought the route wasnt out until October?

I am using the average gradient from the post.

 

[BSRU]

Is there a website with a climb category calculator? I always thought that the categories were a bit flexible.

No, I found a website a while ago that explained the cat system.
It is the length in metres multiplied by the average gradient to give a number which corresponds to the cat of the climb.
It also stated the average gradient has to be at least 3%.
Cat 4 >= 8000,
Cat 3 >= 16000,
Cat 2 >= 32000,
Cat 1 >= 64000,
HC >= 80000.

I think they have lots of flexibility when assigning a cat to a climb.

 

[ColinJ]

How do you get to the 3.3?

((968/(5.5 x 1760 x 3)) x 100)%

Also do we know for sure it will be going over Cragg Vale? I thought the route wasnt out until October?

The routes of the Yorkshire stages have already been published - here, for example.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

Okay, that's the 2013 TdF done!

Here's some news about the 2014 edition ... I was out on my bike the other day and discovered that our council are already starting to patch up the roads to be used on the local Yorkshire stage next year.

Traffic calming measures are being added to the road coming out of Mytholmroyd before the foot of the Cragg Vale climb and I observed that they are bolting down a temporary pedestrian refuge rather than building a permanent one. I reckon that they are thinking ahead and will remove it before the Tour's arrival?

The local media are still describing the Cragg Vale climb as a 'stiff challenge' for the Tour riders. It involves 968 ft of climbing in 5.5 miles, an average gradient of only about 3.3%, with one short section at about 8%. 'Stiff challenge' - ha - I managed to get up it in about 30 minutes even when unfit and suffering from a DVT and pulmonary embolism! If they bother to categorise it at all, I reckon it will be a cat 4 climb.

PS To show the way that official minds work ... Despite the fact that our roads are in an awful state and need a lot of money spending on them, the council has seen fit to replace the sign at the foot of the Cragg Vale climb with a shiny new one. I sense a TV photo-opportunity in the making. They couldn't let the cameras focus on the tatty old sign ...



... so they splashed out on a new one!

That was on one of the cycling tv programs I saw the other day.

Did we go up that on one of your rides colin ?

 

[ColinJ]

Did we go up that on one of your rides colin ?

We certainly did it on this one with you, Phil. There have probably been others too.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

We certainly did it on this one with you, Phil. There have probably been others too.

Ah right I thought we had done it just couldn't remember when

 

[thom]

I think you'll find that E is on the WADA banned list. You may better off just having an F.

Wasn't there a sprinter who blamed his failure of a test for testosterone on having an F with his girlfriend because it was her birthday ?

 

[thom]

No, I found a website a while ago that explained the cat system.
It is the length in metres multiplied by the average gradient to give a number which corresponds to the cat of the climb.
It also stated the average gradient has to be at least 3%.
Cat 4 >= 8000,
Cat 3 >= 16000,
Cat 2 >= 32000,
Cat 1 >= 64000,
HC >= 80000.

I think they have lots of flexibility when assigning a cat to a climb.

Originally that categorisation was the gear that was required to drive a 2CV (or some such ancient french vehicle) over the pass in question. HC meant you couldn't get the car up it.

 

[rich p]

Wasn't there a sprinter who blamed his failure of a test for testosterone on having an F with his girlfriend because it was her birthday ?

Dennis Mitchell?
edit -
Yep - well remembered Rich p!
His defense of "five bottles of beer and sex with his wife at least four times . . . it was her birthday, the lady deserved a treat," was accepted by USA Track and Field but not by the IAAF

 

[ColinJ]

I suppose you've already got a house full on July 4th 2014??

Aye!

I think there will be a Yorkshire-full, TBH ... Hotels and B&Bs started booking up as soon as the announcement was made.

I reckon the best bet would be to try the local campsites. There is a small site by the New Delight Inn at Jack Bridge, about 3 miles from Hebden Bridge. Lovely spot, and the pub is 100 ft from your tent. Contact Hebden Bridge Camping.

Also try Jerusalem Farm campsite (rated 6th best in the UK!). Another lovely location, handy for the local stage.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

PHOTOS

 

[laurence]

i have a hotel in York for next year's Grand Depart. seems sensible to stay in once place and 'commute' to the stages.

 

[Noodley]

... suffering from a DVT and pulmonary embolism!

Sheesh you kept that quiet Colin, you shoulda mentioned it before...