There's been some discussion on my team's email list about gearing for Walkersville, and what the course is like - same as there is before any road race, as well as some of the crits. I can't offer a first-hand course description because I haven't raced it. So I asked the Internet, and the Internet let me create this course map of one lap with an elevation profile (click image to enlarge):
As well as this detailed elevation profile (click to enlarge):
According to these maps (using topo data from USGS), there's over 650 feet of climbing per lap. L'Alpe D'Huez, for comparison's sake, is about 6100 feet of climbing, but without the rolling momentum we'll have in Walkersville. Laps are 8 miles, so calculate your number of laps based on the mileage for your race on the flyer, and multiply it by 650 for your total altitude gain. Cat 4 Women are looking at 2600 feet; Men 1/2/3s at 5850 (just shy of an Alpe). Everyone else is somewhere in between.
The images and calculations are via Veloroutes.org. Here's a link directly to the Walkersville Course Map:
http://veloroutes.org/bikemaps/?route=682
This is just data - unintelligent numbers. If you have an informed perspective on the course - whether or not it feels hilly, where the attacks go, recommended gearing - please share it in the comments.
Also, is this useful? Do you want to see it for other races? Let me know that in the comments as well.
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Veloroutes.org rocks! I use it for all my routes..... AND the features just keep rolling out. Tour of Walkersville sounds like a great race. Enjoy!
Posted by: Dennis | March 29, 2007 at 05:25 PM