THE RGT WRS
We’re starting the indoor season off with a new race series, the WRS (Winter Race Series) will be based on nine events. These nine events are split into smaller mini series’ called Chapters, there will be three Chapters each comprising three stages.
Each Chapter will have its own results where your time in each stage will be added together to create the Chapter results table. Your times will also be added to the overall WRS series leaderboard.
The Nine events are a set on a variety of courses using various event types, from flat crits and undulating stages to climbs and time trials.
The WRS will challenge you to do well in all aspects of racing. Tactics, sprinting, and outright power will play it’s part on the flats whilst being able to dance on the pedals while climbing will come into its own in the mountain stages.
There are also two time trials and “The Race of Truth” could easily throw up some surprises, you won’t know if that person chasing you can pull out a stunning performance and take your place!
The series is designed to let you pick and choose the Chapters you want to do or race all 3 of them and go for the overall, the challenge is yours…
To be crowned WRS Champion won’t be a ride in the park.
CHAPTER ONE
THE CLASSICs
THE AMSTEL RACING RACE
Inspired by one of the sports ‘near monuments’ and a truck load of quality beer the Amstel Racing Race celebrates everything that is great about the early season classics.
The Amstel Racing Race will be the first to be included in the RGT WRS league and will undoubtable play a deciding factor in the first Chapter of the series giving competitors the opportunity to pick up time if they can stay with a quicker groups.
One for the rouleurs and classics riders. The rolling course is set on the infamously cruel roads of the Netherlands taking in just over 500m of climbing over 45km.
We know, it would be better if the pro race was on but you can still get your fill on RGT.
L’ENFER EN FRANCE
The second race in the WRS series and the Queen of the Classic’s.
A cruel mistress L’enfer en France will push you beyond your comfort zone as you hurtle through the pave sectors and on to personal victory.
It’s always one of the biggest classic’s of the season, and we’re marking it with the respect it deserves.
The route is lumpy and unforgiving, unfortunately we cannot add the weather to make it even more gruelling but we suspect suffering in buckets loads for this.
THE LION OF BELGIUM
How could we have a “Classic’s” Chapter without including our very own Patterberg event. This will be brutal, the course is very undulating leading to the famous cobbled climb where the gradient hits you with gradients up to 20%.
Each time you crest it you feel like you’ve left a little bit of your soul on it, and then you lift your pace again to the line.
A classic has to be hard, you have to know you earned your position.
Date – 31st October
Time Slots – 12:30 BST and 20:00 BST
CHAPTER TWO
Something Less Ordinary
TORO ONE DAY
The start of Chapter 2 in the WRS series launches with something a little different, a time trial; It seems fitting to take in a little bit of Spanish sun in line with the pro’s on the Vuelta.
You will be racing our recreation of Stage 13’s – Muros to Mirador de Ezaro. The course is 33km long with a sting in the tale. Starting out with around 30km of flat the road hits the final climb which is only 1.8km long but has an average gradient of 14%.
In places the climb ramps up to scary 29% – yes you read that, right 29%.
Date – 7th November
Time Slots – 12:30 BST and 20:00 BST
BRIGHT CITY CRIT
Time to hit the bright city lights. You’re heading over to China, where Shanghai will play your host for an absolute belter of a crit.
The course is 3.8km long and only has 2m of climbing per lap which makes it about as flat as you can get.
It’s a major race in the region and definitely one for the big engines amongst us. Come to the line fully warmed up, this will be seriously fast from the gun and will not let go until the finish.
Drafting and positioning will be crucial if you get dropped, you’re gone!
This race will be as mentally tiring as physically so bring your A game for this one.
FAR DE FORMENTOR
The final stage in this Chapter is a race to the lighthouse, if you have not ridden this course then you are in for a treat, it is, without doubt; one of the highlights of our real roads.
Do not let its flat start on the beach of Port de Pollenca fool you, once out of the town you hit the first big climb, followed by a stunning downhill and rolling terrain until you reach the next climb which takes you through the famous tunnel and onwards to the lighthouse which sits at the top of a short hill to the line.
The course has 515m of climbing in its 22.4km distance, the lightweights will love this one.
Date – 12th December
Time Slots – 12:30 BST and 20:00 BST
CHAPTER THREE
A NEW SEASON
THE Upside Down Tour
A new year and a new continent!
Australia normally launches the year with the Tour Down Under, we will be taking a look at one of the main stages from the planned event.
One of the flatter stages to ease your way into 2021, this will certainly be a great start to Chapter 3 and being the final 3 stages in our overall WRS leader board will no doubt be something to keep you training through the winter for.
Date – 16th January
Time Slots – 12:30 BST and 20:00 BST
Oranges and lemons
The penultimate stage in our series sees us come back to Europe for the Tour of Valencia.
Known for its vast orange and lemon groves Valencia is a beautiful area to ride, we will be looking at lumpy course so don’t don’t expect this to be a particularly easy stage.
We’re at a point in the series every second counts so this race will certainly be crucial in securing the position you are aiming for.
Date – 30th January
Time Slots – 12:30 BST and 20:00 BST
BACK IN FRANCE
It seems fitting to finish our series and chapter with a stage form the planned 2021 Paris-Nice stage race.
Let’s not beat about the bush, this will be hard, it will be the biggest hilliest section of the toughest stage in the event.
That is the only fitting way to finish this epic winter series, a mountain top finish where time gaps could prove crucial in the overall leader boards.
By now, you will have worked out, we do not do easy!
Date – 13th February
Time Slots – 12:30 BST and 20:00 BST