Sibiu Cycling Tour
The Sibiu Cycling Tour celebrates its tenth edition this year, and attracted two WorldTour teams and a total of six ProTeams for its anniversary edition: BORA - hansgrohe and Israel Start-Up Nation as well as Alpecin - Fenix, NIPPO DELKO One Provence, and Gazprom - RusVelo decided to restart their 2020 cycling season in Sibiu.
As usual, the parcours offers opportunities for climbers and sprinters alike:
(https://i.imgur.com/E55GXw5.png)
23 July Prologue: Historic City Centre of Sibiu, 2.5 km
The 10th edition of the Sibiu Cycling Tour kicks off with the traditional opening prologue over the mainly cobbled streets of the historical centre of the Transylvanian city, held on a 2.5 kilometre course similar to the one of last year's race edition.
(https://i.imgur.com/k3IkbDY.png)
24 July Stage 1: Sibiu - Bâlea Lac, 182 km
The next day, the race continues with a first real test of truth: a mountaintop finish on the Transfăgărășan Road. The finish at the glacial lake Bâlea Lac at 2040 m is a particularly challenging one, and with its 25 kilometers of climbing through several hairpins in beautiful mountain landscape it's going to have a major impact on the final outcome of the race.
(https://i.imgur.com/penf8L3.png)
The last 25 kilometres climb at an average 5.8 percent, and the steepest parts are up to 12 percent. Even more than the gradient, though, it is the length of the climb that will separate the best climbers from the rest of the field. With rocky cliffs right up to the side of the road and a number of galleries, the Transfăgărășan Road climbs through a stunning mountain landscape. Above the tree line, the valley opens up to form a huge natural amphitheatre. The riders will be able to see the finish for the last seven kilometres, but still have to climb numerous hairpin turns. The final kilometre, climbing at more than seven percent, is a last hard test and means that only the strongest climbers can hope to become the successor of last year's stage and overall winner Kevin Rivera.
(https://i.imgur.com/TfX2pEy.png)
25 July Stage 2: Sibiu - Sibiu, 178 km
The next stage features a 178 km loop through the surrounding areas of the Transylvanian city. With the flat finish and only a couple of climbs on the route, it could be a chance for the sprinters to take first glory, but over the past three years, two lone escapees managed to take the stage win instead.
(https://i.imgur.com/2g80myI.png)
26 July Stage 3a (ITT): Curmatura Stezii - Păltiniș, 12.5 km
The final day of the 2020 Sibiu Cycling Tour will be the next real test for the overall contenders, with not one, but two stages on the schedule.
Stage 3a is a challenging mountain time trial to Păltiniș. The climb is approached from the east, and has a length of 12.5 km, climbing with a 5.3-percent average and rising up to 10.5 percent on the steepest parts. The first nine kilometres are a the hardest, with a few steep ramps thrown in over the steady five to seven percent climb. The road then flattens out a bit to between ~two and three percent for three kilometres before the road rises for a short kick to the finish.
(https://i.imgur.com/FSkWa7v.png)
26 July Stage 3b: Sibiu - Sibiu, 109 km
The final stage 3b in the afternoon of Sunday, 26 July, has a length of 109 km and starts and finishes in Sibiu. The last 25 kilometres are mostly on large roads and will favour the sprinters' trains, but the final kilometre may spring a surprise: After a right turn with 550 metres to go, the road surface turns to cobbles on the narrow, twisty roads of Sibiu's old town, and continually climb at three percent to the finish on the Piața Mare, where the winner of the 2020 Sibiu Cycling Tour will be crowned.
(https://i.imgur.com/pxidISm.png)
A total of number 25 teams has confirmed their participation in the 2020 Sibiu Cycling Tour:
- #bora BORA - hansgrohe
- #israel Israel Start-Up Nation
- #alpecin Alpecin-Fenix
- #androni Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
- #bardiani Bardiani CSF Faizanè
- #gazprom Gazprom - RusVelo
- #nippo NIPPO DELKO One Provence
- #vinizabu Vini Zabù KTM
- #abloc ABLOC CT
- #akros Akros - Excelsior - Thömus
- #amore Amore e Vita | P:
- #ccc CCC Development Team
- #friuli Cycling Team Friuli ASD
- #damico D'Amico UM Tools
- #elkov Elkov - Kasper
- #giotti Giotti Victoria
- #mazowsze Mazowsze Serce Polski
- #memil Memil Pro Cycling
- #meridiana Meridiana Kamen Team
- #sangemini Sangemini Trevigiani MG.K Vis VPM
- #felbermayr Team Felbermayr Simplon Wels
- #novak Team Novák
- #voster Voster ATS Team
- #workservice Work Service - Dynatek - Vega Prefabbricati
- #teamro National Team Romania
A provisional start list is available on the race website (https://ciclism.sibiu.ro/ro/echipele.html).
The race will be live on Livestream.com Romania (https://livestream.com/romania-live-events/ts2020) and there will be an evening highlight show on Digisport.