HOW TO BUILD A LIST WITH A "B.I.G STAMP"

While preparing the Swiss list in 1997, Eric Lucas used the following methodology . Since 2010, it becomes the BIG-method. Here it is

Recall :

1st principle : the bigs must be dispatched in the more possible different mountainous regions

2nd principle : some bigs must help to discover the natural and cultural tourism

3rd principle : some bigs must be sporting climbs but the overview of the bigs must show an average balance of difficulty

4th principle : some bigs must help to discover the main climbs included in the cycling history

5th principle : the bigs must be mainly surfaced roads, giving some place to gravelled roads only when they give obviously an additional interest.

First step : collecting the data

1. Achieving a topographic study of the country
- identifying the massifs, mountains and hills, and valleys where should lie potential BIGs
- assessing, more or less, their importance before a numerical distribution of the total amount

for instance, in Switzerland, we have 74 BIGs (1 in Liechtenstein) : 14 in Jura, 2 in Mittelland, 16 in Pre-Alps and 42 in Alps. Actually, I decided : 60% for the Alps, 20% for Jura and the Pre-Alps and 2 BIGs for the Mittelland. This step also allows a better repartition (everything in the Alps, nothing in Mittelland) and a better discovery of the whole country.

2. Finding well-known climbs with media interest
- Searching the annual races (one day races and tours) organized in the country (see http://www.cyclinglinks.nl/, with initials of the country) and the former national or world championships
- Studying the profiles of the routes and pointing the potential BIGs

3. Pointing out very steep hills
- Reading general maps (Michelin, for instance, ...) and finding "two-arrows" hills ("three-arrows" is better) : " >>> 26% "
- contacting other cyclists, who know the matter very well
- consulting websites with a reputation about hard climbs (+ always verifying) , topographic maps with levelcurves very near one to another

4. Identifying the dead-end roads with a real added value, whatever the reason
- the value could consist in one of the criteria.

In Switzerland, I choose Juf because it's one of the highest villages of Europe, Schrina-Hochrugg for its steepness and the scenic route, Tannenboden for the arrival of pro races stages, ...

5. Finding more confidential passes and/or in "less known" parts of the country

Second step : organizing the data and conceiving a first list

1. Using the geographical approximative numerical distribution as a framework (see step 1, point 3)

2. Choosing rates for the distribution of the difficulty, depending on the topographic datas of the country. This point is very important for the mountanous countries (France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Rumania, ...) in order to avoid a list with only "more-than-1000meters-difference-in-level" climbs. For Scandinavia, Benelux or Hungary, this point is useless.

In particular, a determined rate of "easy climbs" can be very useful, because it allows the accessibility of the BIG to beginners, children. Furthermore, it allows to put the stress on other criteria (scenic route, castle, crazy steepness - 1km with 19%) and, why not, to make a short climb in the evening. Anyway, "easy" doesn't mean "boring". For Switzerland, "easy" just means "less than 500m difference in level". I selected 6 BIGs :
"easy" but (very) steep : Sur-la-Croix, Mont Soleil
"easy" but media : Regensberg, Passwang (GP of Zürich)
"easy" but scenic : Noirmont, Stoss

The general distribution for Switzerland is :
"< 500m" : 6 climbs ------ "500-1000m" : 23 ------- "1000-1500m" : 31 -------- "< 1500m" : 13
The average is 1150m/climb and a 86250 total difference in level.

3. In the same way, determining a rate of "crazy hills", very important in Austria or Italy (north). In the Swiss list, you'll find 7 "eccentric" climbs", no more : Weissenstein (22%), Balmberg (25%), Bachtel (20%), Jaman (20%), Acherli (18%) Etzel (20%) and Gorneren (28%)

4. For the dead-end climbs, a rate is difficult to choose. Just trying, in case of alternative, to prefer the pass. In Switzerland, we have 2/3 passes and 1/3 dead-end. Maybe too much, but the problem particularly lies in the Valais/Wallis. So a very specific case.

5. Why not, imposing a particular rate for touristic places

These light rates are very important because they'll help you to build up a very balanced list, considering the fact that the BIG wish to appeal to all kinds of people interested in cycling in the mountains.

6. Being in touch with other people concerned by the list, in particular other cyclists or your own country and manager of the challenge. They already did the job and their skills could be helpful.

Third step : communicating the first list for advice to the BIGs management and a short document with all the explanations of your work

You must send the documents HERE . What are they ?

1. An excel file presenting the list with the following columns (an example is in the following rows)

2. Send a topographic map

like this one with all your climbs shown with a red point or a triangle.

3. The cultural value of the list

a) List the cultural value of your climbs (for example : this climb reaches the main castle of the country or a very wellknown canyon or a very attractive chapel,...)

b) Give as much as possible the touristical big-scores to your climbs. The tourism points are based on 1 point for each good following characteristic : TV tower, monument, museum, car-park, orientation table, roadsign with the name, restaurant, bar, great scenery, great legendary site. Those characteristics appear below in the page. The maximum is 10.

4. Send the descrition of all the gravelled sections

and tell why they are an additional interest in your list (legend, tourism,...)

5. Send the administrative characteristics of your new challenge (if it is a new one)

Country : ....

Name of the challenge : ........................ - stamp BIG

Managers : ................................ (email-contact) : ...........................................

website : ...........................................................................................

Amount of climbs (how many) : .................

The 6 pages below contain the work Eric did in 1997 about Switzerland. It is written in French, but the methodology appears in English in this document. Of course the numbers (108 Mont Soleil) are old fashioned.

If you have any doubt or difficulty, don't hesitate to contact Eric !