For those of you that know the person behind the GoGeo blog and @go_geo, then you will know that they enjoy a spot of cycling. That may be a bit of an understatement.  So, imagine their delight when they stumbled across the following short video while frantically trying to find the highlights for stage 4 of the Vuelta a Espana.

The Tour de France is a complicated event to put on. 21 days of racing with a temporary village to build for each start and finish. Maps have to be made for the cyclists that show the route, the distances and the gradients on the road.  Additional information such as tight bends and “road furniture” such as roundabouts and traffic islands are added to the maps to help riders navigate safely through the stage.  The maps also help the events team to set up the stage finish, identifying structures that have to be moved or modified to ensure safe racing or for the support infrastructure.

Click to play – Tour de Cartography

Excellent stuff, the only thing I need to find out now is how to get the job for myself.