I give the Vuelta organizers 10 points for their creativity–today's sign on was on a naval ship! However, I immediately disqualify said 10 points and am even administering a 2 point penalty for poor execution in terms of logistics and fan friendliness.
I was baffled to see the regular sign on stage set up in the parking lot in front of the ship. I'm not sure what the logic was in setting it up when the sign on was planned to occur on the ship's deck. It just created confusion and helped to spread misinformation as many of the police officers told people the sign on would happen at the stage.
I talked with a couple of photographers who were my best source of information, so I had a better idea about which direction the riders would come from and how the morning was likely to play out.
While I understand that for security and practical reasons, the Navy didn't want to open the ship to the general public, it would have been so easy to move the barricades a few meters up so that the fans could interact with the riders. As usual, VIPs who were (understandably) more interested in exploring the ship and checking out the jets on the deck had access to the actual sign on podium while the real fans were left yelling into the wind for their favorite riders.
IAM was the first team to step aboard.
Caja Rural.
The riders did seem pretty impressed with the unique venue.
Cadel Evans and Sammy Sanchez.
MTN Qhubeka.
Mitch Docker snapped a photo.
The man in red tried to give Cannomdale some instructions, but no one seemed to understand. Maciej Bodnar finally just waved his arm to his teammates in a “come on, let's go” gesture and led the way.
When the riders began to head back towards their buses, a lot of them looked like they'd really enjoyed themselves!
Damien Gaudin paused for a selfie.
Peter Sagan was all business as he disembarked right after he'd signed on.
Manuel Quinziato and Daniel Teklehaymanot.
Alejandro Valverde and Nairo Quintana.
Giant Shimano.
Nathan Haas, Nate Brown, and Andrew Talansky of Garmin.
Tom Boonen and Tony Martin looked pumped about the ship but Rigoberto Uran seemed rather uninterested.
Daniil Fominykh took a photo while Jacopo Guarnieri actually used his phone as a phone.
Tinkoff Saxo.
Alberto Contador and Fabian Cancellara.
Purito Rodriguez.
Aircraft carriers are not known for their generous hallways, hence Katusha had to wait for AG2R to disembark.
Once I'd seen the bulk of my favorites come and go, I tried in vain to reach the buses but no luck.
I couldn't figure out where the neutral roll out would happen so I grabbed a place along the route and hoped for the best.
Fabio Aru on his way to the ship.
I couldn't exactly understand why so many riders were going back to the ship until it finally dawned on me that the start was also on the ship!
Starting a race from inside an aircraft carrier sounds cool and I'm sure it looked good on TV but it was a disappointment to the fans stuck outside. Below: Adriano Malori.
Involved in a crash yesterday, Fabio Felline paid a visit to the race doctor.
British champion Peter Kennaugh.
Sammy Sanchez.
Getting 198 cyclists off a ship involved two quick 90 degree turns so the roll out was particularly slow and the riders left the ship in handfuls.
Lawson Craddock.
I am always curious to see which riders talk to each other across team lines but today it seemed like everyone was looking for a compatriot on a different team!
Netherlands: Ramon Sinkeldam and Martijn Keizer. Australia: Cadel Evans and Simon Clarke.
Spain: Koldo Fernandez and Samuel Sanchez.
Portugal: Andre Cardoso and Sèrgio Paulinho.
Germany: Patrick Gretsch and Johannes Fröhlinger.
Ireland: Dan Martin and Phil Deignan.
Belarus: Yauheni Hutarovich and Kanstantin Siutsou.
Belgium: Tom Boonen and Johan Vansummeren.
Given the truly massive size of the crowd today, it seems a shame that no one got any autographs (I only saw one rider, Luis Leon Sanchez of Caja Rural, come to the fans for a photo) or got to interact with the riders.
I hopped on the first bus to Arcos de la Frontera in time to catch the arrival.
The race course meant the bus couldn't go to the bus station as normal, but finding the team buses is always a good sign!
Hours passed and the Spanish sun showed no mercy to the waiting spectators. I don't know for sure how the peloton felt but given the fact that they finished the 198 kilometer course a full 20 minutes behind the slowest predicted time, I'm guessing they felt the heat too.
My pick for today was Dan Martin as the four category 3 climbs seemed to suit him and he needs to make up lost time from the team time trial if he wants to make the final podium.
In the end, Martin was up there but he was outgunned by sprinter Michael Matthews (curse those Festina clappers blocking my shot of Dan coming in second!).
Uran, Sanchez, and Quintana just missed out on the top 10.
Hesjedal.
Valverde finished in the main pack and forefitted his leader's jersey to Matthews. This makes Matthews two for two in wearing the leader's jersey in Grand Tours this year. Not bad for a 23 year old.
John Degenkolb, followed closely by his teammates Koen De Kort, Lawson Craddock, and Chad Haga.
Jose Herrada.
Rather than suffocate while waiting for the awards, I went to the buses where there was a lot more space and air, though not necessarily at the Tinkoff bus! It's interesting that the Spanish fans seem to really only be interested in the Spanish riders. I understand people will be most familiar with their own riders but it's an interesting change of pace that no one pays much attention to riders like Chris Froome. (Of course, my opinion could change on that once I've been to a more typical sign on!)
Giant and Movistar both had bery expensive bikes stashed in the luggage compartments of their buses.
Hesjedal and a mechanic went about making seat height adjustments.
Given the heat, it's not a surprise that most of the teams peeled out as soon as they were able. I did the same myself!