2014 Vuelta a España stage 4

It took a good piece of logistics working but in the end I found a way to catch the sign on at today’s Vuelta stage. I’ve loved the racing I’ve gotten to see so far, but if I’m not on a climb, my next choice is to interact with the riders and a sign on is the best place for that. Lucky for me, I found a prime spot at the sign on podium and made friends with the Spanish guys surrounding me.

Oscar Gatto.

Michael Matthews.

Birthday boy Chad Haga.

Getting autographs today was like shooting fish in a barrel. If the fish were already dead. And if the barrel was really small. And if I had some kind of semi automatic weapon for said shooting. The riders him early just came to me like it was the most natural thing to do after signing at the podium! Plus the guys around me were so excited that they started to call all the Spanish riders over to sign for me.

I got to say hi to lots of familiar faces like Koen De Kort, pretty much all of Garmin, Lawson Craddock, and Philippe Gilbert, to name a few. I finally got Tom Boonen’s autograph and he laughed and apologized when I said I’d tried at so many races to get him to sign for me! Cadel Evans struck up a conversation about where exactly I’m from in Canada upon nearing my accent and, when he was enthusiastically accosted by some fans eager for a photo with him, he lamented that not every country is as polite as Canada. Phil Deignan had seen my photo of him laughing with Dan Martin yesterday and he said he loved it which made my day (for the record, my day was made about four dozen times today!). Peter Kennaugh was super pleased when I said I had seen him win the close sprint to claim the national jersey in Wales. I told Nate Brown to feel free to slaughter my brother in their fantasy football league (sorry, Hermano!) which made him suddenly realize they hadn’t even drafted their teams yet. I guess he’s had other things on his mind!

A day later and Ryder Hesjedal was still fiddling with his seat height. Hope he gets it sorted out before the really big mountains!

Riders casually rolled towards the start…and then promptly hid in the shade until the last possible moment. Below: Aussies Nathan Haas and Cam Meyer.

Cofidis.

Caja Rural.

Sammy Sanchez.

Roommates Dan Martin and Nathan Haas can’t get enough of each other.

Sergei Chernetckii ducked to leer into the front seat window while he consulted a mechanic.

Joaquim Rodriguez greeted his teammate by flipping him the bird and laughing hysterically!

Meanwhile, Moreno Hofland talked with his mechanic as his DS ate a nice cream in the front seat. Not a lot of empathy for the riders today!

The next part of my journey to reach the arrival in Córdoba required a bus to Sevilla and then a train to Córdoba, but I’d missed the bus and was looking at an hour wait until the next one showed up which was likely to muck up catching the train in time to see the first lap in Córdoba.

After such a successful morning I knew I had no right to complain or to ask for more, but I figured I had nothing to lose…so I asked Garmin’s bus driver, Biso, for a lift to Córdoba. I was prepared for him to laugh and say he’d see me there–a completely acceptable response–but instead he thought for a second and then opened the door for me! I dashed in before he could reconsider and grabbed a seat.

This was my view all the way to Córdoba!

Passing under the banner of the official race start.

It was pretty hot in the bus as the air conditioning has decided not to cooperate, which is most unfortunate given the thermostat reached 100F/38C today! But I was thrilled just to be on a team bus, and that of my favorite team no less! AC or not, it was a hell of a lot better than the bus/train journey I had expected.

I hung out with with Biso and Ricardo when we pulled in to Córdoba, but I must first mention that I was thoroughly impressed with Biso’s driving skills. I believe he said this is his 25th Grand Tour so I’m sure he’s had plenty of practice parallel parking that beast.

The race took the riders on a lap through Córdoba’s center before hitting one final climb. Amets Txurruka and Jimmy Engoulvent flew through town first but the pair had less than a minute on the peloton and over 35 kilometers to go.

Lotto, Garmin, Movistar, and Tinkoff were all organized and pulling hard on the front.

Daniil Fominykh grabbed water bottles from the team car.

Anthony Roux pedaled furiously as he clung to the medical car after a crash.

I collected my backpack from the Garmin bus (not having to schlepp that thing around all day in this heat was such a treat!) and positioned myself about 75 meters beyond the finish. An hour after the peloton first entered town, the photographers set up to shot the finale.

Several riders tried to attack but no one could get more than a few seconds until John Degenkolb burst forth with a massive acceleration that no one could touch!

Dan Martin, generally known for his climbing skills but this week putting his sprinting talents on display, came an impressive 5th on the stage.

About one third of the peloton finished soon after.

Degenkolb was ushered to the podium.

Another day in red for Matthews.

Lawson Craddock and Chad Haga circled the finish area, too excited to get off their bikes.

Warren Barguil and Haga celebrated their team’s stage win. Haga even rode back onto the course–even though a size able portion of the peloton hadn’t finished the stage yet–and high fived the crowd for the final 50 meters!

And the riders trickled in.

Degenkolb was all smiles for his post-win interview.

Fellow sprinter Nacer Bouhanni didn’t fare as well today and finished over 8 minutes later.

Txurruka headed to the podium.

The peloton.

British champion Peter Kennaugh didn’t waste any time. He finished, rode to his soigneur, and then turned around to ride to the team hotel. I hope for his sake it was nearby!

Another podium for the German sprinter.

I wish more races awarded hats! I think Degenkolb would agree.

And the riders continued to arrive.

Seriously, he was loving the hat.

Matthews had 8 seconds in Nairo Quintana and is enjoying his time in red before the big mountains come.

Matthews also earned the green jersey which was presented as his Orica teammate Sam Bewley rode past.

Txurruka was the most combative rider while his teammate Lluís Mas kept the polka dot jersey.

Belkin were the best team.

I think I should I have bought an extra large shirt!