Snow tires? No need today on Alto Cumbres Verdes!
The climb is around 4 kilometers long, so relatively short, but it’s dead straight with just the occasional curve and it kicks up to 16% in the middle. With no shade, Alto Cumbres Verdes promised to show no mercy.
I’m really not a hat person. I’m more of a “wrap a dumb scarf around my head in a poor imitation of a 1950s movie star” person.
16%. Ouch.
I made it!
Usually after I reach the finish on a climb, I turn back and more or less pace up and down the mountain to get the best spot I can find. But today I made a beeline for the lone restaurant at the top and gulped down a pineapple juice in the shade.
When I set out again, I stopped at about 750 meters to go where I had a good view of the road in both directions, it wasn’t terribly crowded and the fans were super enthusiastic. Perfect!
Minutes before the caravan arrived, the flame rouge was inflated.
I loved watching this guy!
He whacked every single caravan vehicle with his swimming pool orca–really, every single vehicle.
It’s important to exercise your orca and to take it for bike rides.
A hovering helicopter is a sure sign the peloton approaches!
I couldn’t believe the bulk of the GC contenders were all together: Alejandro Valverde, Nairo Quintana, Chris Froome, Esteban Chaves, and Joaquim Rodriguez and Alberto Contador.
Fabio Aru and Mikel Nieve not far behind.
Samuel Sanchez.
Winner Anacona.
Dan Martin.
George Bennett.
Andre Cardoso.
Cadel Evans and Steve Morabito.
Ryder Hesjedal, followed by Jose Herrada (and an inflatable whale).
Andrew Talansky.
Philippe Gilbert.
Alexandr Kolobnev handed off his water bottle to a fan.
A spectator dumped a refreshing bottle of water on Danilo Wyss.
Lloyd Mondroy.
Andrey Amador and Jonathan Castroviejo.
Everyone needs a little help sometimes, even the king of the mountains, Lluís Mas.
Sam Bewley and Cam Meyer.
Riding alone, I’m sure Tony Martin was thinking about how much he misses time trials at this moment.
Daniele Bennati and Peter Sagan.
I guess Tom Boonen was feeling camera shy!
Maciej Bodnar isn’t distracted by such things as inflatable pool toys.
By now the riders who had finished were already descending to their buses at the bottom of the climb. Below: Hesjedal and Cardoso.
Nikias Arndt, Robert Wagner, and John Degenkolb.
The last day in red for Michael Matthews.
Guillaume Boivin.
Nathan Haas.
The heat is obviously tough on the riders but it makes for long days for the photographers who have to lug around their heavy equipment up and down the climb.
The narrow road was full with two way traffic.
Koldo Fernandez and Castroviejo.
I mentioned the other day that Alberto Contador gets the biggest cheers by far but that was not the case today. Dan Craven, who came aboard Europcar just in time for the Vuelta, got enormous cheers. The Spanish love a good beard and Craven’s is impressively thick!
David Millar.
Nate Brown.
Degenkolb and Craddock.
Jens Debusschere’s birthday was today but I’m not sure how much celebrating he got to do!
A wall of roars as Contador descended.
I always thought the fastest way down a climb was by bike but this guy might be on to something!
Yeah, I’m pretty sure Johan Vansummeren heard me cheer for him.
After crossing the finish line, Yauheni Hutarovich figured his work was done for the day and sat down about two meters last the finish line to have a drink and a rest. Soon after he was joined by Anthony Roux and the Belarusian seemed to welcome the company!
I had been making my way back up the climb slowly but surely, but it had been about 20 minutes since Valverde won the stage at this point and the awards had all been handed out. Time to pack up the stage and for everyone to go home.
Traffic was at its usual post-race standstill but at least the drivers all got to enjoy a beautiful view in the meantime.
And that was stage 6!
