Stage 2, the first road stage of this year's Vuelta, departed from Alhaurín de la Torre. I'm guessing there was once a slightly more impressive tower around here which inspired the town's name (this one isn't much taller than I am!).
Oh, la Vuelta. It's so relaxed here in every conceivable way. While I always have a blast at the Tour de France, I look forward to the Vuelta's humble and tranquilo attitude. Below: erecting the start line just a few hours before the race is due to begin.
9:15–the sign on podium is mostly set up and the fences are up. Not a fan in sight!
10:15–putting up a big screen and speakers, a new addition this year. Precisely two fans in sight (father-son pair in white and red shirts)!
11:15–about fifty fans lined up on one side and dozens more milling about the free beer stand (yes, free beer for everyone in Spain!) and other sponsor booths.
12:15–finally, a crowd! They showed up not too long before the 12:30 start time.
Of all the spectators though, the duo on the balcony were my favorite.
Officials from the Spanish cycling federation prepared the papers before the UCI officials arrived.
Jerome Cousin and Tony Hurel were the first riders at the sign on podium. They were in fact early, but unlike at the Tour de France where strict adherence to the schedule rules the day, the laid back Vuelta didn't consider sending them away.
Jimmy Engoulvent.
David de la Cruz.
Daryl Impey is racing for the first time since crashing out of the Tour de France.
Davide Villella asked the race officials for an extra jersey number before he returned to officially sign on in his race kit.
Carlos Verona.
Amets Txurruka.
Txurruka rolled up at the same time as his 2016 teammates from Orica, Mitch Docker and Cam Meyer.
At the awards ceremony last night, there was some confusion as to which jersey Cameron Meyer should receive. He was awarded the white combination jersey, but should actually have received the blue polka dot KOM jersey. They got it all straightened out before sign on this morning.
Caja Rural.
Jose Gonçalves signs autographs (as usual, I was the only adult/woman seeking autographs–just me and the nine year old boys!).
Cyril Gautier talks with the race press.
Laurent Pinchon waits for Dan Martin to climb the stairs.
Imanol Erviti poses with a fan for a selfie.
Etixx Quick Step and Colombia (and a small gaggle of photographers).
Marcus Burghardt.
Matej Mohoric and Valerio Conti.
Peloton rush hour.
Peter Sagan arrived at sign on at the last minute but still hung around to sign a dozen autographs.
Sylvain Chavanel.
Alejandro Valverde.
Nick Roche and Joe Dombrowski.
Peter Velits in the leader's red jersey.
John Degenkolb with one of his main rivals for sprint stages and the green jersey, Peter Sagan, just behind him.
Andrey Amador.
Danny Van Poppel alongside several Giant riders: Thierry Hupond, Tom Dumoulin, and Luka Mezgec.
Andrew Talansky stopped by the team car for a last minute talk and to grab another water bottle for the warm afternoon.
Rather than be content watching the stage on a TV somewhere, I chanced it and got on the train to El Chorro (where I went rock climbing last year) in hopes of making it just in time to see the peloton before they hit the final climb up to the finish line. For the first time in ages, my luck ran out and the train was so far behind schedule that I didn't even bother going all the way to El Chorro and got off at the first stop. I was disappointed but that quickly vanished when I saw the race result on Twitter (Chaves!) and started talking with a pair of English women who'd caught both of the peloton's laps in the area. They're also planning to see the start tomorrow, as is a Japanese woman I met in Alhaurín de la Torre this morning, so I may even have some company other than nine year old boys for a change!
Today's 43 autographs came from:
2. Ian Boswell
3. Sergio Henao
8. Nick Roche
12. Gedaminas Bagdonas
31. Samu Sanchez
32. Darwin Atapuma
33. Marcus Burghardt
42. Carlos Barbero
45. Jose Gonçalves
61. Alex Cano
64. Fernando Morales
71. Niki Terpstra
74. David de la Cruz
78. Martin Velits
79. Carlos Verona
82. Arnaud Courteille
85. Olivier Le Gac
87. Laurent Pinchon
88. Kevin Reza
99. Larry Warbasse
105. Tsagbu Grmay
121. Alejandro Valverde
123. Imanol Erviti
128. Fran Ventoso
133. Songezo Jim
137. Jay Thompson
141. Johan Chaves
143. Caleb Ewan
147. Daryl Impey
149. Cam Meyer
152. Andre Cardoso
153. Joe Dombrowski
156. Dan Martin
163. Jerome Cousin
164. Antoine Duchesne
166. Cyril Gautier
172. Lawson Craddock
175. Johannes Fröhlinger
181. Joaquim Rodriguez
182. Vladimir Isaichev
203. Maciej Bodnar
209. Peter Sagan
215. Jasper Stuyven