Markel Irizar, the first rider at the sign on podium this morning, spotted a friend in the crowd.
But first he had to sign autographs for kids from the local cycling club.
Geoffrey Soupe.
Jasper Stuyven.
Nick Roche.
Roche arrived just as Dan Martin was about to leave. Pointing out that the two are cousins, Juanma, the emcee, made them hug which got a good laugh from everyone.
Dan Martin managed to avoid the gravitational pull of the bike club kids, though he still signed autographs.
Andre Cardoso.
Flying dismount from Romain Hardy.
I spent more time than I realized helping the little Belgian get signatures, so I didn't get a ton myself, nor did I take a great deal of photos, but this kid was having such a good time that it was worth it!
Europcar hanging out while Tom Dumoulin and Luka Mezgec wait on the bench.
Basque riders Amets Txurruka and Haimar Zubeldia.
A reunion of Axeon riders, the premiere development team in North America: Ben King, Lawson Craddock, Joe Dombrowski, and Jasper Stuyven. Look how sad Fabio Aru is that he isn't included.
Antoine Duchesne, another alumni of Axeon who has graduated to the next level.
Riders lining up at the start.
Nairo Quintana and Fran Ventoso at the front.
The peloton slowly snakes down the spectator-lined road.
Matt Hayman and Cam Meyer.
Brits Stephan Cummings and Geraint Thomas.
Italians Kristian Sbaragli and Moreno Moser.
Vasil Kiryienka, Joe Dombrowski, Dan Martin, Nacer Bouhanni, Kaurent Pinchon, and Dominique Rollin.
Stephane Rossetto and Niki Terpstra.
Rafal Majka and Jens Keukeleire at the back.
Off they go!
I had to hustle to catch my bus but I remembered that the neutral route led the peloton on a parade through the beach city of Estepona and realized I would have to cross the course again. Oh darn.
Quintana, Alejandro Valverde, and Jose Joaquin Rojas in the front. This is what 193 cyclists look like.
Bucking the trend, Christian Knees swung around to the left side of the upcoming roundabout.
This time round it was Ruben Plaza bringing up the rear.
It was getting tight if I was to catch my bus but–guess what–the peloton wasn't yet done with Estepona! The course brought them along the main road parallel to the sandy beach and sparkling sea. Running, I made it in the nick of time to see the cyclists one last time, though I was breathing too hard to get my camera out (you try running through town in a dress while wearing a backpack!). The street was packed as the locals cheered the peloton onward for their 209km ride.
Today's 17 autographs came from:
7. Salvatore Puccio
23. Mikel Landa
29. Andrey Zeits
53. Romain Hardy
62. Fabio Duarte
68. Rodolfo Torres
91. Sylvain Chavanel
92. Marcel Arreger
103. Valerio Conti
111. Kris Boeckmans
113. Bart De Clercq
116. Maxime Monfort
134. Youcef Reguigui
159. Davide Villella
168. Fabrice Jeandesboz
169. Romain Sicard
212. Markel Irizar
