Looking at the profile of the opening team time trial at the Vuelta a España you’d think it would be a walk in the park for a professional rider – pan flat and only 7.4km in length.
But on closer inspection it looks a little more challenging – and a number of riders aren’t too happy about it.
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Skirting along the coast from Puerto Bañus to Marbella the route ends on the beach at the resort, with organisers having plonked down a few plastic boards to cover up the sand.
…and throw a bit of plastic mating across the beach…#TTT #vuelta2015 pic.twitter.com/nCXsC5ZHR5
— Simon Jones (@Simon_Jones1) August 19, 2015
But they couldn’t cover all of it, with a short section of dirt road alongside the beach just before the finish.
#Vuelta2015 stage 1 – dirt road section should make the TTT 'fun' pic.twitter.com/lSyZ8XGawl
— Simon Jones (@Simon_Jones1) August 19, 2015
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Unsurprisingly a few questions were raised on Twitter by the riders taking part in the race, including Movistar’s Rory Sutherland, who joked that he’d be ditching his time trial bike for his fat-wheeled dirt bike.
Is the @UCI_cycling serious that this is acceptable? Union??? pic.twitter.com/4Sb2NktRQ7
— Rory Sutherland (@rorysutherland1) August 20, 2015
Vuelta ttt!!!! Are you joking???? pic.twitter.com/koVlW7T72w
— nicholas roche (@nicholasroche) August 20, 2015
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The short section of dirt road precedes the traversing of a new promenade in Marbella, which was a building site just a few days ago…
Nearly ready for Puerto Banús-Marbella team time stage of Vuelta de España cycling race starting Sat Aug 22. pic.twitter.com/O6Sp9xfr7M
— The Property Finders (@wecanfindit) August 16, 2015
And judging by this picture by Spanish journalist Jesus Balseiro, the riders will cross the finish line and plough straight into a group of boozed-up British teenagers on the beach in Marbs, which should be fun.
La meta de la primera etapa de la Vuelta a España ya va tomando forma en Marbella… #LV2015 pic.twitter.com/lE86Mq9xV8
— Jesús Balseiro (@ASJesusBalseiro) August 19, 2015