Peter Sagan is not a fan of the Vuelta a España heat

With temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in the first week of the Vuelta, Peter Sagan and other riders speak out about riding in the heat

Nacer Bou
(Image credit: Yuzuru SUNADA)

It's pretty hot at the Vuelta a España and not everyone is liking their time in the sun.

Peter Sagan has voiced his displeasure at riding in the scorching heat of the Andalucia region in the south of the country, where daytime temperatures have been over 30 degrees Celsius all week.

>>> “There’s going to be a bottle shortage”: Tour riders battle the heat

With thermometres even touching 40 degrees in recent days, the Slovak didn't mince his words when asked about how he was coping.

"I hate this heat, it's ridiculous. The UCI should implement some form of regulation so we do not have to race like this," he told AS.

Even native Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez agreed that the heat was too much - the Katusha rider currently sits eighth overall after three top-10 finishes in the opening six stages.

AS report that each team is preparing 25 to 35 bottles of drink for each rider on these hot stages, equating to 5,000 bottles being consumed in the whole peloton.

With the race heading towards Murcia, native of the area Alejandro Valverde warned that the temperatures may not be much better there.

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Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.