It's here, it's here, it's finally here. After three and a half weeks of no Grand Tour racing, of proper silly season stuff, the Vuelta a España has arrived to save us from late summer boredom.
The race's team presentation happened in the cycling-mad city of Utrecht on Thursday evening, 24 hours before the race kicks off. It might not have been quite as wild as the scenes in Copenhagen, which seems like another life now, but it must have been cheering for the 184 riders set to take part in the race.
1. When you are on a boat, even if it is a small dinghy on a canal, it must be hard to resist having your own Titanic moment
2. Just imagine. You turn up for your first Grand Tour, you're all excited, and then you're put onto a boat. Eh?
3. Yeah, the boats are cool. Well done Utrecht
4. Arkéa Samsic are wearing a special jersey for the Vuelta, high vis rather than their normal red. It will make Nairo Quintana's absence all the more noticeable. However, it does have a good message on the back about giving cyclists space...
5. Jeremy Kyle, long-forgotten angry horrible television man, hates cyclists. It's always the best people! He needs to have a look at Arkéa's message
6. Astana-Qazaqstan are wearing white at the Vuelta, for reasons I can't really fathom. I guess it'll be hot in Spain?
7. Movistar will also be wearing white! But at least there is a reason behind this, this being Alejandro Valverde's last Grand Tour. It will be his 17th Vuelta, and his 33rd overall. Chapeau "Bala"
8. George Russell is some sort of Formula 1-ist, who knows who he drives for. What could it be? Lotus? Anyway, he also likes cycling and posting thirst traps (google it)
9. It's a busy weekend for the Hayters. Leo is currently riding the Tour de l'Avenir, and Ethan is starting his first Grand Tour at the Vuelta. Their dad must be proud
10. And, one person has massively benefited from Nairo Quintana's Tour de France disqualification...
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