Today was a day to see the finish of a stage. So got prepared and into the car to head up the motorway. Unlike yesterday, we didn’t see any vehicles from the Vuelta on route. Got off the motorway and utilised Google to get us to the finish! We could have simply followed the signs for the route the cyclists were taking within a short distance, as is was the same course. We got as near to the finish as we could, and parked up off course down a hill, I thought it was only a short distance, later I was to find it wasn’t!
We then walked up the climb that the riders would later tackle twice on the circuit, it was hard work walking so heaven only knows what it was like cycling. We found a spot at about the 1km point, as the road split from the circuit onto the finishing climb.
Having bagged our place for the conclusion of the stage, I headed up the last climb to see the finish.
Am glad we found a spot where we did, as it was steep walking up to the gantry. I stopped about 150m from the end and turned round and headed back down, taking a few photos of the view from that vantage point.
I got back to our viewpoint and began to prepare for the arrival of the caravan, all the while amateur riders were struggling up to the finish, kudos to them all, some managing easier than others but some were as young as teenagers. I would have got off and walked!
Next the police wanted the road sterile for when the race tackled the last section to the summit, and with much blowing of whistles, and more blowing, and occasional shouting the course began to clear and everyone was behind the barriers.
Given the distance from the finish when the riders would pass 1st time, various teams took advantage of the sterile space to park and prepare drinks for the riders for the last time.
All the while, the Guardia helicopter was flying past ensuring safety from an elevated position. Most of the police were armed with pistols although some had in addition sub machine guns. Whether this was an added precaution after the atrocity in Barcelona, I do not know.
There followed an almost deathly silence as the riders approached for the first time, then the banging on holdings signified the arrival of the breakaway. A cheer went and and much banging of the holdings that lined the entire climb. Once everyone had passed we were treated to what I think may have been the Columbian National Anthem, as the corner we had taken was almost 50% Columbian supporters, all in good voice, even if they did test the patience of the police at times, who handled everything that people could throw at them in a firm but friendly manner, my Spanish is atrocious, so hope thats how it was handled! Everyone settled down for the climax of the day and the conclusion of the first week of racing in this years Vuelta. Eventually after what seemed an age, the helicopter sounds came back to fill the air, the race was approaching!
The police outriders came round the corner and found they were in the wrong gear and the corner was tighter than they had thought, much gear changing and using the full width of the road ensued. The banging on the hoardings began in ernest as the first riders approached the hard hairpin onto the final climb. The first bunch rounded the corner and headed to the summit to contest the stage win and the bonus seconds, but I doubt if the additional seconds were playing on many minds as they looked at the last section up towards the finish. More likely, the thought that had just done an almost entire stage following the coast and they throw this at us! Thoughts may have turned to the original Tour de France and riders shouting “Assassin” at Degrange.
There followed various single and groups of riders hitting the hairpin, that some may have glanced at during the pass while completing the circuit.
Eventually another banging of the hoardings as came into view Thomas Skujinš shepherding fellow Cannondale rider Joseph Dombrowski up to the finish. They would eventually finish 178 and 179 on the stage, down 24’04” behind the winner Froome for Sky.
After most had made the climb, the teams had the team transport down the hill, had riders struggling going up and others heading to the sanctuary of the team bus freewheeling down the hill that a short time before they had painstaking climbed.
White Bridge 