For those interested la Vuelta (Tour de España) starts this Saturday with the first stage being Málaga to Málaga. https://www.lavuelta.es/en/stage-1 (https://www.lavuelta.es/en/stage-1)
The exciting bit for us it that stage 3 is coming through our village (Benalmádena Pueblo) on Monday 27th right past our gate. It is going to be fun watching them come through the narrow bit of the village that is very narrow as it is controlled by traffic lights for alternate traffic direction flow, should cause quite a bit of bunching. The map shows Benalmádena as being on the coast but that's Benalmádena Costa and not the pueblo, the pueblo is to the left of the purple box just after the route crosses the A7 motorway.
https://www.lavuelta.es/en/stage-3 (https://www.lavuelta.es/en/stage-3)
(https://v2-medias.aso.fr/core_app/img-cycling-vue-jpg/route-etape-3/0623/0:0,1500:1019-960-0-70/c2da3)
I'm no cycling fan Caz but like you, if they were coming past my gate then I'd be out watching and taking in the atmosphere.
Enjoy.
I love the Vuelta but it's also bittersweet: at the start of the event I can watch the highlights and afterwards cycle to the shops and back OK. After the event if I go to the shops at the same time I need lights on my bike.
Never mind, my newish job and its early morning starts means that that sort of thing is now after bedtime anyway, so instead of needing bike lights I'll be able to get to sleep without feeling it's the middle of the afternoon. Always look on the bright (or darker) side of life.
It also reminds me of the time quite a few years ago when I was in Spain when it was on. I gave up watching on telly as I couldn't understand the commentary but I did have possibly the nicest ever fish-based meal (excluding fish and chips which trumps all other fishy pretenders) I've ever had while there.
But back on topic, give us a wave Caz! Perhaps do some land art to ensure coverage of yourself.
A great shame ITV4 are only showing highlights each evening :(
Saturdays is at 10pm and all others at the usual 7pm.
Should be fantastic, Caz! I can just picture you out in front yard with a glad of red in hand, cheering them on!! :beers:
la Vuelta is my favourite of the 3 Grand Tours, always seems a little less frenetic than the others. Plus I have a fondness for Spain too which helps.
Caz, get yourself a big NGF banner for Monday so we can spot you :D
What a brilliant idea! Free global advertising for the NGF!! :thumbsup:
I'll see what I can do for the sign, I'll guess we'll wait in one of the bars having a glass of red or two, just to be sociable of course :-[
I want to see them come through the restriction of the pueblo high street (pic below) as it should be fun watching them bunch. Guess we will be just after they emerge from the end of the narrow bit and just after they pass the traffic lights and will try and have a NGF sign to hand ;)
They've already put signs up everywhere saying the roads are going to be closed betwen 1500 & 1800 hrs on Monday so have to make sure the car is back home before then.
Benalmadena Pueblo High Street.
(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/68/202-230818194942.jpeg)
That's more modeling time gone for a burton! :) Compulsive viewing for both of us. We'll keep a lookout for you.
I'll keep an eye out for you Caz, I'll hopefully be watching the whole thing on eurosport.
What a lovely street. :thumbsup:
Featured in ITV4s coverage of La Vuelta last night, as someone who gets vertigo standing at the kerb, check out "El Caminito del Rey". Would you see me up there? Not on your nelly :no:
http://www.caminitodelrey.info/en/#3 (http://www.caminitodelrey.info/en/#3)
Quote from: Newportnobby on August 27, 2018, 09:38:56 AM
Featured in ITV4s coverage of La Vuelta last night, as someone who gets vertigo standing at the kerb, check out "El Caminito del Rey". Would you see me up there? Not on your nelly :no:
http://www.caminitodelrey.info/en/#3 (http://www.caminitodelrey.info/en/#3)
Saw it on Eurosport, looks absolutely stunning. One for the "to do list" ;)
Quick reply as out and about with visitors. You have to book for the Caminito de Rey and it IS spectacular.
Link to video as la Vuelta passed through Benalmádena
Great video, I believe you had a bit of a wait? According to the commentary, they were running about 40 minutes late :)
Yes, they were about 40 minutes late coming through as they'd been taking it easy after yesterday's hard stage. The start of today's stage was all up hill to Ronda, driving the car up to Ronda tires me out let alone cycling up that long, long hill to get there!
Here's a link to a useful map that not only shows the course profile but also where they are on the route.
https://racecenter.lavuelta.es/#/stageprofile/
And by the way, held up a NGF sign as they went past, hope someone spots it on TV. ;)
Can only get highlights on ITV4 for an hour each night and they don't name any village/town they go through so, sorry, I didn't see your town or your sign :( :(
Spanish television coverage is abysmal. >:( They don't start live coverage until about 15.15 so the cyclists had long passed. It looked as if they were all out for a Sunday afternoon ride. At the moment it's not a spectator event. Maybe it will improve.
Quote from: Newportnobby on August 27, 2018, 08:28:24 PM
Can only get highlights on ITV4 for an hour each night and they don't name any village/town they go through so, sorry, I didn't see your town or your sign :( :(
I happened to switch to ITV4 just as they were approaching our village, showed them entering the narrow section through the traffic lights and then they cut to them the other side of the village passing the plaza de toros (bull ring) going down hill towards Arroyo de la Miel so had skipped the bit of them going through the pueblo. :doh: :smackedface:
Maybe the TV signal wasn't good going through the village as it's narrow and close walls.
I was watching the stage live as it passed through your town. I commented to my wife that a member of the Forum lives in this town (Benalmadena) and may have an NGF banner on display. We were both looking out for it, but we didn't spot it sadly. Good video though.
Quote from: Mito on August 27, 2018, 08:36:47 PM
Spanish television coverage is abysmal. >:( They don't start live coverage until about 15.15 so the cyclists had long passed. It looked as if they were all out for a Sunday afternoon ride. At the moment it's not a spectator event. Maybe it will improve.
The best coverage appears to be on Eurosport 1, the main Spanish station is a pay channel so limited availability but will have a look at tomorrow morning's repeat on Eurosport to see if I can spot our sign.
They went passed us at 1743 (1643 UK time) about 40 minutes late as they'd all been taking it easy for most of the day especially on the down hill run. :veryangry:
It was still quite exciting as all the people were cheering and clapping, was a great atmosphere and the village was packed, glad we wandered in to watch there.
I was surprised at how fast they were going
@Caz (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=202) . I'm assuming where you were, was not long after the Buddist temple. I recorded the eurosport coverage and just went through it slowly, but sadly didn't spot you and your banner, I was keeping an eye out for the bar you were stood opposite but that wasn't shown. Never mind, keep your banner for next year. Thanks for your updates.
Quote from: TrevL on August 28, 2018, 12:08:15 PM
I'm assuming where you were, was not long after the Buddist temple. I recorded the eurosport coverage and just went through it slowly, but sadly didn't spot you and your banner, I was keeping an eye out for the bar you were stood opposite but that wasn't shown. Never mind, keep your banner for next year. Thanks for your updates.
Hi Trev,
Yes we were there and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I looked at the Eurosport re-run today and they did exactly as ITV4 did last night, showed the race entering the top of the village (bit like a Christmas type tree at the road junction) and then they cut back to the race after they had gone through the village and were passing the Plaza de Toros on their way out of the village. :'( :'( :'(
Thanks for looking, all I can think is that the helicopter lost the camera radio feeds because I did notice the commentators commented on the "chocolate box castle" (a folly built by an English guy some years ago) filmed from the helicopter so perhaps it was a filler.
I don't normally follow cycling but I watched a bit more of the race today on TV and can't believe these guys will do this every day for three weeks, my God, they must be fit.
Unless I'm mistaken I think that both ITV4 and Eurosport take their pictures from the Spanish broadcasters and add their own commentary. Eurosport also have access to race radio and their commentators are sited at the stage finish each day.
I watch via a stand alone monthly subscription to Eurosport which currently costs me £7.99 a month.For this I get all three Grand Tours, all the Monuments and other big one day races and most of the minor stage races worldwide throughout the year. There is also a good selection of other sports [no cricket, alas] some of which I watch and the rest I give a miss. The Vuelta has an option to watch without the advert breaks which is much appreciated.
And just to go off on a tangerine, the Tour of Britain starts this Sunday :claphappy:
Well that'll take a day up :D ;)
Someone confiscate his passport please. In the meantime, I'll have a word with Immigration to ensure he doesn't get in :D
:laughabovepost:
Tour of Britain has what are probably guest appearances by Thomas and Froome for Team Sky
I reviewed the RTVe TV catchup video of the whole race and it seems they also jumped the bit through the village by cutting back and forth from the leader then to the peleton and back to the leader again the other side of the village so that's why nobody manage to stop the NGF banner. :( :'(
It still was a great day and I've learnt more about cycle racing in the last few days than the whole rest of my life. ::)
@Caz (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=202)
Apart from trundling around on my ancient mountain bike I never had any great interest in cycling but some years back I first got caught up with track racing on the telly (Olympics, World Championships) and then the major tours shown on ITV4 (and I thank and curse them for their coverage as I spend far too much time in front of the telly). I would urge you to watch more, Caz, as the strategies/tactics and endurance of the teams over vast distances is mind blowing. The scenery is generally fantastic to see, as well.
In the UK we normally get coverage of the Criterium du Dauphiné, Tour de France and Tour of Britain in full coverage and La Vuelta as highlights (probably as it tends to clash with the Tour of Britain) along with UK road race championship highlights round various towns/cities. The track racing is usually shown on the dear old Beeb
I must admit I like the scenery ;)
Perhaps you should come and visit some time George. :)
Thanks! Would love to see your wonderful layout! :beers:
Not a lot been posted but Simon Yates has ridden out of his skin to my mind. Hopefully he can come through tomorrow's tricky stage unscathed and claim the victory.
Really enjoyed the race this year, some great performances (e.g. yesterday's - Thursday's -finish).
But has Simon Yates got a really small face, or really big sunglasses? I think we should be told. Perhaps he does a spot of welding on the side.
Can't stand the current trend for enormous sunglasses. Oakley achieved perfection with the Radar and Radarlock; the Eyeshades, Flight Jackets, Jawbreakers etc just look ridiculous, and those Scott and POC ones are no better!
Huzzah! :claphappy:
Another cool, calm and calculated ride by Simon Yates wins the day.
In case you don't know that is the first time ever a nation has won all 3 majors (Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and La Vuelta) with different riders in the same year. British cycling is really on a high, and long may it continue.