Vuelta a España 2015: First Stage in Marbella

After organizing a team time trial in a mussel boat in the Rias Baixas of Galicia, finishing another one in the Bullring of Pamplona after covering the route of the San Fermín festival, riding through the Sevillian night in August, traveling to Assen to compete in the motorcycle circuit, starting a stage in Cadiz on the Navy ship Juan Carlos I... After all these original initiatives, a 'even more difficult' is always expected from the Vuelta a España... Let's see what Javier Guillén comes up with this year.

Well, the Vuelta a España 2015 will celebrate its first stage on August 22, once again a team time trial, along the Marbella promenade. A route of 7.4 kilometers that will start from the Puerto Banús breakwater and end at the Marbella Marina. "From harbor to harbor," says Luis Ángel Maté, a cyclist from Cofidis, born and raised in Madrid but adopted and convinced Marbellan from childhood. His accent gives him away.

Maté showed AS the layout of the time trial, which has the uniqueness of being contested on four different surfaces: concrete, asphalt, sand, and marble. Always to stay true to the promenade. "We could even add a fifth surface, as a platform will need to be installed to lead to the finish line, which will be on the beach," says the 31-year-old cyclist.

The cyclists will be transported by boat to the lighthouse on the Puerto Banús breakwater. "It's a big deal that they have given permission to start from there because it is private. It has been a challenge to achieve it," says Maté. The teams will ride on concrete in that section, face a 90-degree curve, and head towards an asphalt area: "It will be a technical time trial, suitable for squads that work well and handle the specialty."

Further ahead, they will face a portion of about three kilometers on sand: "Some adjustments will have to be made, they will bring sand from Alcalá de Guadaira." Then they will connect with a kilometer on marble: "If it rains, it will be very slippery and it won't be possible, but there are alternatives." Interestingly, in that area there is a plaque in honor of Maté.

The route adaptation includes widening the Río Verde Bridge: "The Army will come to install a wider bridge, otherwise it would be impossible to pass through there."

Traffic. The short distance and narrowness of some roads initially led to considering an individual time trial. "It would have been better, less dangerous, but it would have required closing traffic for many hours in the middle of August, in a vacation spot like Marbella," explains Maté, who has collaborated with the organization in the design and promotion of this stage.

Despite the difficulties, the time trial was located on the promenade to promote the qualities of the city: sun and sea. "The images on television are going to be incredible," says Maté. "And you can't imagine what it's going to be like in the town!", exclaims his girlfriend, Deborah, who accompanies him during the report. The Marbella City Council has estimated that there will be 200,000 people along the cycling route.

"In summer, this place is packed with people; the beach is going to be full," adds Maté, who usually escapes the municipality during the summer months to concentrate in Sierra Nevada. This year, on August 22, he does expect to ride through Marbella.