It had been suggested that the race would open with a prologue time trial. But, after some input from Cofidis’s local star Luis Ángel Maté, the organisers decided to stick with their preference for a team test.
The route will follow the beach-side promenade that links the glitzy resorts. Starting on the breakwater at Puerto Banús, to which the teams will be ferried on launches, the riders will sweep onto the seafront, cross the Rio Verde on a temporary bridge and hurtle towards the finish on the Playa de la Venus. The TTT’s difficulty stems from the narrowness of the promenade and the different surfaces, including wood, marble and cobbles. Thankfully, there’s little chance of rain.
Javier Guillén (race director):
"The race starts on the port’s breakwater, which is a very lovely setting. Although it’s very short, I think the beach-side course will look very impressive, and it will have the first ever finish on a beach. It shows that cycling can come up with original concepts because it’s not limited by the confines of a stadium."
The text in this preview originally appeared in the September edition of Procycling magazine.
-
CRO Race: Paul Magnier makes it three for three on stage 3
Soudal-Quickstep rider pips Ben Turner to extend his race lead -
Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V3 Review: Baby Bear is probably all you need, but there are still some teething troubles with the user interface
The smallest computer in the Wahoo range offers decent value compared to the equivalent Garmin, but is it worth it if it’s a headache to use? -
With up to 48% off, the Garmin Birthday Sale is a gift that keeps on giving - here are five of the best deals we've seen
From cycling computers to cycling smartwatches, and much more, the Garmin 35th anniversary sale has huge discounts, but you'll have to be quick -
Road European Championships: France celebrates elite TTT mixed relay title on home roads
Italy dethroned to the silver medals and Switzerland takes bronze
