Deceuninck-QuickStep Director Davide Bramati and rider Julian Alaphilippe prepare to train in San Juan (Image credit: Ilario Biondi / BettiniPhoto)
Tom Bohli (UAE - Team Emirates) emerges from a parking garage at the team hotel before a training ride in San Juan (Image credit: Ilario Biondi / BettiniPhoto)
Team Beltrami Tsa train in San Juan (Image credit: Ilario Biondi / BettiniPhoto)
An Irsael Cycling Academy rider readies his machine for a training ride in San Juan (Image credit: Ilario Biondi / BettiniPhoto)
A moto-mounted police officer escorts Peter Sagan and Bora-Hansgrohe in Argentina (Image credit: Ilario Biondi / BettiniPhoto)
Peter Sagan draws a crowd during a training ride in San Juan (Image credit: Ilario Biondi / BettiniPhoto)
Connor Dunne is feeling peaceful while training with Israel Cycling Academy in San Juan (Image credit: Ilario Biondi / BettiniPhoto)
Israel Cycling Academy's Riccardo Minali and Matthias Brandle (Image credit: Ilario Biondi / BettiniPhoto)
Richard Carapaz (Movistar Team) gets ready to train in San Juan (Image credit: Ilario Biondi / BettiniPhoto)
Bora-Hansgrohe riders roll out for a training ride in San Juan (Image credit: Ilario Biondi / BettiniPhoto)
Winner Anacona (Movistar Team) applies sun screen before a training ride in San Juan (Image credit: Ilario Biondi / BettiniPhoto)
Police make way for Israel Cycling Academy's training ride in Argentina (Image credit: Ilario Biondi / BettiniPhoto)
It's not a WorldTour race, but the atmosphere around the UCI 2.1 Vuelta a San Juan Internacional sometimes make sit seem like the Argentinean race is top tier. The start list features Peter Sagan, Fernando Gaviria, Mark Cavendish, Nairo Quintana, Julian Alaphilippe and Tiesj Benoot among the six WorldTour teams, five Pro Continental, nine Continental and seven national teams that will be competing from January 27 through February 3.
Deceuninck-QuickStep have been in San Juan since Monday, getting used to the heat and dialling in their race machines, while other teams arrived on Friday. They've already had their opening press conference and a chance for teams to get out on the roads and train, although some teams had to wait for their bikes to arrive from Buenos Aires by truck and so started later than they may have wanted, forced to endure the midday heat.
Saturday night features the team presentation, which often includes laser lights and pyrotechnics and looks more like a rock 'n' roll show, as well as three 10km criteriums in downtown for the separate WorldTour, Pro Conti and Conti outfits.
Bettini Photos photographer Ilario Biondi was on hand to catch all the action, from the press conference to team training. Click or swipe through the gallery above to get a look.
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