For the fifth consecutive day, I attended at stage of the Vuelta a Espana. Today, the tour started in Alicante – a 90 minute drive from where the Ultimate Sports Wife and I are staying. As I wrote when the tour was in Valencia, I would normally not drive 90 minutes to attend a cycling race that only lasts a few minutes (especially when there are other stages to attend within a shorter drive). However, Nicole and I wanted to visit Alicante at some point during our trip so why not have our visit coincide with the tour.

Parking and the Race
We did not arrive in Alicante until about 12:20 pm. The race was scheduled to begin at 12:55 pm. One of the main issues with arriving at a tour event close to the start time is that the roads are closed and most of the parking is already taken.

By the time we found a parking place and walked the few blocks to the starting line, we barely saw the riders start the race and the caravan ensue. Simon Gerrans earned the stage victory as the stage finished in Murcia.

Post Event Dining
After the riders and their caravan drove off, the Ultimate Sports Wife and I ate at Cerveceria Café Carpe Diem – a restaurant along the main road near the starting line. As with the other stages we attended, we then toured around Alicante.