31/07/2024

Crazy! Stage 6 of 2024 Vuelta a Espana to start from inside a Carrefour supermarket

The Vuelta a Espana has long been regarded as the wackiest of the three Grand Tours, always willing to the push the envelope further than the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia in quest of new challengers for the riders and new sights for the viewers. The 2024 edition of the Spanish Grand Tour will seemingly be no different.

Stage 6 of the 2024 Vuelta a Espana, will be a 185km mountain stage, with a 1st category summit of the Puerto del Boyar mid way through, followed by three 3rd category climbs in the form of Puerto del Viento, Puerto Martinez and a finale on the Alto de las Abajas.

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Notably though, the start of stage 6 will be held in the town of Jerez de la Frontera, a place that hosted the Grand Depart of the Grand Tour back in 2014, where Movistar Team triumphed in a team time trial that saw Jonathan Castroviejo move into the Red Jersey. Not on the roads of Jerez de la Frontera will the stage start however, but inside a Carrefour supermarket! Carrefour have had a long association with cycling, notably being front and centre of the polka dot jersey at the Tour de France.

"Stage 6 of the Vuelta starts from INSIDE a Carrefour supermarket. Cats are going to be lining up in the cereals aisle, next to the Golden Grahams & the Frosties…" writes respected cycling journalist Daniel Freibe on his official X (Twitter) account. "Am not even kidding - the press release just went out."

"So many questions about this that aren’t answered in communiqué. What happens if, say, Nairomán decides he needs some disposable razors two minutes before the start? Can he just ride out through till & not trigger the alarm? If he brings loyalty card, does he earn points? etc," Friebe adds jokingly.

According to the official Vuelta website, the town of Jerez de la Frontera "is, without a doubt, one of the world’s greatest wine capitals. The city’s history and culture would certainly not be what they are today without this wine region’s characteristic element – one that is present in the renowned Feria del Caballo festivities." The image of the likes of reigning Vuelta champion Sepp Kuss fully kitted out and on the bike next to the checkout will likely make for a curious sight.