The Vuelta Ciclista a España 2019 will get underway in Torrevieja on Saturday, August 24th, from the singular and extraordinary surroundings of Las Salinas de Torrevieja. But the 18 km time trial that traditionally marks the start of the 3 week test of endurance will have no ordinary beginning as riders will pedal off from the top of a mountain of salt.
The announcement was made by the mayor of Torrevieja, José Manuel Dolón, together with the general director of the Tour of Spain, Javier Guillén, and the provincial deputy of Tourism, Eduardo Dolón.
The mayor said that “the City Council have accepted the challenge and will participate actively in the organisation of the race so the start of the opening stage will be absolutely unique as it gets underway at Las Salinas.” He added “we are working in a coordinated manner so that the start is a success that will long be remembered for the positive image it will create on Torrevieja.”
The mayor said that “the departure of the Vuelta from Las Salinas is an opportunity for the townsfolk to project internationally exactly what Torrevieja represents at the environmental level. Under the direction of La Vuelta, there is a great deal of coordinated work going on by many different organisations in order to ensure that for the start of the race the maximum residential occupancy is achieved so that such an important sporting event is carried out with the maximum guarantees “.
The director of the race, Javier Guillén, said “it is a global event that reaches more than 400 million spectators”, so the projection offered by the city of Torrevieja is very important.
Guillén also announced details of ‘La Vuelta Junior’, an event in which seven Torrevieja schools of will be involved. Thus, during the months of April and May and with the participation of the association of professional cyclists, there will be a series of both theoretical and practical classes provided by the world of cycling on topics such as road safety and respect for the environment. From these seven schools, 100 boys and girls will be chosen to participate in the last kilometre of the first leg of La Vuelta on the opening day, August 24, and in this way, experience what it is like to be a professional cyclists for a day.
