- This year, the Vuelta will be starting
outside of Spain in the historical city of Nîmes in France,
a former outpost of the Roman Empire.
(cool suave music)
The three weeks of racing kicks off of a 13.8 kilometre
team time trial and the starting ramp for that stage
will be next to this spectacular building.
This is La Maison Carree which literally translates
into The Square Building.
And although it's not actually square,
it is very impressive nonetheless.
It is the only preserved temple of the ancient world
and it was completed in the year 2 A.D.
Which makes this...
Very old.
(cool groovy music)
There is so much history here in Nimes.
I've only done just over one kilometre of the route
but we're already been past building after statue
after building and I've stopped here for a rest.
This is the statue of Alphonse Daudet,
a 19th century writer.
Widely regarded as one of the icons of French literature.
About 3.5km into the circuit now
and we've arrived here at Le Jardin de la Fontaine,
the Gardens of the Fountain.
And once again, as you can see, it is stunningly beautiful.
I'm definitely gonna come back to Nimes
in the not too distant future.
Well, I've already had to deal with eight corners
up to this point and just behind the camera,
is almost a U-turn really on the circuit.
A double left hander for one kilometre of straight road.
Now the circuit is fairly flat but it's technical nature
particularly at the start when me and teams
have to go fairly careful.
First is so you don't crash but also
so they don't put the rides at the back of the line
into the red.
Alright, well...
Headed out of town slightly now
and on some bigger straighter roads.
Not quite as picturesque as the town centre but
this is where I think the stronger teams
are gonna find some time against the weaker ones
because the road, does drag
ever so slightly uphill as you head out of town.
And it's the place where you can really put the power down.
(cool music)
Alright.
7.3km in now and this is the highest part of the circuit.
Albeit at only a hundred metres above sea level
but nevertheless, the organisers have given this
a categorised stage 'cause it's a third category climb.
So it will sting the legs, I reckon.
As in fact, it even stung mine
in my own fitness levels at the moment.
But you know what they say,
what goes slightly uphill must go slightly downhill.
So I'm looking forward to what's coming just behind you.
(cool music)
Alright.
I've got too much to say about those final few kilometres
back into the city here.
A couple of twists and turns but mainly,
straight roads which you can really get your teeth into
or at least the pros will be able to.
The corner just down there marks one kilometre to go
and there's one more right hand turn up here
before the straight all the way to a very grand finish
for a bike race.
The Arenes de Nimes.
The Nimes Arena.
And here she is.
In all her glory despite being built
all the way back in the year 70 A.D.
This Roman amphitheatre can seat 24,000 people.
I can't even begin to think how incredible that was
to experience back in the day.
And let's hope that many people turn up
to watch the world's opening team team time trial
this coming Saturday.
It's taken me about an hour and a quarter.
It will take the pros probably about an hour less than that
but they won't be able to take in
the same sights that I did.
Didn't tell you at the start
because I wanted to keep this to the end
but the riders will actually be heading
through this amphitheatre
in the opening few kilometres of the race.
That is sure to be something very special indeed.
Now, if you'd like to subscribe
to the Global Cycling Network, you can do so now
by clicking on the Globe which you will find on the screen.
A couple of videos for you to watch
if you are yet to see our Vuelta a España preview,
Myself and Matt did it at a tapas restaurant in Bath
just up there.
Or for the latest GCN Show if you missed that,
it's just in the bottom corner there.