The blisteringly sizzling climate that has hit the opening week of the Vuelta a España has seen groups hand out extra water and ice than ever earlier than in a bid to beat the warmth of southern Spain.
So far, regardless of riders together with Richard Carapaz getting into “a zone of desperation” within the excessive temperatures, the Vuelta peloton is struggling however surviving. The identical, nonetheless, cannot be stated of the crew buses on the race, with Soudal-QuickStep’s crew bus falling sufferer to technical issues within the warmth earlier than stage 4.
As a consequence, the crew – rebranded for this Vuelta to T Rex-QuickStep – had to ask locals in the start town of Plasencia to accommodate them as they ready for the race’s first mountain stage.
The last-minute change of plans did not have an effect on the Belgian squad too badly on the day, with crew chief Mikel Landa racing to seventh total on the Pico Villuercas on the identical time as stage winner Primož Roglič.
On stage 5’s dash to Seville, they had been once more compelled to compromise with the crew bus nonetheless out of motion. Luckily, Spanish squad Burgos-BH – non-invitees on the Vuelta for the primary time since 2017 – had been available to assist.
The ProTeam, presently in motion on the Tour Poitou-Charentes, stepped in, loaning Soudal-QuickStep one in every of their crew buses on Wednesday.
The Spanish squad’s bus driver David was referred to as again from vacation to assist. With the crew’s base situated close to Burgos in northern Spain, he confronted a six-hour, 600km journey right down to the stage 5 begin city of Fuente del Maestre in Extremadura.
“I used to be in France on vacation with my household and I used to be referred to as,” he defined to Marca. “Soudal-QuickStep had an issue with their bus and I returned to Burgos at daybreak. I drove within the morning from Burgos and reached the beginning.”
Burgos-BH posted a message on social media, writing that it is “a pleasure that can assist you! Best of luck in La Vuelta and luxuriate in our house race”, whereas a number of Soudal-QuickStep riders thanked the crew for serving to out.
“Hey everybody at crew Burgos. Thank you a lot for the assistance with the bus. It’s been a lifesaver for us right here within the warmth of the Vuelta. Cheers,” stated Danish rider Kasper Asgreen in a video the crew posted on social media.
