How’s this for a start? Stage 6 of the Vuelta is to kick off inside a supermarket.
The unprecedented starting point of the race is within a Carrefour location. Carrefour is a global retail giant operating a wide range of hypermarkets, supermarkets, and convenience stores, offering diverse products from groceries to electronics. You’ve probably seen its name on the polka dot jersey, for example.
Hypermarket, what?
What’s a hypermarket, you might ask? A hypermarket is a large retail space that combines a supermarket and a department store. It offers a wide range of products, including groceries, clothing, electronics, and household goods, all under one roof. Hypermarkets are typically larger than supermarkets and are designed to be a one-stop shop for a variety of needs.
According to the organizers, Carrefour will host the first-ever departure from inside a hypermarket for Stage 6 of La Vuelta at Carrefour Jerez Sur on August 22nd, marking its twelfth year as the main sponsor. The peloton will start within the store, which will be decorated for the event, and a select group of guests will witness this wild moment.
The day will feature family-friendly activities, including interactive experiences, tastings, and raffles. The question remains, who will contest the 2024 Vuelta? Organizers have hinted (perhaps over-optimistically) that Tadej Pogačar would try and do something also unprecedented in cycling. (To be fair, starting a stage in a supermarket, erm, hypermarket, isn’t quite the same as winning three Grand Tours.)
Jonas Vingegaard, who rebounded from a horrific crash at the Tours de Pays Basque to finish second at the Tour de France, has said he won’t be there as he is expecting another child. Primož Roglič is still beat up from his crash at the Tour and it’s also unclear if he would be there.
Defending champ Sepp Kuss didn’t ride the Tour de France due to COVID-19, so he may be there to grab the red. The Vuelta a España begins Aug 17.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…