Dénia returns to host three decades later a stage of La Vuelta. This Saturday, the best cyclists in the world meet in our city to tour its streets and start the day's race, which will culminate in Xorret de Catí. To remember a similar appointment, you have to go back to 1990. But it was not the same, in any sense. The Dénia of that moment has little to do with the current one. A lot of time has passed since then, as will be reflected by achieving a presence in the competition 33 years later that could not even be dreamed of at the time.
On April 27, 1990, the almost 200 runners of that year's La Vuelta gathered at the port of Dénia, near the Baix la Mar neighborhood, to finalize the preparations and carry out signature control before the third stage of that year began. The city, as expected, was involved in an event of this magnitude. hundreds of fans They were in the surroundings, where the teams were gathered, so as not to miss anything, to try to get an autograph from their idols or take a photograph that they would not enjoy until it was revealed days later. Behind them, a port façade of El Raset that is almost not far from what we can see today. More terraces than space to walk.
The television cameras served to promote the city, showing what it had to offer to the passage of bicycles. And what could be seen? Not much. The aforementioned port, the straight road from Dénia to Xàbia, Les Planes, and now.
From being an exit to being a start
Dénia was only the starting point and quickly the runners left the term, leaving behind a parallel to the Marinette very little recognizable, which lacks large buildings of questionable taste built around immense empty gardens and community pools, and many chalets in what in 1990 was nature.
Now, 33 years later, La Vuelta not only leaves Dénia. Go through Dénia. The first 7 kilometers of the route will be in the urban area. The cameras will not only show nearly two hundred athletes pedaling to get away from the city, but will witness how they go through Marqués de Campo, the port, Joan Fuster, Jaume I square and Ronda Muralles. Castle and the neighborhoods of the municipality will appear on thousands of screens, being a unique and never before experienced opportunity to promote it.
Fran, you have nailed it, the signage of the level crossings is great, what a marvelous administration that, after 10 minutes of aerial view, on TV, solves the problems we need throughout the year, fixing roads, roads, etc. for the return.
But the tram thing, wonderful, all in colors, it's a shame that later we go looking for any chumina and we get caught by the tram, or a snail passing by there.
The train level crossings for people are now painted red, they stand out to the eye; and they are much better marked than before.
I don't know if it will be a coincidence or not; but at least seeing it like this, "the return" has brought something positive to Dénia. Glad to hear it.
The design and performance of the bikes has also changed a lot in 33 years. Perhaps true fans are interested in that more than the tourist advertising report that La Vuelta has become. Excellent idea to make her go through the calcined areas of La Vall, tear gas sells.