It was a day marked by fun, lightness, and heat that inaugurated the weekend of the Tour de France EFGH Singapore Criterium, the first of two criteriums organized by A.S.O. scheduled for early November.

Under a sun that had already set the air ablaze from the early morning hours (consistently above 30 degrees) in the Asian city-state, the riders present were extremely willing to participate in all the activities prepared by the organization for the eve of the race, starting with fun one-on-one shuttlecock games and challenges in preparing various local coffees that preceded the official photos and press interviews.

Subsequently, in the early afternoon, all athletes were called to take on the 60 Seconds of Power Challenge, a full-out minute on the cycling simulator that saw Jonathan Milan, amid a clash of green Tour jerseys, emerge victorious and receive thunderous applause from the warm local fans.

Once this activity was completed (approached with surprisingly high participation by some elements), all the attention of the fans gathered at the rich village set up in the finish area (which also included the stand of the Tour's technical partner Santini, who created a special two-tone jersey for the occasion) turned to the main stage where the usual team presentation took place.

Here, among simple curious onlookers and long-time enthusiasts, there were no shortage of applause, autograph requests, and encouragements (even in Italian) for all the athletes and teams that will animate tomorrow afternoon's fast 2,400-meter circuit designed to host both the team time trial and, subsequently, the 60-kilometer road race - two events that promise to be vibrant, fiercely contested, and capable of rewarding with a massive dose of emotion the enthusiastic Singaporean population that will line the roadside to not miss the event.