There was no red carpet treatment from the Dutch at the start of the Vuelta - just a deluge of rain and a makeshift green rug.

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The skies had cleared by the time Fabian Cancellara ensured the prologue didn't deviate from a script that was about as predictable as an episode of Neighbours.

But heavy rain on the motor racing circuit in Assen had Spanish officials nonplussed. Had this been a Formula One race, the red flag would have surely come out way before Quick Step's Carlos Barredo had the ignominy of slipping down the start ramp onto his bottom.

The Spaniard didn't look so much as shocked as rather sheepish as he tumbled in a bundle just seconds into his ITT in what must be the most inauspicious start to a race since Pedro Delgado's late show in the 1989 Tour prologue.

Following Barredo's embarrassing fall officials were forced to take drastic action to prevent further mishaps: the introduction of a green stretch of Astroturf-style non-slip carpet to provide more grip. Was that not giving the remaining riders an unfair advantage?

Coming a close second in the ridiculous spottings stakes at the start was the sight of one race official smoking a fag just metres from the ramp as riders set off.

Probably not the best message to send out to young fans - but lest we forget (and given the Dutch location, you'd be forgiven if you did) this is the Tour of Spain, a country where doctors still prescribe cigarettes to children when they have a cough.

Meanwhile, out on the circuit water gathered on the road as thick as climate change protesters on Blackheath. Blazin' Saddles skimmed the start list to check for the names of Michael Rasmussen and Denis Menchov; luckily for the sport's two worst bike handlers, they were not present. Just think of the carnage had they turned up.

Talking of Rasmussen, the Vuelta saw the return to action of like-minded trainer Alexandre Vinokourov. Making his first Grand Tour appearance since he transfused his way to a double stage scalp in the 2007 Tour, the Kazakh put in a solid effort to cement a place in the top ten.

How BS smirked when he saw Vino's time - 18 seconds slower than that of Spartacus Cancellara - matched by both Alejandro Valverde and Ivan Basso. Like in the past, it seems that nothing can split these bêtes noires of purported Puerto provenance.

Sunday's stage two - as flat as Kate Moss' chest - sees the race stay in the Netherlands and, aptly, could well be one for Party Boy Tom Boonen, an impressive second on Saturday.

Follow Blazin' Saddles throughout the day on www.twitter.com/saddleblaze.

Watch La Vuelta LIVE at 3pm on Sunday on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin Media 521); Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe