As the Vuelta passed through the Catalan town of Igualada, the helicopter footage appeared to show a cannabis plantation on the roof of a house located one kilometre away from the end of the 8th stage, which was won by Nikias Arndt.
As it happens, the police were watching the coverage of the race, as a patrol then drove to the scene. The owner had fled the plantation and destroyed the 40 plants before the police’s arrival.
If the budding horticulturalists do happen to return and get caught, they could face between three and six years behind bars.
