Difference between revisions of "Vuelta a España"
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! colspan=2 |'''Tour of Spain''' | ! colspan=2 |'''Tour of Spain''' | ||
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| − | + | The '''Vuelta a España''' (Tour of Spain) is a three-week [[road bicycle racing]] [[stage race]] that is one of the three "[[Grand Tour (cycling)|Grand Tours]]" of Europe and part of the [[UCI World Ranking]] calendar. | |
| − | + | ==History== | |
| + | [[Image:1vueltaespana.jpg|300px|thumb|left|The daily ''[[Informaciones]]'' with information about the Vuelta a España first edition]]First held in [[1935 Vuelta a España|1935]] and annually since [[1955 Vuelta a España|1955]], the Vuelta runs for three weeks in a changing route across [[Spain]]. The inaugural event (1935) saw 50 entrants face a 3,411 km (2,119 mi.) course over only 14 stages, averaging over 240km (149 mi.) per stage. It was inspired by the success of the Tours in France and Italy, and the boost they brought to the circulations of their sponsoring [[newspaper]]s (''[[L'Équipe|L'Auto]]'' and ''[[La Gazzetta dello Sport]]'' respectively); Juan Pujol of the daily ''[[Informaciones]]'' instigated the race to increase his circulation. | ||
| − | The | + | It was formerly held in the spring, but since [[1995 Vuelta a España|1995]] the race has been run in September. The course includes two individual time trials. The finish of the Vuelta is traditionally the Spanish capital, [[Madrid]]. |
| − | In [[1999]], for the first time, the course crossed the [[Alto de El Angliru]] in [[Asturias]], which climbs | + | In [[1999 Vuelta a España|1999]], for the first time, the course crossed the [[Alto de El Angliru]] in [[Asturias]], which climbs 1,573 meters (5,160 feet) over 12.9 km (8 mi.) with grades as steep as 23.6 percent (at ''Cueña les Cabres'') making it one of the steepest in Europe. Credit for the discovery of this climb and its addition to the Vuelta goes to Miguel Prieto. |
| − | The overall leader wears the 'Jersey de Oro' ( | + | The overall leader wears the ''"Maillot amarillo"'' (Yellow [[Maillot_jaune|Maillot]]) or ''"Jersey de Oro"'' (Golden Jersey)—the Spanish counterpart to the [[yellow jersey]] of the Tour de France. Other jerseys honour the best climber ([[King of the Mountains]]) and the best sprinter ([[points classification|points competition]]) [awarded a ''blue with yellow fish jersey'' that is sponsored by Spain's fishing and marine industry]. Usually there are other [[cycling jersey]]s awarded, such as for points leaders in the "''Metas Volantes''" (intermediate sprints) and for the combination category (a point system that honours the best rider in combined totals for best overall, points and mountains classification). |
| − | The record for most wins is held by | + | The record for most wins is held jointly by [[Switzerland]]'s [[Tony Rominger]], who won three consecutive Vueltas in [[1992 Vuelta a España|1992]], [[1993 Vuelta a España|1993]] and [[1994 Vuelta a España|1994]]; and [[Roberto Heras]] of Spain, winner in [[2000 Vuelta a España|2000]], [[2003 Vuelta a España|2003]] and [[2004 Vuelta a España|2004]]. Heras also won the [[2005 Vuelta a España|2005]] event, but was disqualified for a [[doping (sport)|doping]] offense. Spaniards have dominated, winning 28 of the 63 runnings of the Vuelta. France, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Colombia, Ireland (Sean Kelly in 1988), Russia and most recently Kazakhstan have also had first place finishers. |
| + | |||
| + | ===2004 event=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | The [[2004 Vuelta a España]] was won by Roberto Heras. Halfway through the 2004 Vuelta, it appeared it would become an easy win for Heras, but in the last week his fellow countryman [[Santiago Pérez (cyclist)|Santiago Pérez]] won two heavy mountain stages, thus becoming an important rival. Eventually Heras won with only 30 seconds advantage on Pérez. [[Francisco Mancebo]], also from Spain took third. The first non-Spaniard was [[Stefano Garzelli]] from [[Italy]] in 11th. The points jersey was won by [[Erik Zabel]] from [[Germany]], the mountain jersey was won by [[Félix Cárdenas]] from [[Colombia]] and the combination jersey was won by Roberto Heras. [[Comunidad Valenciana (cycling team)|Kelme]] was the winner of the team ranking. [[Alessandro Petacchi]], an Italian sprinter won four stages, but he didn't finish the Vuelta. Pérez Fernández won three stages. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===2005 event=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | The 2005 Vuelta was won originally by Roberto Heras becoming the first four-time winner. Two months after the end of the race, Vuelta officials announced Roberto tested positive for the banned "blood-boosting" drug [[erythropoietin|EPO]]. The positive tests were from urine samples taken before the start of Stage 20. He was then disqualified from the Vuelta and the victory was awarded to [[Denis Menchov]] from [[Russia]]. Menchov originally won the lead after the time trial, and did not let Heras escape until the last of the great mountain stages. At that stage, Heras had multiple strong team members leading in a breakaway, and used these to build a large lead once he managed to escape Menchov. Menchov was significantly handicapped by having a much weaker team, which was not able to help minimize the time loss to Heras. | ||
| − | |||
'''Winners of the Vuelta a España:''' | '''Winners of the Vuelta a España:''' | ||
Latest revision as of 15:57, 3 October 2009
| |
| Tour of Spain | |
|---|---|
| Local name | Vuelta Ciclista a España |
| Region |  Spain
|
| Date | September (since 1995) |
| Type | Stage Race (Great Tour) |
| History | |
| First Edition | 1935 |
| Number of Editions | 59 |
| First Winner | Gustaaf Deloor, (Belgium) |
| Most Wins | Roberto Heras, (Spain), 4 times |
The Vuelta a España (Tour of Spain) is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar.
History
First held in 1935 and annually since 1955, the Vuelta runs for three weeks in a changing route across Spain. The inaugural event (1935) saw 50 entrants face a 3,411 km (2,119 mi.) course over only 14 stages, averaging over 240km (149 mi.) per stage. It was inspired by the success of the Tours in France and Italy, and the boost they brought to the circulations of their sponsoring newspapers (L'Auto and La Gazzetta dello Sport respectively); Juan Pujol of the daily Informaciones instigated the race to increase his circulation.
It was formerly held in the spring, but since 1995 the race has been run in September. The course includes two individual time trials. The finish of the Vuelta is traditionally the Spanish capital, Madrid.
In 1999, for the first time, the course crossed the Alto de El Angliru in Asturias, which climbs 1,573 meters (5,160 feet) over 12.9 km (8 mi.) with grades as steep as 23.6 percent (at Cueña les Cabres) making it one of the steepest in Europe. Credit for the discovery of this climb and its addition to the Vuelta goes to Miguel Prieto.
The overall leader wears the "Maillot amarillo" (Yellow Maillot) or "Jersey de Oro" (Golden Jersey)—the Spanish counterpart to the yellow jersey of the Tour de France. Other jerseys honour the best climber (King of the Mountains) and the best sprinter (points competition) [awarded a blue with yellow fish jersey that is sponsored by Spain's fishing and marine industry]. Usually there are other cycling jerseys awarded, such as for points leaders in the "Metas Volantes" (intermediate sprints) and for the combination category (a point system that honours the best rider in combined totals for best overall, points and mountains classification).
The record for most wins is held jointly by Switzerland's Tony Rominger, who won three consecutive Vueltas in 1992, 1993 and 1994; and Roberto Heras of Spain, winner in 2000, 2003 and 2004. Heras also won the 2005 event, but was disqualified for a doping offense. Spaniards have dominated, winning 28 of the 63 runnings of the Vuelta. France, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Colombia, Ireland (Sean Kelly in 1988), Russia and most recently Kazakhstan have also had first place finishers.
2004 event
The 2004 Vuelta a España was won by Roberto Heras. Halfway through the 2004 Vuelta, it appeared it would become an easy win for Heras, but in the last week his fellow countryman Santiago Pérez won two heavy mountain stages, thus becoming an important rival. Eventually Heras won with only 30 seconds advantage on Pérez. Francisco Mancebo, also from Spain took third. The first non-Spaniard was Stefano Garzelli from Italy in 11th. The points jersey was won by Erik Zabel from Germany, the mountain jersey was won by Félix Cárdenas from Colombia and the combination jersey was won by Roberto Heras. Kelme was the winner of the team ranking. Alessandro Petacchi, an Italian sprinter won four stages, but he didn't finish the Vuelta. Pérez Fernández won three stages.
2005 event
The 2005 Vuelta was won originally by Roberto Heras becoming the first four-time winner. Two months after the end of the race, Vuelta officials announced Roberto tested positive for the banned "blood-boosting" drug EPO. The positive tests were from urine samples taken before the start of Stage 20. He was then disqualified from the Vuelta and the victory was awarded to Denis Menchov from Russia. Menchov originally won the lead after the time trial, and did not let Heras escape until the last of the great mountain stages. At that stage, Heras had multiple strong team members leading in a breakaway, and used these to build a large lead once he managed to escape Menchov. Menchov was significantly handicapped by having a much weaker team, which was not able to help minimize the time loss to Heras.
Winners of the Vuelta a España:
- 2005 - Roberto Heras, (Spain)
- 2004 - Roberto Heras, (Spain)
- 2003 - Roberto Heras, (Spain)
- 2002 - Aitor González, (Spain)
- 2001 - Angel Luis Casero, (Spain)
- 2000 - Roberto Heras, (Spain)
- 1999 - Jan Ullrich, (Germany)
- 1998 - Abraham Olano, (Spain)
- 1997 - Alex Zülle, (Switzerland)
- 1996 - Alex Zülle, (Switzerland)
- 1995 - Laurent Jalabert, (France)
- 1994 - Tony Rominger, (Switzerland)
- 1993 - Tony Rominger, (Switzerland)
- 1992 - Tony Rominger, (Switzerland)
- 1991 - Melchor Mauri, (Spain)
- 1990 - Marco Giovanetti, (Italy)
- 1989 - Pedro Delgado, (Spain)
- 1988 - Sean Kelly, (Ireland)
- 1987 - Luis Herrera, (Colombia)
- 1986 - Alvaro Pino, (Spain)
- 1985 - Pedro Delgado, (Spain)
- 1984 - Eric Caritoux, (France)
- 1983 - Bernard Hinault, (France)
- 1982 - Marino Lejarreta, (Spain)
- 1981 - Giovanni Battaglin, (Italy)
- 1980 - Faustino Ruperez, (Spain)
- 1979 - Joop Zoetemelk, (Netherlands)
- 1978 - Bernard Hinault, (France)
- 1977 - Freddy Maertens, (Belgium)
- 1976 - José Pesarrodona, (Spain)
- 1975 - Augustin Tamames, (Spain)
- 1974 - José Manuel Fuente, (Spain)
- 1973 - Eddy Merckx, (Belgium)
- 1972 - José Manuel Fuente, (Spain)
- 1971 - Ferdinand Bracke, (Belgium)
- 1970 - Luis Ocaña, (Spain)
- 1969 - Roger Pingeon, (France)
- 1968 - Felice Gimondi, (Italy)
- 1967 - Jan Janssen, (Netherlands)
- 1966 - Francisco Gabica, (Spain)
- 1965 - Rolf Wolfshohl, (Germany)
- 1964 - Raymond Poulidor, (France)
- 1963 - Jacques Anquetil, (France)
- 1962 - Rudi Altig, (Germany)
- 1961 - Angelino Soler, (Spain)
- 1960 - Franz De Mulder, (Belgium)
- 1959 - Antonio Suarez, (Spain)
- 1958 - Jean Stablinski, (France)
- 1957 - Jesus Loroño, (Spain)
- 1956 - Angelo Conterno, (Italy)
- 1955 - Jean Dotto, (France)
- 1954 - No competition held
- 1953 - No competition held
- 1952 - No competition held
- 1951 - No competition held
- 1950 - Emilio Rodriguez, (Spain)
- 1949 - No competition held
- 1948 - Bernardo Ruiz, (Spain)
- 1947 - Edouard Van Dyck, (Belgium)
- 1946 - Dalmacio Langarica, (Spain)
- 1945 - Delio Rodriguez, (Spain)
- 1944 - No competition held
- 1943 - No competition held
- 1942 - Julian Berrendero, (Spain)
- 1941 - Julian Berrendero, (Spain)
- 1940 - No competition held
- 1939 - No competition held
- 1938 - No competition held
- 1937 - No competition held
- 1936 - Gustave Deloor, (Belgium)
- 1935 - Gustave Deloor, (Belgium)