La Vuelta a Espaņa (the Tour of Spain) started in 1935, a few years after the Tours of France and Italy and like them it was started to publicise a newspaper. The Vuelta is the youngest but some might say the hardest of the Grand Tours.
Originally at the start of year in spring it would get some terrible weather and clashed with the Giro d’Italia, the race was moved to its present September date in 1995, although still gets bad weather has gone from strength to strength and is a very important race to win.
How the Vuelta started
The first Vuelta started and finished in Madrid, was 14 stages long and won by the Belgian, Gustaaf Deloor. Deloor came back the next year and won that one also. The first two editions of La Vuelta were held before the Spanish civil war, the next race was held in 1941 during the second world war, so there were 28 Spanish riders and only 4 neutral Swiss participants, so there was more chance of a home win.
Julián Berrendero did the honours for Spain for the next two years, the race was cancelled until 1945, but the race wasn’t really international until after the war in 1947 when the Belgians came back to win and start a trend of foreign winners.
Winners of the past
There has been many famous winners of La Vuelta a España, Alex Zulle of Switzerland has lead the race for 45 days and other famous winners have been Gimondi, Merckx, Hinault, Anquetil, Poulidor, Zoetemelk, Ullrich and Delgado, who have all won the Tour de France. Other notable winners have been Jalabert, Kelly, Romminger (3 in a row) and Freddy Maertens who lead from start to finish and won 14 stages.
Top Spanish riders
Obviously there have been many Spanish winners, many very famous ones, in the 70’s stars of the time Ocaña, Fuente and Pasarrodona all took wins, then it was Lajarreta, Delgado, Olano and Mauri in the 80’s and 90’s, all these wins mixed with foreigners. This century Roberto Heras has dominated La Vuelta, interspersed with wins from Casero and González.
The future in Spain.
Things look good for the youngest Grand Tour, since its move to its autumn place in the calendar, the race has become more popular, both for riders who want to win and for riders who want to do well at the world championships, which are now soon after La Vuelta finishes. Lots of top teams, lots of fans and TV coverage, so there lots of sun in Spain.
La Vuelta 2006
Stages
