Tour de France Champion
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Let's recap the route, shall we? From the Vuelta's official site:
Stage 1
For the second time in a row Granada is going to host Spain’s Vuelta start. The Andalusian City hosted the Vuelta’s inauguration stage for the first time, in 2005, when the start and finishing line of an individual timed lap that went to, Denis Menchov, the Vuelta last winner, was set in Granada.
The Russian donned the leader’s jersey in Granada for one day only, since, in the second lap, ending in Cordoba, it was taken over by the Australian racer, Bradley McGee, of the Française des Jeux team.
The Vuelta came to Granada when it was first run, in 1935. It was in the tenth stage when racers arrived to the City from Murcia 85 kilometres away. The Austrian, Max Bulla was the winner, then.
Granada has been in many editions of Spain’s Vuelta route, boasting 21 departures and 18 stage arrivals. The 63rd edition of Spain’s Vuelta is going to start on Saturday, the 30th of August, featuring a team’s timed trial. The level route, just seven kilometres long, will be the opening stage where the fist 2008 leader will stand on the podium.
This will be the ninth time Spain’s Vuelta starts by a teams timed trial. Madrid and Gijón -twice - and San Sebastian, Valencia, Leon and Malaga - once each - are the remaining sites where Spain’s Vuelta started by a timed trial of this kind.
Stage 2
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Stage 3
The stage runs virtually over a level ground save for some ramps at the route start, in Jaen Province and enclosed the second category ALTO DE SAN JERONIMO mountain pass, where the summit is located at 146 km of the stage length and less than 20 km to the finishing line. This mountain pass is going to witness the first serious breakaway attempts during Spain’s Vuelta 63rd edition and it will even sort out a first group that might hope to stand on the Vuelta final podium.
Cordoba is again a traditional arrival point in Spain’s Vuelta and is going to cheer when racers roar through the stage end line, since victory will be most likely won sprinting, as in 2006, when the Olympic champion and twice World Champion, Paolo Bettini, took the last stage in the City streets.
Stage 4
This stage is similar to that run in 2005. The route runs through virtually level ground save for a single third category CARDEÑA MOUNTAIN RANGE SUMMIT. It is to be expected racers will arrive in a compact group to Puertollano streets something that sprinters are going to love.
For the third time in four years, Puertollano hosts a Spain’s Vuelta stage end line. First time, in 2005, when public cheered the racers arrival and victory went to Alessandro Petacchi, a sprinter that so scored one more Vuelta stage for his personal record. The last winner in Puertollano streets was the Colombian, Leonardo Duque, in 2007.
Stage 5
The first timed trial of this Vuelta edition departs from and arrives to the Ciudad Real end line. The route runs along a virtually flat stretch that timed trials specialists can use to advantage for going up in the general ranking and build up some advantage for next mountain climbing stages.
Ciudad Real hosted for the first time Spain’s Vuelta in 1974, as a stage arrival and departing site. Over thirty-two years went by until, in 2006, a stage ran again over its streets. For José Luis Arrieta, bearing number 1 in his shirt’s back, during 2007 Vuelta that was his best moment, ever.
Stage 6
Last stage before the first rest day of this Spain’s Vuelta edition.
The level ground is favourable for a sprint arrival to the finishing line. The third category ALTO DE ARISGOTAS summit, at km 103, is the only problem racers are going to meet between both La Mancha cities.
Toledo had not hosted a Spain’s Vuelta stage arrival line for nineteen years, although, five times, a stage ended in its streets. Ghirotto, the Italian racer, was the last to win.
On the 4th of September, 2008, racers will have to complete a two lap’s urban circuit with a final two kilometres long final 3% ramp and an arrival line at the top of a steep climb.
Stage 7
The 224 km stage that ends the 2008 edition of Spain’s Vuelta fist week will be the longest. Riders have to strain along first stage that is packed with high mountains following a one day rest and the long trip to go from Toledo to Basbastro.
Climbers can take advantage of the rather winding route to recoup time lost in the Ciudad Real timed trial.
Racers have to climb the first mountain pass of the day, the second category PORT DE MONLLOBAT located 60 km away from Barbastro departure line. The route goes on through the third category COLLADO DE FAIDELLA pass located just half-way in the stage and from there, after a long ride down, the Vuelta arrives to Seu de Urgell.
From here on, the road, after crossing Andorra’s border starts climbing to Sant Juliá de Loira for the last 40 km of the stage going through ALTO DE LA RABASSA, a first category mountain pass located 20 km to the finishing line. After a fast ride down to km 208 riders have to face 16 km of ramps going up to the stage last mountain pass, almost a novelty in the Spanish Vuelta, the ALTO DE NATURLANDIA - LA RABASSA, a special category arrival set 4 km upwards from that known so far and rising 2.050 metres above sea level.
This stage that encloses four mountain passes will be where clear differences will be shown in the general classification boosting possible Vuelta edition winners to the top ranks.
Stage 8
During this rather hard selective stage, riders have to run through mountain passes, but start with a smooth descent from the Escaldes Engordany (Andorra) departure line to the town of Adrall, in Lerida Province. The first category CANTÓ pass is the first of the four obstacles riders have to overcome in the 160 km long stage.
From the first mountain pass summit to the town of Sort racers go through a long descent followed by a narrow road climbing to the second category ALTO DE ENVINY summit.
Once riders reach the mountain pass top, some deceiving level stretches will let them recover some of their strength and plan strategies to climb the lengthy first category PUERTO DE LA BONAIGUA, the Vuelta highest at 2.070 m altitude, known as the Alberto Fernandez Summit followed by the special category PLA DE BERET mountain pass where the stage end line is waiting.
The end line has been set at Pla de Beret three times in the Vuelta history, although, another one should be added. In 1991, the and line of the stage departing from Andorra was set at Pla de Beret, but had to be cancelled because Puerto de la Bonaigua was snowed in.
Stage 9
Vielha is going to host for the third time a stage starting line of Spain’s Vuelta. Last time was during the 58th edition, when the state ended in Jaca.
This is the third mountain stage in a row with a third category ALTO DEL TUNEL DE VIELHA mountain pass located a few kilometres away from the departure line.
The winding run that encloses two second category mountain passes, COLL DE LA ESPINA and PUERTO DE LA FORADA, plus a first one, PUERTO DEL SERRABLO, mean this ninth stage will be quite hard. At this time, some riders that might have lost time in the previous stages might try to breakaway and possibly get first to the Huesca Province town of Sabiñanigo.
The stage end line has been set in Sabiñanigo six times but, since 1998, its people have not seen Spain’s Vuelta riders arriving on their streets.
Stage 10
This is the second part of the route following the Pyrenees stages.
A stage that favours attempts to breakaway and goes through two third category mountains passes - PUERTO DEL OROEL and ALTO DE CASAS DE EXPE. Here, sprinters teams have to control things for a group arrival to Saragossa.
As usual, in this zone, the last stretch is virtually level, but exposed to the likely winds that will lead to zigzagging.
Saragossa long experience, for it has hosted 47 times Spain’s Vuelta stage finishings, will again see the Race go through its streets in a more than likely sprint.
The last time, during the seventh stage of the past edition, Erik Zabel was the winner ahead of Allan Davis and Paolo Bettini.
Stage 11
For the second year in a row, Calahorra witnesses Spain’s Vuelta departure, at this time, going to Burgos. The level road that encloses only a third category ALTO DE LA PRADILLA mountain pass, at km 115, means a rather fast running along the 178 km long stage.
This is the fourteenth time Spain’s Vuelta arrives to the streets of Burgos most likely on hotly contested sprint run.
Stage 12
This is the first time ever town hosts this stage end line that favours riders attempts to breakaway taking advantage of the three mountain passes along the route: the third category ALTO DE BOCOS, and the two second category PORTILLO DE LUNADA and ALTO DE CAMPILLO mountain passes.
Following a somewhat more strenuous initial stretch, the second seems easier up to the arrival line in Suances.
Those riders that during the first-half of this Vuelta edition have not come to the fore find in this stage a good chance to do their utmost, since the Vuelta is going to rest the next day.
Stage 13
The star stage of Spain’s Vuelta 63rd edition starts, for the first time, at San Vicente de la Barquera. Those that hold still enough stamina to continue have to overcome a 199 km stage and five mountain passes: the third category ALTO DEL ORTIGUEIRO and ALTO DE LA FAYA DE LOS LOBOS, and the first category ALTO DE COLLADIELLA and ALTO DEL CORDAL. It only remains to reach the fabled arrival line in the both hoped for and feared special category ALTO DEL ANGLIRU summit located in Vega de Riosa.
The Angliru summit has been reached only three times - 1999, 2000 and 2002 - and the winners have always been outstanding climbers able to conquer ramps that reach up to 23%.
This short-lived history arrival line is already a legend. A history that lists many racers like those that had to give up after falling down, such as EscartÃn, or reached the arrival line suffering ribs fissures, such as Olano, or even riders that after reaching the top did not want to go across the arrival line, such as Millar.
From the departure lines, the stage favours attempts to breakaway and those teams that hope to win at the Angliru must be ready to control any attempt.
Weather is something riders must take very much into account along this stage, during the last climbing stretch, since in the previous editions they had to brave freezing cold and rain.
Stage 14
Again, another rather complex mountain stage ends for the first time in Fuentes de Invierno Ski Resort in the Principality of Asturias.
Just 9 kilometres from the Oviedo departure line (since 1997 the Vuelta did not depart from the Prince of Asturias Awards Homecity) riders have to climb the third category ALTO DEL PADRÚN mountain pass followed by the second category one known as ALTO DE SAN EMILIANO, the third category ALTO DE LA CAMPORADA, and the first category ALTO DE LA FALLA DE LOS LOBOS, which was climbed, too, in the previous stage, and ALTO DE LA COLADONA before the arrival line is reached at the special category summit in FUENTES DE INVIERNO Ski Resort. Still, most of the climb runs along the well known San Isidro Mountain Pass.
In spite of the six mountain passes along the route, the stage is only 158 km long. This favours breakaway attempts from the first kilometre and makes this stage one of the more breathtaking ones of this edition.
Stage 15
First time ever this medium-sized mountain passes stage starts in Cudillero, a fishermen’s village, a perfect setting to start this last week of the 63rd Spain’s Vuelta edition.
From the start, the route is rather winding up to km 86 where the first mountain pass of the day, the first category PUERTO DE SOMIEDO, that exits from Asturias, must be overcome. After topping the mountain pass, the road goes down to a flat stretch to km 143 where the last mountain pass, the second category ALTO DE LA MINA, starts.
From the Alto de la Mina summit to the Ponferrada finishing line the route goes down almost steadily. This favours breakaway attempts and even the arrival to the stage end line of a large breakaway group.
Since 1989, the Vuelta does not come to Ponferrada, although it has been the starting point of two previous editions: 1997 and 2006. During the 2008 edition, riders will go twice across the Leon Province town arrival line to complete a semi - urban circuit that the Bierzo countryside fans will no doubt enjoy.
Stage 16
At the outset, this stage runs over the fist category mountain pass, ALTO DEL ACEBO, which demands heavy straining just a few kilometres away from Ponferrada.
Once riders top this mountain pass, the route runs down to Zamora and only side winds may lead to riders zigzagging.
Zamora will be for the sixth time a stage end in Spain’s Vuelta. This time, a mass arrival sprint is going to decide probably the winner.
Stage 17
In 1935, Valladolid was the first arrival line of a Madrid - Valladolid stage in Spain’s Vuelta. This time, the Zamora - Valladolid stage is 160 km long and will be the 34th time the Vuelta arrives to Pucela, Valladolid’s old time’s name. The list of winners in this city is fabulous and we will just mention a few: Berrendero, Poblet, Stablinsky, Poulidor, Lefevere, Kelly, Hinault, Mottet, Hermans, Rominguer, Zabel, Bettini ...
We are approaching the final Vuelta events and riders strength is just at the limit.
Stage 18
From Valladolid to Las Rozas, riders are going to meet only one mountain pass, the third category PUERTO DE LOS LEONES, but the climb at this time is along a gentler slope and when the stage is well behind. From the departure to the mountain pass top, the route is virtually a soft ascent.
After the top, the run down starts to the Madrid Province town of las Rozas that, although it has been for three times a stage starting point, this is only the second one when the arrival line is set here. Last time, Pedro DÃaz Lobato was the lonely winner followed close by a small group of riders.
Stage 19
When only three stages are left, the Vuelta route in this 2008 edition encloses again two first category mountain passes in the journey first-half. At this time, riders have to climb the Madrid Province side of PUERTO DE NAVACERRADA and twice PUERTO DE NAVAFRIA before reaching the final Podium set in Madrid’s Paseo de la Castellana.
From the second mountain pass to the Segovia arrival line riders are going to cycle down a stretch that favours chasing those that have been able to breakaway in the harder initial part of the stage.
Arrival to Segovia is going to be spectacular for fans that want to see firsthand Spain’s Vuelta. The final circuit through the streets of Segovia, the same that was run during Spain’s Cycling Championship of 1995, won by Jesus Montoya, is a rather demanding and winding test and goes twice through the arrival line (the third time is the final one). Sprinters specialising in mass arrivals must take into account that the arrival line is at the top of a slightly steep ramp.
Stage 20
Arrival line of the next to the last day of Spain’s 2008 Vuelta is located in the first category ALTO DE NAVACERRADA summit where the general classification may be finally decided, if a clear leader has not come to the fore so far. If during the previous stage, the Navacerrada climb was through the Madrid slope, at this time, it runs up the Segovia Province side.
The first time ever departure is set at La Granja de San Ildefonso town, where every year the Royal Glass Factory processes the Vuelta’s trophy. The stage is planned as a rather straining timed climbing trial that only those riders that reach the Vuelta’s end in good condition can take advantage of.
Stage 21
Once more, the last stage seems like a Victor’s parade.
As usual, during the last few years, Spain’s Vuelta will be ending on a circuit round Madrid’s Paseo de la Castellana, where rider’s teams will try to control and launch their sprinters for one of those thrilling arrivals Madrid fans and everyone that follows Spain’s Vuelta on TV love to watch.
The last stage will be starting for the firs time in San Sebastian de los Reyes, a town located north of the Capital City, which is hosting this year for the first time Spain’s Vuelta.
The preceding post is ISSO 9001 certified
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
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