A1: Informaciones and Ya newspapers – The Vuelta was created by the Informaciones newspaper in 1935, partly to compete with Ya newspaper’s influence in Spanish cycling. Informaciones wanted to establish a Spanish equivalent to the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, creating a platform for promoting Spanish cycling while boosting newspaper circulation. This newspaper rivalry continued for years, with different publications vying for control and coverage rights of major Spanish cycling events.
A2: The Angliru (Alto del Angliru) – Located in Asturias, this 12.5km climb averages 10.13% but includes sections at 23.6% gradient, making it one of the most feared ascents in professional cycling. Its narrow roads, extreme gradients, and unpredictable weather have created legendary moments, including José María Jiménez’s epic victory in 1999 and numerous dramatic GC battles. The climb’s brutality often serves as the decisive factor in determining the Vuelta winner.
A3: The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) – Gustaaf Deloor’s 1936 victory was the last Vuelta before the Spanish Civil War erupted, completely disrupting Spanish society and making sporting events impossible. The war lasted from 1936-1939, during which the Vuelta was suspended. When it resumed in 1941, Spain was under Franco’s dictatorship, which significantly influenced the race’s character, route selection, and international participation for decades to come.
A4: EPO (Erythropoietin) – Heras tested positive for EPO, but his case was unique because it involved the new “biological passport” system and sophisticated blood analysis. Initially stripped of his 2005 title, Heras fought the decision through multiple appeals, claiming the positive test resulted from natural variations in his blood values. After years of legal battles and scientific review, his title was eventually reinstated in 2012, making this one of the most complex and controversial doping cases in cycling history, highlighting the evolving science of anti-doping detection.
A5: Delio Rodríguez with 39 stage wins – “The Galician Bullet” won an astounding 39 Vuelta stages between 1941 and 1947, a record that still stands today and may never be broken. What made Rodríguez extraordinary wasn’t just his sprint prowess, but his timing in Spanish cycling history. He emerged during the post-Civil War era when Spanish cycling was rebuilding and seeking heroes, becoming the country’s first truly international cycling star.
Rodríguez’s sprinting style was revolutionary for its era – he combined raw power with tactical intelligence, often positioning himself perfectly in the final kilometers rather than relying purely on speed. His success helped legitimize Spanish cycling on the European stage at a time when the sport was dominated by French, Italian, and Belgian riders. More remarkably, he achieved this dominance during World War II when international competition was limited, meaning he was beating the best available European talent.
His record of 12 stage wins in a single Vuelta (1945) stood for over 30 years until Freddy Maertens claimed 13 stages in 1977, but Rodríguez’s overall tally remains untouchable. His legacy extends beyond numbers – he proved Spanish riders could excel in cycling’s most explosive discipline, paving the way for future generations and helping establish the Vuelta as a legitimate proving ground for international talent.
Bonus Answer: 1995 – Laurent Jalabert of France won the first September Vuelta, marking a pivotal moment in cycling history. The move from April to late August/September was a masterstroke by race organizers, transforming the Vuelta from a relatively obscure early-season race into cycling’s dramatic season finale. This scheduling change revolutionized the race’s competitive dynamics – no longer were riders using it as Tour de France preparation, but instead it became the last chance for glory, attracting desperate competitors and creating some of cycling’s most thrilling battles.
Jalabert’s victory was particularly symbolic, as the French sprinter-turned-climber embodied the international appeal the new timing would bring. His win came after an epic battle in the mountains, proving that the September Vuelta would be every bit as demanding as its Grand Tour siblings. The timing shift also coincided with the race’s golden era – the late 1990s and 2000s produced legendary rivalries and some of cycling’s greatest climbing performances, from Roberto Heras’s dominance to the emergence of Alberto Contador.
The move proved so successful that it not only saved the Vuelta from potential obscurity but established it as cycling’s most unpredictable Grand Tour, where the season’s final desperation often produces the year’s most memorable moments.
