1999 Vuelta a EspaÃ±a

The 54th Vuelta a España was held to 26 September 1999 of 4. On the 21 stages and the prologue from Murcia to Madrid, the 189 riders had extensive field covering a total of 3576 km.

The overall leader was in this tour for the first time the Golden jersey because you presented a new main sponsor for this jersey with the Spanish telephone company Telefonica.

Route

The riders started in Murcia with a 6 km long prologue. On the following 21 stages of the drivers expected five mountain finishes. Among others was the Alto de Angliru, with up to 23% steep ramps and specially for the Vuelta paved roads, for the first time in the program. Compared to last year the tour was nearly 300 km shorter, but increased the mileage in the two individual time trial of 78.5 to 103 Thus, the organizers wanted the characteristics of the other two grand tours, the Tour de France and Giro d' Italia, approach, and thus enhancing the attractiveness.

Participating teams

Banesto Spain
Spain Euskaltel -Euskadi
Spain Fuenlabrada
Spain Kelme -Costa Blanca
Spain ONCE German bank
Spain Vitalicio Seguros
Italy Amica Chips -Costa de Almería
Italy Lampre- Daikin
Italy Liquigas
Italy Mapei - Quick Step
Italy Team Polti

Riso Scotti - Italy Vinavil
Italy Saeco -Cannondale
France Cofidis
France Festina
Rabobank Netherlands
Netherlands TVM - Farm Frites
Belgium Lotto - Mobistar
Germany German Telekom team
Portugal Benfica
United States U.S. Postal Service

Course

The first holder of the Golden Jerseys was the Spaniard Igor González de Galdeano, who won the prologue for themselves. But then the tour became a German gala performance. During the German sprinter Marcel Wüst won the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 7th stage and took the overall lead for two days, also Jan Ullrich crowed. The captain of the team German Telekom, the Vuelta really wanted to use only in preparation for the upcoming World Cup, Stage 6 decided in a sprint for a top flight and brushed off the 12th stage of the leader's jersey on, he to Madrid not relinquish it. In Arcalís (Andorra ) Ullrich had already laid the foundation for his Tour de France victory in 1997. In the final individual time trial referred Ullrich its competitors once more in their place. The other favorites such as Abraham Olano and Alex Zülle could endanger the winner at any time. Big surprise of the three week tour was Igor González de Galdeano, the second overall was sensational.

The historic first arrival on the Alto de Angliru decided José María Jiménez for himself after a nearly one-minute gap to the leader until then Pawel Tonkow caught up on the last three kilometers of the climb and unlocked only 500 meters from the finish to it.

Stages

* Shortened to 95 km due to heavy rain

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