2008 Vuelta a España
The 63rd Vuelta a España was held to 21 September 2008 of August 30.
The three-week cycling stage race consisted of 21 stages, including two time trial. The track length was about 3142 km. The first stage was a seven- kilometer team time trial in Granada. A special highlight was getting to the Alto de Angliru. The tour ended traditionally in Madrid.
Starting position
The Vuelta 2008 is not part of the UCI ProTour, so the organizers are free to decide who to invite teams. With the exception of Team Columbia, all 17 other ProTeam were invited, as well as Tinkoff, Andalucia Cajasur and Xacobeo Galicia (formerly Karpin Galicia ), who received a wild card. The ProTeam Scott - American Beef (formerly Saunier Duval- Scott) was excluded after the doping cases in the Tour de France 2008.
Of the top three overall in the Vuelta 2007 will only start of the Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre in 2008. The defending champion Denis Menshov has his participation, canceled in favor of the Giro and the Tour in February. Samuel Sánchez, last year's third and Olympic champion in 2008, is not at the start. Cadel Evans, last year's fourth, had to cancel his participation due to injury.
As favorites are, in addition Sastre: The Giro d'Italia - 2008 winner Alberto Contador, with his teammates Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Klöden. Alejandro Valverde, Damiano Cunego, Ezequiel Mosquera, Yaroslav Popovych, Igor Antón, Mikel Astarloza. The 22- year-old Robert Gesink drives his first major tour.
Among the most promising sprinters in the field include the winner of the points classification Daniele Bennati 2007, Óscar Freire, Tom Boonen, Danilo Napolitano, Koldo Fernández and Erik Zabel. The classics specialists Paolo Bettini and Davide Rebellin also take part.
→ Main article peloton 2008
Race course
The first week
In the first week, six different drivers wore the golden jersey of the leader of the general standings. Filippo Pozzato was the first vehicle - His team Liquigas won the team time trial in Granada. Alejandro Valverde won the second stage and took over, due to the time credit, the overall standings. This was followed by victories of the Sprinter Tom Boonen and Daniele Bennati, who drove for two days in the Golden jersey.
The first individual time trial won Levi Leipheimer, so he also became the new leader in the overall standings. Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde lost less than a minute, while Robert Gesink, Yaroslav Popovych and Igor Antón declining as more than two minutes. On the 6th stage Sylvain Chavanel took over the golden jersey.
List of stages
In the golden jersey column of the leader in the overall rating is on the respective stage.
Ratings in the itinerary
The table shows the leaders in their respective standings after each stage.
- During the third stage Davide Rebellin was wearing the points jersey.
- During the 5th & 17th stage Tom Boonen wearing the points jersey.
- During the 8th stage Marc de Maar wore the polka dot jersey and the white jersey Levi Leipheimer.
- During the 14th - 21st Stage was Levi Leipheimer the white jersey.
- During the 15th & 16th stage Greg van Avermaet wore the red jersey.
Retired driver
131 Of the 171 riders started reached the finish in Madrid. Caisse d' Epargne, Astana, Xacobeo Galicia and ag2r La Mondiale finished the tour with all nine riders started.