Vuelta a España

The bicycle race Vuelta Ciclista a España, short Vuelta a España ( Germanized: Tour of Spain ) is one of the three " Grand Tours" (Grand tours) in cycling and after the Tour de France and the Giro d' Italia, the most important stage races ( 21 stages ) of world. From 2005 to 2007 the race for UCI ProTour belonged. Since 2011, the race is part of the follow-up series UCI World Tour.

Organizer

The Vuelta is hosted by the company Unipublic. By June 2008, the Spanish TV Antena 3 group considered the totality of the shares Unipublic. Since that time, the French marketing company ASO, organizer of the Tour de France and other renowned race holds a 49% stake.

History

For the first time in 1935 and held annually since 1955, the Vuelta results within three weeks in a changing route across Spain and the near abroad. After the Tour of Spain had initially been traditionally in the spring, her appointment was moved mid-1990s to September.

With three overall victories at the Vuelta, the Swiss cyclist Tony Rominger share (1992-1994) and Spaniard Roberto Heras (2000, 2003, 2004) the record. That the German public standing in the shadow of the very Tour de France races, three German win. Rudi Altig 1962, Rolf Wolfshohl 1965 and Jan Ullrich 1999 Marcel Wüst has 12 stage wins most successful German stage hunters. Overall, however, dominate the Spaniard who could decide the 28 previously 60 editions of the Vuelta for themselves. The Swiss Alex Zülle could win as the second Swiss the overall standings in 1996 and 1997, it can also most days recorded in the golden jersey for yourself.

Course

The course of the race is in this case always composed of flat stages that favor the sprinters, moderate stages, which are suitable for breakaways, and high mountain stages on which the itinerary is decided. In addition, usually two individual time trial will be held. The overall very wavy profile of the Vuelta meant that in most of its history were able to impose strong climbers in the overall individual standings. The aim of the Vuelta is traditionally the Spanish capital Madrid.

The first time the rise of the Alto de Angliru was mastered in Asturias, to the 24 percent as one of the toughest climbs in a bike race ever goes with its exceptionally steep ramps and has now become the hallmark of the Vuelta 1999.

Rules

The Vuelta a España will be played according to the rules for stage races of the world Cyclist Union and the Special Regulations of the event organizer.

The leader of the general individual classification wearing a red jersey (from 2010) - the Spanish equivalent of the yellow jersey of the Tour de France. With other jerseys of the best climbers are honored ( White jersey with blue dots ) and the leader in the points classification ( green jersey ). Unlike the green jersey of the Tour de France, which is obtained usually from sprinters, other types of drivers have a realistic chance to win the green jersey of the Vuelta.

A special feature of the Vuelta is the white jersey worn by the best of the combined score. In this evaluation, the sum of the rankings in total, mountain and scoring is considered.

Previously there was a sprint, a score for the best young rider and a score called " sprints especiales ".

Appreciation

The leader of the general classification of the Vuelta gets a red jersey as a reward. The jersey color of the overall leader changed in the history of the Tour of often:

The total score is calculated by adding the lap times at all stages. The first three cyclists each stage - except the time trial - get a time bonus of 20, 12 and eight seconds of the first three intermediate sprints six, four and two seconds. In the team time trial counts for the first five riders of the time of the fifth rider; for the other driver to individually elapsed time.

• Overall winner, see: List of winners of the Vuelta a España

Scoring

Since 2009, the jersey of the most points has the color green. From 2007 to 2008 the point best drivers the red jersey and from 2004 to 2006 the blue jersey was awarded with small yellow fish. Before the shirt was red and white, as it was sponsored by another company. The green jersey is replaced by the driver who accumulates the most points during all stages. Points are awarded for completed races and sprints.

• The target arrivals of all stages (including time trials ) the points for the top 15 drivers are distributed as follows: 25, 20, 16, 14, 12, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 points

• In the intermediate sprints, the first three driver 4 can get 2 and 1 points.

While the points classification in the Tour de France is specially designed for Sprinter and the winner of a flat stage more points than the winner of a mountain stage, other types of drivers can win the points jersey in the Vuelta. With each finish, whether at a mountain stage, a flat stage or a time trial, the winner always gets 25 points. So it was in 2003 to the last stage a duel between the sprinter Erik Zabel and the mountain specialists Alejandro Valverde. Zabel won the jersey at the end in itself.

Record winners are Sean Kelly and Laurent Jalabert, who could win the jersey four times, Jalabert even four times in a row. First German winner was Rudi Altig 1962. Dietrich Thurau won in 1976 and Uwe Raab won the jersey in 1990 and 1991. Erik Zabel is the German record winner of the points classification of the Vuelta. From 2002 to 2004 Zabel was able to get the shirt three times in a row.

Mountains classification

The jersey of best climber was at the Vuelta 2005 red, 2006 to 2009 an orange jersey has since been a white handed over to the best climber and with blue dots. The leader of the mountains classification it is awarded after each stage. Points is obtained at the mountain stages, which can be on tops of mountains, but also on the top of a hill. Depending on the length of the rise and the difficulty of the slope many points are awarded differently. When the Vuelta climbs into 4 categories are subdivided:

• Cima Alberto Fernández: 20, 15, 10, 6, 4 and 2 points for the first six riders
• Category " Especial": 15, 10, 6, 4 and 2 points for the first five drivers
• 1.Kategorie: 15, 10, 6, 4 and 1 for the first five points the driver
• 2.Kategorie: 5, 3 and 1 points for the first three riders
• 3.Kategorie: 3, 2 ​​and 1 points for the first three riders

From 1997 to 2001, José María Jiménez won the mountain jersey four times. Jiménez died in 2003 after depression in a psychiatric hospital due to heart failure and is still regarded today because of his climbing skills as one of the most popular drivers in Spain.

Combination results

The leader's jersey in the combined score was 2005 gold and green, before a white jersey was awarded, which returned again in 2006. The rating there for the first time in 1986 and was discontinued after the Vuelta 1993. Since 2002 it again. Leading is the one who has the fewest points in the standings. The classification consists of the points classification, the overall and the mountains classification. It is expected to placement in the three ratings in points. So you get for first place in the ratings a point for a second place two points, etc. As an example, one can take the results of Denis Menshov from his victory in 2005. He was third in the mountains classification (3 points), second in the points standings ( 2 points) and first in the standings (1 point). He came in addition to 6 points and thus also had the combined score won. Since the reintroduction of Roberto Heras won the scoring twice, in 2002 and 2004. Again in 2005, he won the vote for himself, but after he was tested positive for EPO, we have explained in this summary Denis Menshov the winner. Record winner are Roberto Heras, Federico Echave and Sean Kelly, who could win the scoring twice each.

Team classification

According to UCI rules, a team score is determined for which the times of the three best riders in the team are added at each stage.

Waiting period

In all stages - not with a prologue - a time limit ( " waiting period " ) is defined, within which each driver must get to the finish. The time limit is calculated according to difficulty and average speed of the respective stages. The limit varies accordingly 106-118 per cent ( 135 per cent in the individual time trial, team time trial at 140 percent ) of the time the stage winner. However, the race director has the option to extend the time limit flexible when other more than fifteen per cent of drivers einträfen by control circuit or affected by an accident or similar mishap miss single driver, times out.

Records

• Most Total Wins: Tony Rominger and Roberto Heras 3 per
• Most stage wins: Delio Rodriguez 39
• Most stage victories during Vuelta: Freddy Maertens 13
• Most days in the leader's jersey: Alex Zülle 45
• Most wins in the points classification: Sean Kelly and Laurent Jalabert 4 per
• Most wins in the mountain classification: José Luis Laguía 5
• Biggest difference between the winner and the second 30 minutes and 8 seconds ( 1945)
• Smallest difference between the winner and the Second: 6 seconds (1984 )

Stages in Germany

In 2009, the Vuelta reached the third stage in Emmerich first German territory.