|
Stages:
|
21 |
Kms:
|
4.407 |
|
Riders:
|
50 |
|
|
Kms/hour:
|
28,994 |
|
Retired:
|
24 |
The tricky political and social situation which
Spain was going through, was about to hinder the holding of this second edition
of Vuelta a España, whose beginning could not be confirmed until the very
last minute. The expected fight between the first two classified riders the
previous year, Deloor and Cañardo was cut short due to a fall suffered by
the Spanish rider in the first stage. A dog crossed in Cañardo´s way and he
fell to the ground, suffering several wounds in his legs and head. In spite
of this accident, he was able to reach The Finish, although his chance of
becoming the winner had vanished completely.
The Belgian rider did not give up his leadership and he intended to help his
brother achieve the second place in the Individual Overall Standings, something
he was able to get thanks to Escuriet´s involuntary help, who was the second
classified rider until the penultimate stage during which he suffered a complete
exhaustion which pushed him to the fifth position.
Deloor´s second consecutive victory was even more valuable due to the presence
of very good riders such as Berrendero, surprising everyone in this edition,
Delio Rodriguez and Vicente and Fermín Trueba, who increased the prestige
of the race.
This editon was less spectacular than the previous one, but much more rational,
with shorter stages which allowed the riders to measure their effort. Apart
from Escuriet and Berrendero, we must distinguish Vicente Carrero among the
Spanish riders, who turned out to be the best Spanish sprinter of the moment
becoming the winner in five stages.
Because of the Spanish Civil War, Vuelta a España could not be held for four
years; it also affected very closely to some of the riders, such as Julián
Berrendero who was doing his military service at that time.
Berrendero had to stay in several concentration camps, in which he experienced
the cruelties of the war and from where he sometimes thought he was not going
to be released.
