|
Stages:
|
18 |
|
Kms:
|
2.951,3 |
|
Riders:
|
110 |
|
Teams:
|
10 |
|
Kms/hour:
|
37,605 |
|
Retired:
|
37 |
Vuelta a España 1967 gathered the best figures
in the world of cycling at that time. Apart from the Spanish riders, highly
motivated thanks to the success achieved the previous year, riders such as
Poulidor, Wolfshohl or the British Tom Simpson, who died several years later,
started the race in Vigo. However, it was Jan Janssen the one who got the
final victory, becoming, in that way, the first Dutch rider who won Vuelta
a España
. During the first five stages, several riders took turns in the leadership
of the race.
It was significant the presence of Perurena in the first position, leader
in the second and third day, who finally had to abandon, several days later
due to a femur fracture. Another Spanish rider, López Rodriguez, obtained
the Yellow Maillot in the fifth day. Anyway, he had to give in his privileged
position to the French rider Ducasse, who was first in the Overall Standings
up to almost the end of the race.
Ducasse passed his first position on to his team head, Janssen, in the penultimate
stage, a 28-kilometre-long time trial between Villabona and Zarauz. The Dutch
rider took advantage of the good weather, since it was pouring with rain when
Ducasse was covering the stretch. Although Janssen did not win the stage,
the advantage he gained was enough to become leader, thing that was not difficult
to keep in the last day. In this way, he arrived in Bilbao dressed in yellow
the last day of the race after having done a Vuelta with a fantastic average
speed of 39 km/h. The Spanish riders could do nothing against the good form
which Ducasse and Janssen enjoyed in order to repeat the magnificent performance
they showed the previous year. Just some or other attempt to breakaway from
the KAS riders could be distinguished.
