| Stages:
|
Prol.+17
|
Kms:
|
2.079,35
|
Riders:
|
100 |
| Teams:
|
10 |
Kms/hour:
|
37,284
|
Retired:
|
43 |
José
Manuel Fuente and his team, KAS, the strongest group at that time, took care
of healing the Spanish pride in Vuelta a España 1972; pride which had been hurt
after the failure in the previous year edition. Both "El Tarangu" and the team
from Vitoria offered a fantastic performance in this edition of Vuelta a España:
Fuente was the leader in the Overall Standings and in the Climbers Overall Standings;
Perurena in the Per Point Overall Standings; the team was the leader in the
Team Standings, being six of its members among the ten first classified riders;
three of them (M. M. Lasa two days-, Perurena -nine- and Fuente -six-) dressed
the Yellow Jersey in seventeen of the eighteen stages of the race; and the KAS
members achieved seven partial victories, as well as being the leader in the
Time Trial Team Standings. All in all, a performance similar to the one they
had offered in 1966.
Though, in theory, the team leader was Lasa, Miguel Mari had to make do with
the second place in the Oveall Standings, more than six minutes below José manuel
Fuente. The rider from Asturias, as it was expected, conceived his victory in
the mountain. The twelveth stage, which was 169 kilometres long, between Zaragoza
and Formigal, was crucial. Pepe Grande decided to breakaway from the Peloton,
but "El Tarangu" soon latched on to his wheel in order to watch him. Though
Fuente did no give a break, both riders soon gained a considerable advantage,
possible thanks to the passiveness of the Peloton and of the KAS Team, whose
members did not need move, since Fuente, one of the best climbers in the history
of Spanish cycling, was ahead. The rider from Asturias broke solo halfway of
the climb to Puerto de Monrepos, whose top reached on his own. After taking
several risks in the descent, he showed a sensational performance in the ascent
to Formigal, arriving solo at the Finish. He lead by six minutes on the second
classified rider and almost nine on the Peloton of favorite riders. La Vuelta
was resolved.
