|
Stages:
|
Prol.+19 |
|
Kms:
|
2.987,1 |
|
Riders:
|
88 |
|
Teams:
|
9 |
|
Kms/hour:
|
34,42 |
|
Retired:
|
33 |
The rider from Asturias, José Manuel Fuente, was
able to achieve his second victory in Vuelta a España 74, in an edition which
was seriously competed and he was also able to keep our excitement until the
very last day. In that way, he became a new member of the "golden book" of
Vuelta a España along with Berrendero and Deloor, the only riders who had
been able to achieve two victories in this race till that moment.
The race was characterized by Perurena´s control, who was five in the Overall
Standings, until the riders reached the mountainous stages; the race was also
characterized until that moment by the spectacular fall which suffered La
Casera Team during the time trial stage which took place in Circuito del Jarama,
in Madrid; because of that fall three of the members of the team, Pontón,
Torres and Oliva, were forced to abandon.
Fuente´s dominance in the mountain was absolute and neither Agostinho, nor
Thevenet, nor Ocaña were able to snatch the Yellow Jersey from him; Fuente
put it on on the 10th stage and did not take it off for the rest of the race.
However the rider from Asturias was about to lose this Vuelta a España in
the last two days . During the penultimate stage, he had a fall which made
him lose more than half a minute respect Agostinho, while during the time
trial of the last day, the Portuguese rider got an advantage of 2´ 14´´ over
Fuente, what added to the ten extra seconds obtained by winning the stage,
left the final difference in just 1 point. A very slight advantage but enough
to become part of the history of Spanish cycling.
After Fuente and Agostinho, Lasa, Ocaña and Perurena were classified, while
Abilleira became the leader in the Climbers Overall Standings with 108 points,
followed by Fuente and Ocaña, with 61 each.
