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Alex Zülle in the Vuelta a Espana leader jersey

Vuelta fun facts: most days in the leader jersey

The leader jersey of the Spanish cycling race Vuelta a Espana is red since 2010 only.  But  of course, leader jerseys with different colours were awarded since the beginning (1935) of the race1 Alex Zülle 482 Primoz Roglic 373 Roberto Heras 344 Delio Rodriguez 32Tony Rominger  32Gustaaf Deloor  327 Alejandro Valverde  27Julián Berrendero27Chris Froome United 2710 Alberto Contador  26  

Bernard Hinault eats Wladimiro Panizza's food at Giro d'Italia 1980

Bernard Hinault and Wladimiro Panizza (Giro d’Italia 1980)

Although this picture suggests it differently, but Bernard Hinault and Wladimiro Panizza were the two big rivals at the Giro d’Italia in 1980. Hinault finished first (this was his first of a total of three Giro-victories),  and behind him with 5 min 43 sec, Panizza second. Actually the Italian rider wore the pink jersey for a couple days. Bernard Hinault is quite well known for most of the cycling fans, but who was Panizza? Wladimir Panizza (1945-2002) was a professial cyclist between 1967 and 1985. Usually raced as domestique for Felice Gimondi or Franco Bitossi, but he reached the peak of his career in 1980, when managed to finish Giro d’Italia 2nd behind Bernard Hinault.… Read More »Bernard Hinault and Wladimiro Panizza (Giro d’Italia 1980)

Eddy Merckx winning the Vuelta a Espana in 1973

Giro d’Italia -Vuelta a Espana double winners

Vuelta a Espana was a sping race for decades, the first autumn edition was held in 1995, and its original schedules were usually very close to Giro d’Italia. Little wonder, that the first Giro-Vuelta happened only in 1973, and the first rider to achieve it was Eddy Merkcx. (Just for the record: Fausto Coppi managed the first Giro-Tour double in 1949, and Jacques Anquetil the first Vuelta-Tour double in 1963) Also, Vuelta a Espana seemed to be like an ugly stepsibling in comparison with the other two grand tours. Some of the greatest legends of this sport, like Gino Bartali,never competed the race. (The first Vuelta a Espana was held in 1935, thus technically it… Read More »Giro d’Italia -Vuelta a Espana double winners