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 would have been possible to participate.) Fausto Coppi rode Vuelta only once, and so did Eddy Merckx.

Merckx skipped the Tour de France 1973 to focus more on the other two grand tours. The schedule was tight with only five days between the end of Vuelta a Espana (13 May) and the start of Giro d'Italia (18 May). It's worth to take a look at the top of the general classification of this Vuelta: behind Merckx, Luis Ocaña became second, and Bernard Thévenet third. During the Giro d'Italia, Merckx's strongest rivals were Felice Gimondi (2nd in the GC) and Giovanni Battaglin (3rd).

Although there are riders every year, who participate both Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana during the same season and are considered favourites of both races, besides Merckx, there are only two other riders, who managed to win the Italian and the Spanish grand tour in the same season, Giovanni Battaglin and Alberto Contador.

Short list of Giro-Vuelta double winners

Eddy Merckx (1973)

Giovanni Battaglin (1981)

Alberto Contador (2008)

Smallest winning margins at Vuelta a Espana

Winnig Vuelta a Espana with the smallest winning margin in the history of the race, French rider Éric Caritoux delivered a surprise victory in 1984. Vuelta a Espana always has provided much more opportunitiy to success for lesser known riders, especially in the era, when it was a spring race. (Vuelta a Espana moved to autumn … Read more

Vuelta a Espana youngest winners

Over the last few years, since the new golden generation arrived in the world of road cycling races, there are no more unbeatable records, or at least very old lists with some cery new names. Since the beginning of his professional career, we always knew, Remco Evenepoel’s name will be one of those we should … Read more

Remco Evenepoel Vuelta a Espana winner 20222

List of Vuelta a Espana winners

Take a look at the list of Vuelta a Espana winners frim the beginning to 2022. Note, the first two decades in the history of the youngest grand tour were a bit chaotic. There were a quite a few years, when the race wasn’t held. 1935 Gustaaf Deloor1936 Gustaaf Deloor1941 Julián Berrendero1942 Julián Berrendero1945 Delio … Read more

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 … Read more

Vuelta a Espana 2023 Stage 4 (Andorra la Vella -Tarragona)

4th Stage29 August 2023Andorra la Vella (Andorra) -Tarragona183,4 km

Begian cycling superstar Remco Evenepoel wins the 3rd stage of Vuelta a Espana 2023 on a summit finish in Andorra

Remco rules is Andorra (Vuelta a Espana 2023 Stage 3 – Súria – Arinsal/Andorra)

With his stage victory, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) took the red jersey on the 3rd stage of Vuelta a Espana 2023 . 3rd stage 28 August 2023 Súria – Arinsal (Andorra) 158,5 km

Another super chaotic stage at Vuelta a Espana (Vuelta 2023 Stage 2 – Mataró-Barcelona)

Vuelta 2023 continues with the 2nd stage, after dsm-firmenich won the openig team time trieal The program of the second day suits raher the punchers than the classic sprinters. Stage 2 27 August 2023 Mataró – Barcelona 181, 3 km

dsm-firmenich winning the team time trial at Vuelta a Espana 2023

dsm-firmenich wins opening team time trial (Vuelta a Espana 2023 stage 1)

Vuelta a Espana starts with a 14,6 km long team time trial on 26th August 2023 in Barcelona. Start order of the teams 18:55:00 CJR CAJA RURAL-SEGUROSRGA ESP 18:59:00 DSM TEAM DSM-FIRMENICH NED 19:03:00 LTK LIDL-TREK USA 19:07:00 COF COFIDIS FRA 19:11:00 BBH BURGOS-BH ESP 19:15:00 TEN TOTALENERGIES FRA 19:19:00 ARK TEAM ARKEA – SAMSIC … Read more

Giro d’Italia -Vuelta a Espana double winners