The 70th Vuelta

Today the 70th Vuelta (La Vuelta a España) gets under way — a race that turns 80 this year. The youngest of the Grand Tours (the French Le Tour de France — 1903; the Italian Giro d’Italia — 1909), the Spanish tour traces its history back to 1935.

It was at the beginning of 1935 that Clemente López Doriga, together with Juan Pujol, owner of a daily newspaper, inspired by the success of their French and Italian counterparts, founded the Spanish multi-day race.

All three Grand Tours were founded by newspapers to boost their circulation:

• L’Auto, today’s L’Équipe — the French Le Tour de France — 1903;
• La Gazzetta dello Sport — the Italian Giro d’Italia — 1909;
• Informaciones — the Spanish La Vuelta a España — 1935.

The newspaper Informaciones announcing the first Vuelta

For the anniversary race, the organizers have planned nine new, unprecedented summit finishes, which will make the race a clear battleground for the climbers:

• Stage 2: Caminito del Rey;
• Stage 4: Vejer de la Frontera;
• Stage 6: Sierra de Cazorla;
• Stage 7: Alto de Capileira;
• Stage 9: Cumbre del Sol, Benitatxell;
• Stage 11: Alto Els Cortals d’Encamp;
• Stage 14: Alto Campoo, Fuente del Chivo;
• Stage 15: Alto de Sotres-Cabrales;
• Stage 16: Alto Ermita de Alba (Quirós).

Translated from Georgian with the assistance of Claude (Anthropic), reviewed by the Velorbola editors.