Vuelta Travelogue - Quintessential Spain
This is more than just a recap of the day's results!
Vuelta a Espana 2005: Preview and Profiles
After 700 years of Moorish rule, Spain succumbed to the Christian Reconquest when Ferdinand and Isabella finally conquered Granada in 1492 and created a united Spain. Islamic rule was replaced by Christian rule, but today relics of the Moors permeate the culture, architecture and the very soul of Andalucia, the region where this year's Vuelta begins.
Along with Cordoba and Sevilla, Granada belongs to the trio of romantic Moorish cities that evoke images of quintessential Spain: bullfights, flamenco, brown hills dotted with olive, lemon, orange and wine groves and, of course, romantic castles. Yet 1,000 years before the Moors, the Romans occupied Spain. There is still evidence of that great culture in abundance with bridges, aqueducts and buildings to be seen everywhere.
These musings may seem to have little to do with cycle racing in general and the Vuelta a Espana in particular. However it takes little imagination to recognize that the architects of the grand Tours utilize the history, culture and infinite variations in geographical features of their beautiful countries to design races that become an integral part of their society. Probably no other sport is woven so intimately into the fabric of its homelands.
This year the Vuelta starts in the south at Granada and heads northeast. After a several sages along the Mediterranean coast the race then heads northwest to the Pyrenees Mountains. After a long transfer the peloton will pass through Logrono, Burgos and Lagos de Covadonga on its way back to Madrid for the grand finale on September 18th. A brief stage by stage preview follows:
(Click on the Stage for the profile)
Stage 3 - August 29th ,
Cordoba to Puertollano 153.3 Km
Stage 4 - August 30th ,
Ciudad Real to Argamasilla de Alba 230.3 Km
Stage 5 - August 31st ,
Alcazar de San Juan to Cuenca 176 Km
Stage 6 - September 1st ,
Cuenca to Ski Resort Aramon Valdelinares 217 Km
Stage 7 - September 2nd,
Teruel to Vinaros 212.5 Km
Stage 8 - September 3rd ,
Tarragona to Lloret de Mar 189 Km
Stage 9 - September 4th, Lloret de Mar – Lloret de Mar 47.4 Km Individual Time Trial
Stage 10 - September 5th ,
La Vall D'en Bas to Ski resort D'Ordino Arcalis ( Andorra ) 206.3 Km
Stage 11 - September 6th ,
Andorra to Ski Resort Aramon Cerler 186.6 Km
Stage12 - September 8th , Logroño to Burgos 148 Km
Stage 13 - September 9th , Burgos to Santuario de la Bien Aparecida (Ampuero) 196 Km
Stage 14 - September 10th , Nestle (La Penilla) to Lagos de Covadonga 172.3 Km
Stage 15 - September 11th ,
Cangas de Onis to Valgrande / Pajares 191 Km
Stage 16 - September 13th , Leon to Valladolid 162.5 Km
Stage 17 - September 14th , El Espinar to La Granja de San Ildefenso 165.6 Km
Stage 18 - September 15th , Avila – Avila 197.5 Km
Stage 19 - September 16th , San Martin de Valdeiglesias to Alcobendas 142.9 Km
Stage 20 - September 17th , Guadalajara to Alcala de Henares 38.9 Km Individual Time Trial
Stage 21 - September 18th , Madrid – Madrid, 144 Km
Vuelta 2005 Picture Recap
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