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Vuelta Profile Recap - Quintessential Spain
Vuelta a Espana 2008: Profiles
La Vuelta a Espana: A Grand Tour
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, but 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 north. After a several sages racing toward Madrid the race then After a long transfer heads northeast to the Pyrenees Mountains. The peloton will pass through Andorra, Burgos and
Alto de L'Angliru
on its way back to Madrid for the grand finale on September 21st. A brief stage by stage preview follows:
Click on the Stage for the profile
Stage 3 - (Mon) September 1st,
Jaén to Córdoba 168.6 km Flat Stage
Stage 4 - (Tues) September 2nd,
Córdoba to Puertollano 170.3 km Flat Stage
Stage 5 - (Weds) September 3rd,
Ciudad Real - Ciudad Real 42.5 km Individual Time Trial
Stage 6 - (Thurs) September 4th,
Ciudad Real to Toledo 150.1 km Flat Stage
Stage 7 - (Sat) September 6th,
Barbastro to Andorra (Naturlandia - La Rabassa) 223.2 km Mountain Finish
Stage 7 Climbs:
Alto de la Rabassa [Cat 1 from km 180.5 to km 193.4]
Naturlandia-La Rabassa [HC from km 142 to Finish]
Stage 8 - (Sun) Sep. 7th, Andorra (Escaldes - Engordany) to Salardú / Naut Aran 151 km Mountain Finish
Stage 8 Climbs:
Coll del Cantó [Cat 1 from km 16 to km 41]
Port de la Bonaigua [Cat 1 from km 113 to km 133]
Alto de Pla de Beret [HC from km 142.2 to 148.5]
Stage 9 - (Mon) September 8th,
Vielha / Mijaran to Sabiñánigo 200.8 km Mountain Stage
Stage 9 Climbs:
Puerto del Serrablo [Cat 1 from km 121.1 to km 134.4]
Stage 10 - (Tues) September 9th,
Sabiñánigo to Zaragoza 151.3 km Flat Stage
Stage 11 - (Weds) September 10th,
Calahorra to Burgos 178 km Flat Stage
Stage12 - (Thurs) September 11th,
Burgos to Suances 186.4 km Rolling Stage
Stage 13 - (Sat) September 13th,
San Vicente de la B. to Alto de L'Angliru 209.5 km Mountain Finish
Stage 13 Climbs:
Puerto de Arnicio [Cat 1 from km 108.2 to km 116.7]
Alto de la Colladona [Cat 1 from km 147.2 to km 154.8]
Alto del Cordal [Cat 1 from km 182.6 to 188.1]
Alto de L'Angliru [HC from km 196.5 to Finish]
Stage 14 - (Sun) September 14th,
Oviedo to E. E. Fuentes de Invierno 158.4 km Mountain Finish
Stage 14 Climbs:
Alto de la Colladona [Cat 1 from km 64.7 to km 70.3]
Alto de la Colladiella [Cat 1 from km 90 to km 98]
Puerto de San Isidro [Cat 1 from km 144.4 to Finish]
Stage 15 - (Mon) September 15th,
Cudillero to Ponferrada 202 km Rolling Stage
Stage 15 Climbs:
Puerto de Somiedo [Cat 1 from km 66.2 to km 80]
Stage 16 - (Tues) September 16th,
Ponferrada to Zamora 186.3 km Flat Stage
Stage 16 Climbs:
Alto del Acebo [Cat 1 from km 1.4 to km 15.8]
Stage 17 - (Weds) September 17th,
Zamora to Valladolid 148.2 km Flat Stage
Stage 18 - (Thurs) September 18th,
Valladolid to Las Rozas 167.4 km Flat Stage
Stage 19 - (Fri) September 19th,
Las Rozas to Segovia 145.5 km Mountain Stage
Stage 19 Climbs:
Puerto de Navacerrada [Cat 1 from km 37.1 to km 45]
Puerto de Navafría [Cat 1 from km 77.4 to km 88.9]
Stage 20 - (Sat) September 20th,
La Granja de S. I. to Alto de Navacerrada 17.1 km Individual Time Trial
Stage 16 Climbs:
Puerto de Navacerrada [Cat 1 from km 9 to km Finish]
Stage 21 - (Sun) September 21st,
S. Sebastián de los Reyes to Madrid 102.2 km Flat Stage
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