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By Barry Boyce, CyclingRevealed Historian
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Rodriguez Wins More than Stages
World War 2 caused the cancellation of the Vuelta a Espana over the past two years. Although Spain was still reeling from the effects of a difficult European and World economy in 1945, daily newspaper 'Diario Ya' took full charge of the promotional organization and re-started the race.
Sprint specialist Delio Rodriguez took full command of the race on Stage 2 between Salamanque and Caceres. Under a light rain he rode in a long breakaway with Joao Rebelo, Joaquin Olmos, Antonio Montes , and Joaquin Bailon. Rodriguez and Bailon escape from the breakaway group over the Col de Bejar. The two men work well together and extend their lead to over 35 minutes. When Bailon weakens in the final kilometers Rodriguez left him and won the stage solo. Delio Rodriguez was comfortably in control of the General Classification, so the focus of the peloton turned to Climbing Classification.
When the Vuelta reached the mountain stages of northern Spain, the excitement was provided by the climbers. Spaniard Julian Berrendero and Portugal 's Joao Rebelo battle steadfastly for the climbing lead. Day one in the mountains went to Rebelo. He captured Stage 13 from San Sebastian to Bilbao, and moved into the lead in the Climbing Classification. The following day on Stage 14 Berrendero climbed back into the CC lead. When the race reached the finish in Madrid Berrendero scored a one-point victory over Rebelo.
The story of the 1945 Vuelta a Espana was the dominating performance of Delio Rodriguez. He devastated the peloton with a 30 minute 8 second victory in the General Classification.
Delio Rodriguez (Spa)
SPECIAL NOTE: In addition to the Overall victory Spanish super sprinter Delio Rodriguez added 6 stage wins to his record setting stage win total (now 26) and easily won the Vuelta's first ever Point's Classification.
| Stage and Distance |
Stage Winner |
Race Leader |
Stage 1 Madrid-Salamanca, 212 km |
Julian Berrendero (Spa) |
Julian Berrendero (Spa) |
Stage 2 Salamanca-Caceres, 214 km |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 3 Caceres-Badajoz, 132 km |
Miguel Gual (Spa) |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 4 Badajoz-Almendralejo, 57 km ITT |
Juan Gimeno (Spa) |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 5 Almendralejo-Sevilla, 171 km |
Vicente Miro (Spa) |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 6 Sevilla-Granada, 251 km |
Antonio Montes (Spa) |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 7 Granada-Murcia, 285 km |
Joaquin Olmos (Spa) |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 8 Murcia-Valencia, 244 km |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 9 Valencia-Tortosa, 188 km |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 10 Tortosa-Barcelona, 288 km |
Miguel Gual (Spa) |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 11 Barcelona-Zaragoza, 306 km |
Miguel Gual (Spa) |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 12 Zaragoza-San Sebastian, 276 km |
Jose Gutierrez (Spa) |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 13 San Sebastian-Bilbao, 207 km |
Joao Rebelo (Por) |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 14 Bilbao-Santander, 188 km |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 15 Santander-Reinosa, 110 km |
Joao Rebelo (Por) |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 16 Reinosa-Gijon, 200 km |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 17 Gijon-Leon, 172 km |
Julian Berrendero (Spa) |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 18 Leon-Valladolid, 132 km |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 19 Valladolid-Madrid, 185 km |
Joaquin Olmos (Spa) |
 Delio Rodriguez (Spa)
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Mountain Prize |
Julian Berrendero (Spa) |
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Points Prize |
Delio Rodriguez (Spa) |
| VaE May 10 - May 30, 1945 |
| 3,818 Km |
1.
Delio RODRIGUEZ (Spa) 135h43'55" |
2.
Julian Berrendero (Spa) +30'08" |
3.
Juan Gimeno (Spa) +37'18" |
Starters: 52 |
Finishers: 26 |
Average Speed: 28.129 km/h |
VaE 1942
VaE 1946
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5th Vuelta a Espana 1945
