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By Barry Boyce, CyclingRevealed Historian
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New Spanish Champion Blossoms
The Vuelta a Espana celebrated its 25th anniversary in grand style. Spain's new champion Luis Ocana, who was second in 1969, came to the start in Cadiz with great fitness. His battle with Agustin Tamames would remain unresolved into the final individual time trial on Stage 19b.
The race started this year with a first ever Prologue time trial. The 6 km course around the streets of Cadiz was won by Ocana. The Spaniard did surrender the Amarillo Jersey the following stage to Dutchman Rene Pinen, who held the race lead until an exciting Stage 9.
On the 189 km Stage 9 route from Barcelona to Igualada Ocana attacked the climb of the Montserrat only 28 km from the finish. Only Agustin Tamames was able to stay with Ocana's attack. The mountain points were won by Ocana, who grabbed an important 10 second bonus. The race leader Pinan crossed the summit over 2 minutes behind. Flying down the descent a small group joined the 2 leader as the breakaway cruised into Igualada. Tamames won the stage with Ocana gaining enough time to take the Amarillo Jersey 9 second ahead of closest rival Agustin Tamames.
The slim race lead held until Stage 13. Agustin Tamames made his bid for the race lead on the climb of the Somosierra. At the summit of the climb Tamames won the 10 second bonus and became the “race leader on the road”. His Werner team covered all attacks and defended Tamames' 1 second lead. They delivered Tamames to Soria with the leaders and the Amarillo Jersey jumped to his shoulders.
After gaining several small time bonuses on the next 3 stages Tamames' race lead was put to the test on Stage 17 from Santander to Vitoria. Over the summit of the Orduña the race leader's hard working Werner team brought back a solo Andres Gandarias. When a group of 6 riders including Ocana escaped the peloton just 25 km from the finish the pace heated-up. Tamames was losing the Vuelta, he launched a huge effort and rejoined the breakaway on the outskirts of Vitoria. The Amarillo Jersey was saved, but the penultimate final stage time trial was only 2 day away.
The final saga of the great 1970 battle between Agustin Tamames and young Luis Ocana played out on the 29 km road from Llodio to Bilbao. The individual time trial would decide the victor. As predicted Luis Ocana dominated the stage, winning by 1'01” over second placed Jesus Manzaneque and 1'15” over race leader Agustin Tamames. A disappointed Tamames fell to second place in the General Classification, but held a solid lead in the Mountain Classification.
Luis Ocana claimed his first victory in one of the three Grand National Tours! Spain celebrated their new Spanish Champion.
Stage and Distance |
Stage Winner |
Race Leader |
Prologue Cadiz , 6 km ITT |
Luis Ocana (Spa) |
Luis Ocana (Spa) |
Stage 1 Cadiz-Jerez de la Frontera, 170 km |
Eddy Peelman (Bel) |
Rene Pijnen (Ned) |
Stage 2 Jerez de la Frontera-Fuengirola, 217 km |
Julian Cuevas (Spa) |
Rene Pijnen (Ned) |
Stage 3 Fuengirola-Almeria, 249 km |
Guido Reybroeck (Bel) |
Rene Pijnen (Ned) |
Stage 4 Almeria-Lorca, 161 km |
Jean Ronsmans (Bel) |
Rene Pijnen (Ned) |
Stage 5 Lorca-Calpe, 209 km |
Luis-Pedro Santamarina (Spa) |
Rene Pijnen (Ned) |
Stage 6 Calpe-Burriana, 198 km |
Eddy Peelman (Bel) |
Rene Pijnen (Ned) |
Stage 7 Burriana-Tarragona, 201 km |
Guido Reybrouck (Bel) |
Rene Pijnen (Ned) |
Stage 8a Tarragona-Barcelona, 100 km |
Ramon Saez (Spa) |
Rene Pijnen (Ned) |
Stage 8b Barcelona/Montjuich, 48 km |
Guido Reybrouck (Bel) |
Rene Pijnen (Ned) |
Stage 9 Barcelona-Igualada, 189 km |
Agustin Tamames (Spa) |
Luis Ocana (Spa) |
Stage 10 Igualada-Zaragoza, 237 km |
Anatole Novak (Fra) |
Luis Ocana (Spa) |
Stage 11 Zaragoza-Calatayud, 118 km |
Marinus Wagtmans (Ned) |
Luis Ocana (Spa) |
Stage 12 Calatayud-Madrid, 204 km |
Johnny Schleck (Lux) |
Luis Ocana (Spa) |
Stage 13 Madrid-Soria, 221 km |
Marinus Wagtmans (Ned) |
Agustin Tamames (Spa) |
Stage 14 Soria-Valladolid, 238 km |
Jan Serpenti (Ned) |
Agustin Tamames (Spa) |
Stage 15 Valladolid-Burgos, 134 km |
Ramon Saez (Spa) |
Agustin Tamames (Spa) |
Stage 16 Burgos-Santander, 179 km |
Roger Rosiers (Bel) |
Agustin Tamames (Spa) |
Stage 17 Santander-Vitoria, 191 km |
Willy In't Ven (Bel) |
Agustin Tamames (Spa) |
Stage 18 Vitoria-San Sebastian, 157 km |
Jose-Maria Errandonea (Spa) |
Agustin Tamames (Spa) |
Stage 19a San Sebastian-Llodio, 104 km |
Jos Van der Vleuten (Ned) |
Agustin Tamames (Spa) |
Stage 19b Llodio-Bilbao, 29 km ITT |
Luis Ocana (Spa) |
 Luis Ocana (Spa)
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BEST CLIMBER PRIZE |
 Agustin Tamames (Spa) |
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POINTS COMPETITION |
 Guido Reybrouck (Bel) |
| VaE April 23 - May 12, 1970 |
| 3,560 km |
1.
Luis OCANA (Spa) 89h57'12" |
2.
Agustin Tamames (Spa) +1'18" |
3.
Herman Van Springel (Bel) +1'27" |
Starters: 109 |
Finishers: 59 |
Average Speed: 39.831 km/h |
VaE 1969
VaE 1971
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25th Vuelta a Espana 1970
