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By Barry Boyce, CyclingRevealed Historian
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A San Sebastian TT to Remember
Experts billed the 1975 Vuelta a Espana as a battle between two of Spain’s elite climbers, Luis Ocana and José Manuel Fuente. With twelve 1st category climbs and eleven 2nd category climbs the race was tilted heavily in favor of the “mountain men”.
Miguel-Maria Lasa had the lead in a very close GC race. The critical point in the race came on Stage 13 from Barcelona to Tremp. The definitive move of the stage came from the race leader’s teammate Jose Manuel Santisteban. Quickly joining the move were contenders Domingo Perurena, Spanish superstar Santiago Lazcano and Jose Gomez Lucas.
The breakaway rode steadily away from the peloton and gained a 5 minute lead by the finish in Tremp. Perurena won the stage and with the time gain on Lasa put on the Amarillo Jersey. His GC advantage was a slim 14 seconds to breakaway partner Lazcano.
Over the next three stages Agustin Tamames led a slow and gradual comeback in the General Classification. Tamames had 3 straight stage wins (Stg. 14, 15, 16) and cut his time gap significantly.
Race leader Domingo Perurena held a 1’19” lead over a second placed Tamames going into the final stage 19B, a 31.7 km individual time trial around San Sebastian. Jesus Manzaneque won the stage in 44’24”, while pre-race favorite Luis Ocana finished with a solid time of 45’40”.
The stage was set for the final two TT starters. First off Tamames rode an inspired race entered the Velódromo de Anoeta to a huge roar of the crowd and finished with a solid 45’00”. The time to beat was set at 46’19”. Perurena was the last to finish and entered the velodrome as the seconds counted off… 46’18”, 19”, 20” the Vuelta was victory gone. Perurena finished in 46’33” and lost the 1975 Vuelta a Espana by 14 seconds.
Agustin Tamames scored five stage wins and pulled off the unexpected by winning the Vuelta on the final stage.
Stage and Distance |
Stage Winner |
Race Leader |
Prologue Fuengirola, 4.4 km ITT |
Roger Swerts (Bel) |
Roger Swerts (Bel) |
Stage 1 Marbella-Estepona-Marbella, 78 km |
Wilfried Wesemael (Bel) |
Roger Swerts (Bel) |
Stage 2 Fuengirola-Granada, 143 km |
Miguel-Maria Lasa (Spa) |
Miguel-Maria Lasa (Spa) |
Stage 3 Granada-Almeria, 179 km |
Agustin Tamames (Spa) |
Miguel-Maria Lasa (Spa) |
Stage 4 Almeria-Aguilas, 178 km |
Marino Basso (Ita) |
Miguel-Maria Lasa (Spa) |
Stage 5 Aguilas-Murcia, 176 km |
Luc Leman (Bel) |
Miguel-Maria Lasa (Spa) |
Stage 6 Murcia-Benidorm, 217 km |
Marino Basso (Ita) |
Miguel-Maria Lasa (Spa) |
Stage 7 Benidorm, 8.3 km ITT |
Miguel-Maria Lasa (Spa) |
Miguel-Maria Lasa (Spa) |
Stage 8 Benidorm-Playa Puebla de Farnas, 217 km |
Marino Basso (Ita) |
Miguel-Maria Lasa (Spa) |
Stage 9 Playa Puebla de Farnas-Vinaroz, 157 km |
Marino Basso (Ita) |
Miguel-Maria Lasa (Spa) |
Stage 10 Vinaroz-Cambrils, 173 km |
Marino Basso (Ita) |
Miguel-Maria Lasa (Spa) |
Stage 11a Cambrils-Barcelona, 151 km |
Antonio Menendez (Spa) |
Miguel-Maria Lasa (Spa) |
Stage 11b Montjuich, 30.3 km |
Marino Basso (Ita) |
Miguel-Maria Lasa (Spa) |
Stage 12 Palma de Mallorca, 181 km |
Agustin Tamames (Spa) |
Miguel-Maria Lasa (Spa) |
Stage 13 Barcelona-Tremp, 189 km |
Domingo Perurena (Spa) |
Domingo Perurena (Spa) |
Stage 14 Tremp-El Formigal, 233 km |
Agustin Tamames (Spa) |
Domingo Perurena (Spa) |
Stage 15 Jaca-Irache, 160 km |
Agustin Tamames (Spa) |
Domingo Perurena (Spa) |
Stage 16 Irache-Urquiola, 150 km |
Agustin Tamames (Spa) |
Domingo Perurena (Spa) |
Stage 17 Durango-Bilbao, 123 km |
Donald Allan (Aus) |
Domingo Perurena (Spa) |
Stage 18 Bilbao-Miranda de Ebro, 186 km |
Hennie Kuiper (Ned) |
Domingo Perurena (Spa) |
Stage 19a Miranda de Ebro-Beasain, 110 km |
Julien Stevens (Bel) |
Domingo Perurena (Spa) |
Stage 19b San Sebastian, 31.7 km ITT |
Jesus Manzaneque (Spa) |
 Agustin Tamames (Spa)
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BEST CLIMBER PRIZE |
 Luis Ocana (Spa) |
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POINTS COMPETITION |
 Raymond Steegmans (Bel) |
| VaE April 22 - May 11, 1975 |
| 3,104.1 km |
1.
Agustin TAMAMES (Spa) 88h00'56" |
2.
Domingo Perurena (Spa) +14" |
3.
Miguel-Maria Lasa (Spa) +34" |
Starters: 90 |
Finishers: 54 |
Average Speed: 34.945 km/h |
VaE 1974
VaE 1976
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30th Vuelta a Espana 1975
