40th Vuelta a Espana 1985

Robert Millar and “the Stolen Vuelta”

The 40th edition of the Vuelta a Espana in 1985 had a record 169 riders on the start list in Valladolid. For Spain this year’s Vuelta the unexpected results would very memorable.

Dutch rider Bert Oosterbach, a very young Miguel Indurain, Pedro Delgado and Peio Ruíz Cabestany traded the race lead through the early stage before Scotsman Robert Millar took control of the race and captured the Maillot Amarillo on Stage 10.

Stage 10 from Sabinanigo to Tremp featured 5 brutal climbs. On the third climb the race exploded with eight riders, Martin Ramirez, Sean Kelly, Alvaro Pino, "Pacho" Rodriguez, Ivan Ivanov, Fabio Parra, Gianbattista Baronchelli, and Millar breaking away. Pedro Delgado and race leader Pello Ruiz Cabestany could not connect with the lead group and lost time. At the finish Millar’s time gain earned him the race lead.

Race leader Robert Millar is in control

Steadily Millar gain time and held a 6’13” lead over Pedro Delgado.

General Classification after Stage 17
1. Robert Millar 86hr09’22”
2. Francisco ‘Pacho’ Rodríguez +10”
3. Peio Ruíz Cabestany +1’15”
4. Julián Gorospe +5’13”
5. Raymund Dietzen +5’20”
6. Pedro Delgado +6’13”

Most believed the race was over. But a mountainous Stage 18 from Alcala de Henares to Destilerías-DYC still remained before the finish in Madrid.

The crucial moment of the stage came at the start of the climb to Puerto de Cotos. Kelme teammates Jose ‘Pepe’ Recio and Pedro Delgado attack on the climb. With Delgado up the road Millar had an untimely puncture. After a quick wheel change he was forced to chase the two leaders. Millar managed to come back to the lead group with only Recio still off the front of the group.

On the descent of the Cotos an attacking Delgado left the group again and taking all risks plunged off the mountain in pursuit of his teammate. By the time Millar crossed the summit he did realize Delgado was gone. All the Spanish teams kept quiet about Delgado’s escape and when Millar began chasing did not help in the effort to catch Delgado.

There were still 63 km to the finish and Kelme director Rafa Carrasco pushed Delgado on. The time gap began to grow. Millar's director sportif Roland Berland handled the situation poorly and isolated Millar with no Peugeot team support. The team was not strong enough to protect the GC during the late stage of the race.

Millar completely shaken with team support resigns himself to his fate. Delgado and Recio ride into the finish at Destilerías-Dyc on their own with Jose Recio winning the stage. The race-clock began to tic. Slowly all of Spain watched the clock pass 6’13” seconds. Millar rolled across the finish line 6’49” behind. 

Pedro Delgado had won the 1985 Vuelta a Espana in grand fashion.

SPECIAL NOTE: Peugeot's Director Sportif Roland Berland hid in his car so he would not have to confront a despondent rider. Millar stated aftertthe race that he will never ride in Spain again.

Stage and Distance	Stage Winner	Race Leader
Prologue Valladolid, 5.6 km ITT	Bert Oosterbosch (Ned)	Bert Oosterbosch (Ned)
Stage 1 Valladolid-Zamora, 177 km	Eddy Planckaert (Bel)	Bert Oosterbosch (Ned)
Stage 2 Zamora-Orense, 262 km	Sean Kelly (Ire)	Miguel Indurain (Spa)
Stage 3 Orense-Santiago de Compostelle, 197 km	Gianbattista Baronchelli (Ita)	Miguel Indurain (Spa)
Stage 4 Santiago de Compostelle-Lugo, 162 km	Eddy Planckaert (Bel)	Miguel Indurain (Spa)
Stage 5 Lugo-Oviedo, 238 km	Federico Echave (Spa)	Miguel Indurain (Spa)
Stage 6 Oviedo-Lagos de Covadonga, 145 km	Pedro Delgado (Spa)	Pedro Delgado (Spa)
Stage 7 Cangas de Onis-Alto Campoo, 190 km	Antonio Agudelo (Spa)	Pello Ruiz-Cabestany (Spa)
Stage 8 Aguilar de Tabacalera, 224 km	Angel Camarillo (Spa)	Pello Ruiz-Cabestany (Spa)
Stage 9 Tabacalera-Balneario de Panticosa, 253 km	Fons De Wolf (Bel)	Pello Ruiz-Cabestany (Spa)
Stage 10 Sabinanigo-Tremp, 209 km	Sean Kelly (Ire)	Robert Millar (GBr)
Stage 11 Tremp-Andorra, 124 km	Francisco Rodriguez (Spa)	Robert Millar (GBr)
Stage 12 Andorra-Pal, 16 km ITT	Francisco Rodriguez (Spa)	Robert Millar (GBr)
Stage 13 Andorra-S.Quirze del Valles, 193 km	Jose-Angel Sarrapio (Spa)	Robert Millar (GBr)
Stage 14 Valencia-Benidorm, 201 km	Jose Recio (Spa)	Robert Millar (GBr)
Stage 15 Benidorm-Albacete, 208 km	Sean Kelly (Ire)	Robert Millar (GBr)
Stage 16 Albacete-Alcala de Henares, 252 km	Isidro Juarez (Spa)	Robert Millar (GBr)
Stage 17 Alcala de Henares, 43 km ITT	Pello Ruiz-Cabestany (Spa)	Robert Millar (GBr)
Stage 18 Alcala de Henares-DYC, 200 km	Jose Recio (Spa)	Pedro Delgado (Spa)
Stage 19 DYC-Salamanca, 175 km	Vladimir Malakov (Urs)	Pedro Delgado (Spa)
	BEST CLIMBER PRIZE	José-Luis Laguia (Spa)
	POINTS COMPETITION	Sean Kelly (Ire)

VaE 1984

VaE 1986

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