47th Vuelta a Espana 1992

A Swiss Surprise

The 47th edition of the Vuelta a Espana was held from April 27 to May 17, 1992. The race course had a distance of 3,395 km over 20 stages from Jerez de la Frontera to Madrid.

With the absence of Miguel Indurain, who was achieving a “Giro-Tour Double” victory, the list of contenders became extensive:

The surprises of the race began early. On the rain swept 49.5 km Stage 7 Time Trial in Alquerias del Nino-Oropesa Erik Breukink won the stage, but Spanish climber Jesus Montoya finished second on the stage only 9” behind the Dutchman and took the Maillot Amarillo. Tony Rominger, suffering from a knee concussion from an earlier crash, lost almost three minutes.

The Vuelta continued into the high mountains during Stage 8 from Lleida to Plat de Beret and Stage 9 from Vielha to Luz Ardiden (Fra). Race leader Montoya considered Pedro Delgado his main threat and watched him very closely, which benefited Swiss rider Tony Rominger.

Rominger (R) leading Delgado and race leader Montoya

Stage 8, Jon Unzaga (Spa) broke away for the stage win. Montoya struggled and finish 28” behind Delgado and Rominger. Defending champion Melchor Mauri suffered and lost 3 minutes. He fell from contention.

Stage 9, Amaya Seguros’ Laudelino Cubino attacked at the 108 km mark on the climb of the Col de Tourmalet. The move dropped the contenders group. Cubino continued his strong tempo and won the stage. With the clock ticking Rominger attacked the final climb of Luz Ardiden. When Delgado hesitated, the rest of the group slowed. Climbing brilliantly Rominger separated himself from the remainder of the chase group and finish 9” behind the stage winner and 1’03” ahead of Montoya. Major time losses hit the contender list: Zulle +8'53", Alcala and Rooks +11'17", Lucho Herrera +15'40", Breukink +30'22", defending champion Mauri +34'13". Zulle abandoned the race before the next stage.

The 213.4 km Stage 14 from Santander to Lagos de Covadonga saw everyone again looking at Pedro Delgado to attack. With 5 km to go Delgado stood up and gained a quick 10” on Rominger. Within 2 km Montoya joined the Suisse rider in pursuit of Delgado. The Spanish climber would not be denied and won the stage. Montoya’s strong effort saved his race lead, +43” in the GC to Delgado and +55” to Rominger.

Delgado (L), Montoya (C), Rominger (R) before the ITT

The crucial moment of the race occurred during the 37.9 km Stage 19 Time Trial in Fuenlabrada. The stage would decide the final fate of three riders, Rominger, Delgado, and Montoya. Tony Rominger showed his outstanding ability as a time trial specialist. The Swiss rider won the stage and grabbed the Maillot Amarillo.

Team Clas-Cajastur’s Tony Rominger (Sui) crossed the finish line in Madrid to become the first Swiss rider to win the Vuelta a Espana. He was joined on the final podium by Jesus Montoya and Pedro Delgado.

Stage and Distance	Stage Winner	Race Leader
Stage 1 Jerez de la Frontera, 9.2 km ITT	Jelle Nijdam (Ned)	Jelle Nijdam (Ned)
Stage 2a S.Fernando-Jerez de la Frontera, 135 km	Djamolidine Abdoujaparov (Uzb)	Jelle Nijdam (Ned)
Stage 2b Arcos de la Front.-Jerez Fron., 32 km TTT	GATORADE	Pello Ruiz-Cabestany (Spa)
Stage 3 Jerez de la Frontera-Cordoba, 205 km	Jean-Paul Van Poppel (Ned)	Pello Ruiz-Cabestany (Spa)
Stage 4 Linares-Albacete, 229 km	Djamolidine Abdoujaparov (Uzb)	Pello Ruiz-Cabestany (Spa)
Stage 5 Albacete-Gandia, 213.5 km	Jean-Paul Van Poppel (Ned)	Pello Ruiz-Cabestany (Spa)
Stage 6 Gandia-Benicasim, 202.8 km	Edwig Van Hooydonck (Bel)	Pello Ruiz-Cabestany (Spa)
Stage 7 Alquerias del Nino-Oropesa, 49.5 km ITT	Erik Breukink (Ned)	Jesus Montoya (Spa)
Stage 8 Lleida-Plat de Beret, 240.5 km	Jon Unzaga (Spa)	Jesus Montoya (Spa)
Stage 9 Vielha-Luz Ardiden (Fra), 144 km	Laudelino Cubino (Spa)	Jesus Montoya (Spa)
Stage 10 Luz St Sauveur-Sabinanigo, 196 km	Julio-Cesar Cadena (Col)	Jesus Montoya (Spa)
Stage 11 Sabinanigo-Pamplona, 162.9 km	Djamolidine Abdoujaparov (Uzb)	Jesus Montoya (Spa)
Stage 12 Pamplona-Burgos, 200.1 km	Johan Bruyneel (Bel)	Jesus Montoya (Spa)
Stage 13 Burgos-Santander, 178.3 km	Roberto Torres (Spa)	Jesus Montoya (Spa)
Stage 14 Santander-Lagos de Covadonga, 213.4 km	Pedro Delgado (Spa)	Jesus Montoya (Spa)
Stage 15 Cangas de Onis-Alto Naranco, 163 km	Francisco-Javier Mauleon (Spa)	Jesus Montoya (Spa)
Stage 16 Oviedo-Leon, 162 km	Tom Cordes (Ned)	Jesus Montoya (Spa)
Stage 17 Leon-Salamanca, 200.6 km	Eric Vanderaerden (Bel)	Jesus Montoya (Spa)
Stage 18 Salamanca-Avila, 218.9 km	Enrico Zaina (Ita)	Jesus Montoya (Spa)
Stage 19 Fuenlabrada-Fuenlabrada, 37.9 km ITT	Tony Rominger (Sui)	Tony Rominger (Sui)
Stage 20 Collado Villalba-Segovia, 188.3 km	Tony Rominger (Sui)	Tony Rominger (Sui)
Stage 21 Segovia-Madrid, 175 km	Djamolidine Abdoujaparov (Uzb)	Tony Rominger (Sui)
	BEST CLIMBER PRIZE	Carlos Hernandez (Spa)
	POINTS COMPETITION	Djamolidine Abdoujaparov (Uzb)

VaE 1991

VaE 1993

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