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By Barry Boyce,
CyclingRevealed Historian
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End of an Era for the Vuelta a Espana
After a one year absence the 9th edition of the Vuelta a Espana marked the end of an era and entry into the darkest days for Spanish cycling. The main issues facing the organizers were: a race that was too long, inadequate racing dates, and an insufficient prize list. Participation of only 8 foreign riders (5 Belgian, 3 Italian) left the Vuelta in very poor standing as a Grand National Tour.
SPECIAL NOTE: 1950 marked the end of sponsorship by the newspaper “Ya.”, a financial shock that put the race into a 4-year tailspin. After the 1950 race El Diario Ya transferred the Vuelta responsibility to El Correo Español-El Pueblo Vasco. The structure of the new Vuelta took 4 years to develop, a period which is considered as one of the darkest points in the history of Spanish cycling.
The Belgians rode aggressively from the start in Madrid and put Omar Braeckeveldt in the race leader's jersey from the first stage to the fourth stage (4a).
The race entered the mountains on Stage 4b, two time Mountain Prize winner Emilio Rodriguez used the mountains to make his move to the top of the General Classification. A strong attack over the Col de Pajares put the Belgian race leader in difficulty. By the time Braeckeveldt's deficit reached 23 minutes, the race leader opted to abandon the race. In Santander Rodriguez claimed the stage win and the overall race lead. He would not be challenge again.
Climbing specialist Emilio Rodriguez rode into Madrid to claim the 1950 Vuelta a Espana victory.
| Stage and Distance |
Stage Winner |
Race Leader |
Stage 1 Madrid-Valladolid, 190 km |
Omer Braeckeveldt (Bel) |
Omer Braeckeveldt (Bel) |
Stage 2 Valladolid-Leon, 133 km |
Rik Evens (Bel) |
Omer Braeckeveldt (Bel) |
Stage 3 Leon-Gijon, 148 km |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Omer Braeckeveldt (Bel) |
Stage 4a Gijon-Torrelavaga, 167 km |
Agustin Miro (Spa) |
Omer Braeckeveldt (Bel) |
Stage 4b Torrelavega-Santander, 78 km |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 5 Santander-Bilbao, 177 km |
Antonio Gelabert (Spa) |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 6 Bilbao-Irun, 240 km |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 7 Irun-Pamplona, 109 km |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 8a Pamplona-Tudela, 90 km ITT |
Bernardo Capo (Spa) |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 8b Tudela-Zaragoza, 176 km |
Bernardo Ruiz (Spa) |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 9 Zaragoza-Lerida, 144 km |
Umberto Drei (Ita) |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 10 Lerida-Barcelona, 167 km |
Jose Serra (Spa) |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 11 Barcelona-Tarragona, 150 km |
Rik Evens (Bel) |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 12 Tarragona-Castellon, 194 km |
Luis Navarro (Spa) |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 13 Castellon-Valencia, 65 km ITT |
Antonio Sanchez (Spa) |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 14 Valencia-Murcia, 265 km |
Umberto Drei (Ita) |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 15 Murcia-Llorca, 117 km |
Umberto Drei (Ita) |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 16 Llorca-Granada, 222 km |
Alighiero Ridolfi (Ita) |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 17 Granada-Malaga, 183 km |
Umberto Drei (Ita) |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 18 Malaga-Cadiz, 268 km |
Antonio Gelabert (Spa) |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 19a Cadiz-Jerez, 56 km ITT |
Andres Trobat (Spa) |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 19b Jerez-Sevilla, 100 km |
Jose Serra (Spa) |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 20 Sevilla-Merida, 200 km |
Victorio Garcia (Spa) |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 21 Merida-Talavera de la Reina, 228 km |
Bernardo Capo (Spa) |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
Stage 22 Talavera de la Reina-Madrid, 117 km |
Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) |
 Emilio Rodriguez (Spa)
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Mountain Prize |
 Emilio Rodriguez (Spa)
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| VaE August 17 - September 10, 1950 |
| 3,984 Km |
1.
Emilio RODRIGUEZ (Spa) 134h49'19" |
2.
Manuel Rodriguez (Spa) +15'30" |
3.
Jose Serra (Spa) +16'05" |
Starters: 42 |
| Finishers: 26 |
Average Speed: 29.145 km/h |
VaE 1948
VaE 1955
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9th Vuelta a Espana 1950
