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By Barry Boyce, CyclingRevealed Historian
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French Star Takes Advantage of Spanish Protagonists
The 1958 Vuelta a Espana was thought to be a battle between Spain's best two riders Federico Bahamontes and his arch rival Jesus Loroño. The personal differences existing between them and a questionable decision by their National team director, Luis Puig, opened the door for the foreign riders to gain an easy victory.
The breakdown of the Spanish team and the fierce rivalry between Bahamontes and Loroño clearly appear as early as the 3rd stage. Jean Stablinski (Fra) and Francois Mahé (Fra) escaped and quickly gained valuable time. Realizing the strength of the group Bahamontes bridged up to the breakaway. Feeling slighted team leader Loroño led the chase of his teammate Bahamontes. Once together Loroño counter-attacked with Belgian Hilaire Couvreur, who was 3rd General Classification.The breakaway succeeded, with Pierino Baffi (Ita) winning the stage, 13'40” ahead of the peloton. If not for Loroño's effort to get Couvreur into the breakaway Bahamontes would have take the Amarillo Jersey. This was another in a long line of ‘passion driven' error committed by the Spanish team.
The very next stage, Zaragoza to Barcelona, Rik Van Looy attacked relentlessly and escaped with Frenchman Jean Stablinski. Bahamontes joined the breakaway but team director Puig made a dubious decision to stop Bahamontes because team leader Loroño had lost several minutes and needed help. The Frenchman and the Belgian took full advantage of the Spanish situation. In Barcelona Van Looy took the stage win 13'53” ahead of Bahamontes and 16'40” ahead of Loroño. Stablinski was the new wearer of the Amarillo Jersey.
Rik Van Looy would take the race lead on stage 9, but several stages later was forced to withdraw due to an injury. The withdrawal handed the Vuelta victory to Stablinski.
Jean Stablinski (Fra) arrived in Madrid for the overall victory 2'51” in front of Italian Pasquale Fornara and 3'01” on Fernando Manzaneque (Spa).
| Stage and Distance |
Stage Winner |
Race Leader |
Stage 1 Bilbao-San Sebastian, 164 km |
Miguel Miguel Pacheco (Spa) |
Miguel Pacheco (Spa) |
Stage 2 San Sebastian-Pamplona, 150 km |
Antonio Jimenez-Quiles (Spa) |
Jose Herrero (Spa) |
Stage 3 Pamplona-Zaragoza, 245 km |
Pierino Baffi (Ita) |
Hilaire Couvreur (Bel) |
Stage 4 Zaragoza-Barcelona, 229 km |
Rik Van Looy (Bel) |
Jean Stablinski (Fra) |
Stage 5a Barcelona/Montjuich, 4 km TTT |
FRANCE |
Jean Stablinski (Fra) |
Stage 5b Barcelona-Tarragona, 119 km |
Rik Van Looy (Bel) |
Jean Stablinski (Fra) |
Stage 6 Tarragona-Valencia, 263 km |
Rik Van Looy (Bel) |
Daan De Groot (Ned) |
Stage 7 Valencia-Cuenca, 216 km |
Gilbert Desmet (Bel) |
Daan De Groot (Ned) |
Stage 8 Cuenca-Toledo, 206 km |
Jean Stablinski (Fra) |
Daan De Groot (Ned) |
Stage 9 Toledo-Madrid, 241 km |
Rik Van Looy (Bel) |
Rik Van Looy (Bel) |
Stage 10 Madrid-Soria, 225 km |
Rik Van Looy (Bel) |
Rik Van Looy (Bel) |
Stage 11 Soria-Vitoria, 167 km |
Rene Marigil (Spa) |
Rik Van Looy (Bel) |
Stage 12 Vitoria-Bilbao, 169 km |
Fausto Iza (Spa) |
Jean Stablinski (Fra) |
Stage 13a Bilbao-Castro Urdiales, 35 km ITT |
Guido Carlesi (Ita) |
Jean Stablinski (Fra) |
Stage 13b Castro Urdiales- Santander , 105 km |
Jean Graczyk (Fra) |
Jean Stablinski (Fra) |
Stage 14 Santander-Gijon, 221 km |
Pierino Baffi (Ita) |
Jean Stablinski (Fra) |
Stage 15 Oviedo-Palencia, 246 km |
Rik Luyten (Bel) |
Jean Stablinski (Fra) |
Stage 16 Palencia-Madrid, 241 km |
Rik Luyten (Bel) |
 Jean Stablinski (Fra)
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BEST CLIMBER PRIZE |
 Federico Bahamontes (Spa) |
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POINTS COMPETITION |
 Salvador Botella (Spa) |
| VaE April 30 - May 15, 1958 |
| 3,246 Km |
1.
Jean STABLINSKI (Fra) 94h54'21" |
2.
Pasquale Fornara (Ita) +2'51" |
3.
Fernando Manzaneque (Spa)
+3'01" |
Starters: 100 |
Finishers: 45 |
Average Speed: 34.202 km/h |
VaE 1957
VaE 1959
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13th Vuelta a Espana 1958
