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By Barry Boyce, CyclingRevealed Historian
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Anquetil's Missing Jewel
Haunted by the loss in the 1962 Vuelta a Espana to rival Rudi Altig, Jacques Anquetil returned to Spain in 1963 in search of a missing gem. Already the three time winner of Tour de France (1957, 1961, 1962) and the Giro d'Italia (1960), Anquetil's collection would not be complete without a victory in the Vuelta.
In an effort to make the race more popular and attract bigger foreign stars Vuelta organizers cut down on the severity of the Spanish race courses. In 1963 they designed a course specifically for Belgian sprinter Rik Van Looy: a mostly flat course with only four category 1 climbs, seven category 2 and three category 3; and a short race (2,442 Km) with only 15 stages. When an injury prevented Van Looy from participating Jacques Anquetil welcomed the parcours.
Anquetil in full control on the Stage 12b ITT
The inspired Frenchman took the race lead on the first day. A more than 2 minute stage win in the 52 km stage 1b individual time trial and Anquetil never looked back. With the help of his very strong Saint Raphael-Gitane team Anquetil held the Amarillo Jersey (race leader's jersey) from start to finish.
Jacques Anquetil rode into Madrid on Stage 15 to claim the 1963 Vuelta a Espana victory, and became the first rider to earn a win in all 3 Grand National Tours.
Stage and Distance |
Stage Winner |
Race Leader |
Stage 1a Gijon-Mieres, 45 km |
Antonio Barrutia (Spa) |
Antonio Barrutia (Spa) |
Stage 1b Mieres-Gijon, 52 km ITT |
Jacques Anquetil (Fra) |
Jacques Anquetil (Fra) |
Stage 2 Gijon-Torrelavega, 175 km |
Jose Segu (Spa) |
Jacques Anquetil (Fra) |
Stage 3 Torrelavega-Vitoria, 249 km |
Antonio Barrutia (Spa) |
Jacques Anquetil (Fra) |
Stage 4 Vitoria-Bilbao, 104 km |
Jan Lauwers (Bel) |
Jacques Anquetil (Fra) |
Stage 5 Bilbao-Bilbao, 191 km |
Bas Maliepaard (Ned) |
Jacques Anquetil (Fra) |
Stage 6 Bilbao-Eibar, 165 km |
Guy Ignolin (Fra) |
Jacques Anquetil (Fra) |
Stage 7 Eibar-Tolosa, 138 km |
Valentin Uriona (Spa) |
Jacques Anquetil (Fra) |
Stage 8 Tolosa-Pamplona, 169 km |
Jose Perez-Frances (Spa) |
Jacques Anquetil (Fra) |
Stage 9 Pamplona-Zaragoza, 180 km |
Roger Baens (Bel) |
Jacques Anquetil (Fra) |
Stage 10 Zaragoza-Lérida, 144 km |
Jean Stablinski (Fra) |
Jacques Anquetil (Fra) |
Stage 11 Lérida-Barcelona, 182 km |
Jan Lauwers (Bel) |
Jacques Anquetil (Fra) |
Stage 12a Barcelona/Montjuich, 80 km |
Frans Aerenhouts (Bel) |
Jacques Anquetil (Fra) |
Stage 12b Sitges-Tarragona, 52 km ITT |
Miguel Pacheco (Spa) |
Jacques Anquetil (Fra) |
Stage 13 Tarragona-Valencia, 252 km |
Seamus Elliott (Ire) |
Jacques Anquetil (Fra) |
Stage 14 Cuenca-Madrid, 177 km |
Roger Baens (Bel) |
Jacques Anquetil (Fra) |
Stage 15 Madrid-Madrid, 87 km |
Guy Ignolin (Fra) |
 Jacques Anquetil (Fra)
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BEST CLIMBER PRIZE |
 Julio Jimenez (Spa) |
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POINTS COMPETITION |
 Bas Maliepaard (Ned) |
| VaE May 1 - May 15, 1963 |
| 2.442 Km |
1.
Jacques ANQUETIL (Fra) 64h46'20" |
2.
Jose Martin Colmenarejo (Spa) +3'06" |
3.
Miguel Pacheco (Spa) +3'32" |
Starters: 90 |
Finishers: 65 |
Average Speed: 37.699 km/h |
VaE 1962
VaE 1964
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18th Vuelta a Espana 1963
