19th Vuelta a Espana 1964

Poulidor Wins a Grand Tour!!!

Spain 's most powerful team, Ferrys, came to the 1964 Vuelta a Espana with three talented riders capable of taking the final victory. Teammates Jose Pérez-Francés, Fernando Manzaneque, and Luis Otano all had individual ambitions and battled each other team control. This internal fighting opened the door for Frenchman Raymond Poulidor.

After several difficult stages and a hard Stage 5 crash race leader Rik Van Looy abandoned with injuries. This set the stage for Jose Pérez-Francés to take the race lead. After three stages in the Amarillo Jersey team Ferry's internal struggles began to play a major role in the race.

During stage 9 from Pamplona to San Sebastian Luis Otano joins a solid four rider breakaway. Otano played the good teammate with 70 km to go and refused to help the pace of the elite group. With 30 km to go Otano realized control of the race was his and began to roll through to take a turn on the front. He won the stage and took the race lead from his teammate. Immediately war broke out on Team Ferry.

The drama continued on Stage 14 from Aviles to Leon when Julio Jimenez of Team Kas broke away solo for the stage win. He gained 7'12” on the race leader and took the lead in the General Classification. The embattled Team Ferry was losing the Vuleta.

There were three stages to the finish in Madrid. The Stage 15 individual time trial was not a Jimenez strength and the door was opened to Raymond Poulidor. Jimenez held a 2'49" GC lead over Poulidor going into the ITT.

Poulidor's Stage 15 ITT effort

Poulidor, a master of the ITT, covered the 65 km course 1h35'26”. The two Spanish hopefuls Pérez-Francés lost 2'13” and Otaño lost 2'22” to Poulidor. Race leader Jimenez finished well off the Frenchman's time. Poulidor took over the race lead thanks to a generous 1 minute stage win time bonus. Poulidor led Otaño by 33” and Pérez-Francés 1'56” with two stages remaining.

Raymond “Pou-Pou” Poulidor held off a late charge and 30 second time bonus on the final stage by Jose Pérez-Francés to gain the 1964 Vuelta a Espana victory.

Stage 1a Benidorm-Benidorm, 42 km	Edward Sels (Bel)	Edward Sels (Bel)
Stage 1b Benidorm-Benidorm, 11 km ITT	Eusebio Velez (Spa)	Eusebio Velez (Spa)
Stage 2 Benidorm-Nules, 199 km	Rik Van Looy (Bel)	Rik Van Looy (Bel)
Stage 3 Nules-Salou, 212 km	Frans Melckenbeeck (Bel)	Rik Van Looy (Bel)
Stage 4a Salou-Barcelona, 115 km	Armand Desmet (Bel)	Rik Van Looy (Bel)
Stage 4b Barcelona-Barcelona, 49 km	Antonio Barrutia (Spa)	Rik Van Looy (Bel)
Stage 5 Barcelona-Puigcerda, 174 km	Julio Jimenez (Spa)	Rik Van Looy (Bel)
Stage 6 Puigcerda-Lerida, 187 km	Frans Melckenbeeck (Bel)	Jose Perez-Frances (Spa)
Stage 7 Lerida-Jaca, 201 km	Julio Sanz (Spa)	Jose Perez-Frances (Spa)
Stage 8 Jaca-Pamplona, 205 km	Mies Stolker (Ned)	Jose Perez-Frances (Spa)
Stage 9 Pamplona-San Sebastian, 205 km	Luis Otano (Spa)	Luis Otano (Spa)
Stage 10 San Sebastian-Bilbao, 197 km	Henri Dewolf (Bel)	Luis Otano (Spa)
Stage 11 Bilbao-Vitoria, 107 km	Victor Van Schil (Bel)	Luis Otano (Spa)
Stage 12 Vitoria-Santander, 211 km	Barry Hoban (GBr)	Luis Otano (Spa)
Stage 13 Santander-Aviles, 230 km	Barry Hoban (GBr)	Luis Otano (Spa)
Stage 14 Aviles-Leon, 163 km	Julio Jimenez (Spa)	Julio Jimenez (Spa)
Stage 15 Becilla-Valladolid, 65 km ITT	Raymond Poulidor (Fra)	Raymond Poulidor (Fra)
Stage 16 Valladolid-Madrid, 209 km	Antonio Barrutia (Spa)	Raymond Poulidor (Fra)
Stage 17 Madrid/Caso de Campa, 87 km	Frans Melckenbeeck (Bel)	Raymond Poulidor (Fra)
	BEST CLIMBER PRIZE	Julio Jimenez (Spa)
	POINTS COMPETITION	Jose Perez-Frances (Spa)

VaE 1963

VaE 1965

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