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By Barry Boyce, CyclingRevealed Historian
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Spaniard Time Trials to the Victory
Severe financial problems pledged the 1966 edition of the Vuelta a Espana. Jose-Antonio Elola Olaso, the person in charge of the sport in Spain, realizing the value of the Grand National Tour came to the rescue just days before the race was to be cancelled. The late funding of the prizes did however have a negative effect on the start list. Former champions Rudi Altig, Jacques Anquetil, Raymond Poulidor and Rik Van Looy did not participate.
This year's winner was decided in the second half of race. The 61 km mountain individual time trial on Stage 15a from Vitoria to Haro, provided the only excitement of the race. Dutchman Cees Haast held the race lead, but doubting fans asked 'could he perform on the mountainous time trial'?
Carlos Echeverria held the fastest intermediate time at the time check at 33 km the summit of the Alto de Herrera, 16” ahead of Francisco Garcia, and 1'57” ahead of race leader Haast. An inspired Garcia plunged off the mountain, taking all the risks necessary to win the stage. His winning time was more than 3 minutes faster than race leader Cees Haast and the Amarillo Jersey jumped to Garcia.
The powerful KAS team escorted Francisco Garcia through the final 4 stages and into the finish in Bilboa without a problem. Garcia's victory was the highlight of the Spaniard's grand career. The KAS team took all three podium positions.
Stage and Distance |
Stage Winner |
Race Leader |
Stage 1a Murcia-Murcia, 111 km |
Bruno Sivilotti (Arg) |
Bruno Sivilotti (Arg) |
Stage 1b Murcia-Murcia, 3.5 km ITT |
Jose-Maria Errandonea (Spa) |
Jose-Maria Errandonea (Spa) |
Stage 2a Murcia-La Manga, 81 km |
Enzo Petrolani (Ita) |
Jose-Maria Errandonea (Spa) |
Stage 2b La Manga-Benidorm, 153 km |
Ramon Mendiburu (Spa) |
Jose-Maria Errandonea (Spa) |
Stage 3 Benidorm-Valencia, 148 km |
Jose-Antonio Momene (Spa) |
Jose-Antonio Momene (Spa) |
Stage 4 Cuenca-Madrid, 177 km |
Valentin Uriona (Spa) |
Valentin Uriona (Spa) |
Stage 5 Madrid-Madrid, 181 km |
Carlos Echevarria (Spa) |
Valentin Uriona (Spa) |
Stage 6 Madrid-Calatuyud, 225 km |
Johan De Roo (Ned) |
Valentin Uriona (Spa) |
Stage 7 Calatayud-Zaragoza, 105 km |
Cees Haast (Ned) |
Valentin Uriona (Spa) |
Stage 8 Zaragoza-Lérida, 144 km |
Henk Nijdam (Ned) |
Valentin Uriona (Spa) |
Stage 9 Lérida-Las Colinas, 128 km |
Antonio Gomez del Moral (Spa) |
Valentin Uriona (Spa) |
Stage 10a Sitges-Barcelona, 40 km |
Luis Otano (Spa) |
Valentin Uriona (Spa) |
Stage 10b Montjuich, 49 km |
Henk Nijdam (Ned) |
Valentin Uriona (Spa) |
Stage 11 Barcelona-Huesca, 266 km |
Mario Zanin (Ita) |
Valentin Uriona (Spa) |
Stage 12 Huesca-Pamplona, 221 km |
Gerben Karstens (Ned) |
Valentin Uriona (Spa) |
Stage 13 Pamplona-San Sebastian, 131 km |
Cees Haast (Ned) |
Cees Haast (Ned) |
Stage 14 San Sebastian-Vitoria, 178 km |
Gregorio San Miguel (Spa) |
Cees Haast (Ned) |
Stage 15a Vitoria-Haro, 61 km ITT |
Francisco Gabica (Spa) |
Francisco Gabica (Spa) |
Stage 15b Haro-Logrono, 52 km |
Gerben Karstens (Ned) |
Francisco Gabica (Spa) |
Stage 16 Logrono-Burgos, 116 km |
Henk Nijdam (Ned) |
Francisco Gabica (Spa) |
Stage 17 Burgos-Santander, 226 km |
Gerben Karstens (Ned) |
Francisco Gabica (Spa) |
Stage 18 Santander-Bilbao, 154 km |
Domingo Perurena (Spa) |
 Francisco Gabica (Spa)
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BEST CLIMBER PRIZE |
 Gregorio San Miguel (Spa) |
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POINTS COMPETITION |
 Jos Van Der Vleuten (Ned) |
| VaE April 28 - May 15, 1966 |
| 2.950.5 Km |
1.
Francisco GABICA (Spa) 78h53'55" Team KAS |
2.
Eusebio Velez (Spa) +39" Team KAS |
3.
Carlos Echevarria (Spa) +44" Team KAS |
Starters: 90 |
Finishers: 55 |
Average Speed: 37.605 km/h |
VaE 1965
VaE 1967
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21st Vuelta a Espana 1966
