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By Barry Boyce,
CyclingRevealed Historian
 Pedro Delgado
VaE April 23 - May 12, 1985 |
3,474.6 Km |
Starters: 170 (* (*169) |
Finishers: 101 |
Average Speed: 36.417 km/h x
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Robert Millar and “the Stolen Vuelta?”
The 40th edition of the Vuelta a Espana in 1985 had a record 169 riders on the start list in Valladolid. This year’s Vuelta results will be unexpected and very memorable.
SPECIAL NOTE: The 169 riders on the Vuelta start list was a record number of entries. At the start in Valladolid all the riders paid homage to last year’s second place finisher, Alberto Fernandez, who died in an automobile accident last December.
1985 Vuelta a Espana Race Route Details |
Teams:
- Skil-Sem-Kas-Miko
- Café de Colombia-Varta
- Dormilon Colchones
- Fagor
- Hueso Chocolates
- Kelme
- Lousa-Trinaranjus-Akai
- MG-Orbea
- Panasonic-Raleigh
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- Reynolds-TS Batteries
- Safir-Van de Ven
- Seleccion URSS (amateur)
- Peugeot-Shell-Michelin
- Supermercati Brianzoli *
- Teka
- Xerox-Philadelphia Laser
- Zor-Gemeaz Cusin
* Giovanni Bottoia (Supermercati Brianzoli) did not start the race.
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Race Summary:
Early Stages: Dutch rider Bert Oosterbosch, a young Miguel Indurain, Pedro Delgado, and Pello Ruiz Cabestany traded the race lead through the early stage before Scotsman Robert Millar took control of the race and captured the Maillot Amarillo on Stage 10.
Stage 10: The stage was from Sabinanigo to Tremp and featured 5 brutal climbs. On the third climb the race exploded with eight riders, Martin Ramirez, Sean Kelly, Alvaro Pino, "Pacho" Rodriguez, Ivan Ivanov, Fabio Parra, Gianbattista Baronchelli, and Millar breaking away. Pedro Delgado and race leader Pello Ruiz Cabestany could not connect with the lead group and lost time. At the finish Millar’s time gain earned him the race lead.
Race leader Robert Millar is in control
Stage 11 to 17: Steadily Millar gain time and held a 6’13” lead over Delgado.
General Classification after Stage 17 |
1. Robert Millar 86h 09’ 22” |
2. Francisco ‘Pacho’ Rodríguez +10” |
3. Peio Ruiz Cabestany +1’15” |
4. Julian Gorospe +5’13” |
5. Raymund Dietzen +5’20” |
6. Pedro Delgado +6’13” |
Stage 18: Most pendants believed the race was over, but a mountainous Stage 18 from Alcala de Henares to Destilerias-DYC still remained before the finish in Madrid.
The crucial moment of the eighteenth stage came at the start of the climb to Puerto de Cotos. Kelme teammates Jose ‘Pepe’ Recio and Pedro Delgado attacked and escaped on the climb. While chasing Delgado, who was up the road, Millar had an untimely puncture. After a quick wheel change, he started to chase the two leaders. Millar managed to come back to the lead group with only Recio still off the front of the group. An attacking Delgado left the group again on the descent of the Puerto de Navacerrada. He took all risks plunging off the mountain in pursuit of his teammate. By the time Millar crossed the summit he did not realize Delgado was gone. All the Spanish teams kept quiet about Delgado’s escape. When Millar realized Delgado was not in the group he began a hard chase. Spanish teams did not help in the effort to catch Delgado.
There were still 63 km to the finish and Kelme director Rafa Carrasco encouraged Delgado. The time gap began to grow. Millar's director sportif Roland Berland managed the situation poorly and isolated Millar with no Peugeot team support. The tired team was not strong enough to protect the GC during the late stages of the race. Millar, completely shaken with poor team support, resigns himself to his fate. Delgado and Recio ride into the finish at Destilerías-DYC on their own with Jose Recio winning the stage. The race-clock began to “tic-off” seconds. Slowly all of Spain watched the clock pass 6’13” seconds. Millar rolled across the finish line 6’49” behind.
Stage 19: An aggressive Pedro Delgado had won the 1985 Vuelta a Espana in grand style.
SPECIAL NOTE: Peugeot's Director Sportif Roland Berland hid in his car so he would not have to confront his despondent rider. Millar stated after the race that he will never ride in Spain again.
Stage and Distance |
Stage Winner |
Race Leader |
Prologue Valladolid, 5.6 km ITT |
Bert Oosterbosch (Ned) |
Bert Oosterbosch (Ned) |
Stage 1 Valladolid-Zamora, 177 km |
Eddy Planckaert (Bel) |
Bert Oosterbosch (Ned) |
Stage 2 Zamora-Orense, 262 km |
Sean Kelly (Ire) |
Miguel Indurain (Spa) |
Stage 3 Orense-Santiago de Compostelle, 197 km |
Gianbattista Baronchelli (Ita) |
Miguel Indurain (Spa) |
Stage 4 Santiago de Compostelle-Lugo, 162 km |
Eddy Planckaert (Bel) |
Miguel Indurain (Spa) |
Stage 5 Lugo-Oviedo, 238 km |
Federico Echave (Spa) |
Miguel Indurain (Spa) |
Stage 6 Oviedo-Lagos de Covadonga, 145 km |
Pedro Delgado (Spa) |
Pedro Delgado (Spa) |
Stage 7 Cangas de Onis-Alto Campoo, 190 km |
Antonio Agudelo (Spa) |
Pello Ruiz-Cabestany (Spa) |
Stage 8 Aguilar de Tabacalera, 224 km |
Angel Camarillo (Spa) |
Pello Ruiz-Cabestany (Spa) |
Stage 9 Tabacalera-Balneario de Panticosa, 253 km |
Fons De Wolf (Bel) |
Pello Ruiz-Cabestany (Spa) |
Stage 10 Sabinanigo-Tremp, 209 km |
Sean Kelly (Ire) |
Robert Millar (GBr) |
Stage 11 Tremp-Andorra, 124 km |
Francisco Rodriguez (Spa) |
Robert Millar (GBr) |
Stage 12 Andorra-Pal, 16 km ITT |
Francisco Rodriguez (Spa) |
Robert Millar (GBr) |
Stage 13 Andorra-S.Quirze del Valles, 193 km |
Jose-Angel Sarrapio (Spa) |
Robert Millar (GBr) |
Stage 14 Valencia-Benidorm, 201 km |
Jose Recio (Spa) |
Robert Millar (GBr) |
Stage 15 Benidorm-Albacete, 208 km |
Sean Kelly (Ire) |
Robert Millar (GBr) |
Stage 16 Albacete-Alcala de Henares, 252 km |
Isidro Juarez (Spa) |
Robert Millar (GBr) |
Stage 17 Alcala de Henares, 43 km ITT |
Pello Ruiz-Cabestany (Spa) |
Robert Millar (GBr) |
Stage 18 Alcala/Henares- Destilerias DYC, 200 km |
Jose Recio (Spa) |
Pedro Delgado (Spa) |
Stg 19 Palazuelos d’Eresma-Salamanca, 175 km |
Vladimir Malakov (Urs) |
 Pedro Delgado (Spa)
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BEST CLIMBER PRIZE |
 Jose-Luis Laguia (Spa)
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POINTS COMPETITION |
 Sean Kelly (Ire)
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General Classification:
Final General Classification |
Rank |
Name |
Team |
Time |
1 |
Pedro DELGADO (Spa) |
Orbea-Gin MG |
95h 58' 00" |
2 |
Robert Millar (GBr) |
Peugeot-Shell-Michelin |
36" |
3 |
Francisco 'Pacho' Rodriguez (Col) |
Zor-Gemeaz Cusin |
46" |
4 |
Pello Ruiz-Cabestany (Spa) |
Orbea-Gin MG |
1'51" |
5 |
Fabio Parra (Col) |
Café de Colombia-Varta |
3'40" |
6 |
Eric Caritoux (Fra) |
Skil-Sem-Kas-Miko |
6'08" |
7 |
Reimund Dietzen (Ger) |
Teka |
6'36" |
8 |
Alvaro Pino (Spa) |
Zor-Gemeaz Cusin |
7'41" |
9 |
Sean Kelly (Ire) |
Skil-Sem-Kas-Miko |
7'52" |
10 |
Jose-Luis Navarro (Spa) |
Zor-Gemeaz Cusin |
8'56" |
11 |
Julian Gorospe (Spa) |
10'20" |
57 |
Jacinto Paulinho (Por) |
1h49'32" |
12 |
Celestino Prieto (Spa) |
11'16" |
58 |
Jesus Rodriguez (Spa) |
1h50'08" |
13 |
Gerald Veldscholten (Ned) |
12'00" |
59 |
Jose-Maria Gonzalez (Spa) |
1h50'11" |
14 |
Pascal Simon (Fra) |
14'58" |
60 |
Jose-Rafael Garcia (Spa) |
1h52'48" |
15 |
Pierre Bazzo (Fra) |
16'44" |
61 |
Guillermo Arenas (Spa) |
1h52'57" |
16 |
Juan-Tomas Martinez (Spa) |
16'56" |
62 |
Angel-Jose Sarrapio (Spa) |
1h56'26" |
17 |
Antonio Coll (Spa) |
17'13" |
63 |
Isidro Juarez (Spa) |
1h56'34" |
18 |
Vicente Belda (Spa) |
18'17" |
64 |
Jesus Alonso (Spa) |
1h57'18" |
19 |
Faustino Ruperez (Spa) |
19'19" |
65 |
Jon Urien (Spa) |
1h58'02" |
20 |
Ivan Ivanov (Urs) |
23'36" |
66 |
Philippe Poissonnier (Fra) |
1h58'25" |
21 |
Inaki Gaston (Spa) |
24'22" |
67 |
Mathieu Hermans (Ned) |
1h58'31" |
22 |
Angel de las Heras (Spa) |
26'35" |
68 |
Modesto Urrutibeazcoa (Spa) |
1h59'13" |
23 |
Martin Ramirez (Col) |
32'50" |
69 |
Jean-Claude Garde (Fra) |
2h00'14" |
24 |
Dominique Garde (Fra) |
37'23" |
70 |
Carlos Machin (Spa) |
2h01'43" |
25 |
Gilles Mas (Fra) |
39'00" |
71 |
Vladimir Malakhov (Urs) |
2h02'22" |
26 |
Jesus Rodriguez-Magro (Spa) |
44'10" |
72 |
Yuri Barinov (Urs) |
2h05'16" |
27 |
Jose-Luis Laguia (Spa) |
48'58" |
73 |
Rene Martens (Bel) |
2h07'32" |
28 |
Jean-Claude Bagot (Fra) |
52'42" |
74 |
Ronny Van Holen (Bel) |
2h09'01" |
29 |
Eduardo Chozas (Spa) |
53'27" |
75 |
Gianni Zola (Ita) |
2h09'48" |
30 |
Manuel Cunha (Por) |
57'27" |
76 |
Nicolai Kosyakov (Urs) |
2h10'06" |
31 |
Faustino Cueli (Spa) |
1h01'57" |
77 |
Yurij Perunovsky (Urs) |
2h10'38" |
32 |
Vladimir Voloshin (Urs) |
1h05'31" |
78 |
Jesus Suarez-Cuevas (Spa) |
2h12'04" |
33 |
Federico Echave (Spa) |
1h06'25" |
79 |
Juan-Maria Eguiarte (Spa) |
2h13'34" |
34 |
Eric Guyot (Fra) |
1h08'34" |
80 |
Luis Domingos (Por) |
2h15'02" |
35 |
Arsenio Gonzalez (Spa) |
1h09'26" |
81 |
Alfons 'Fons' De Wolf (Bel) |
2h15'11" |
36 |
Carlos Hernandez (Spa) |
1h10'44" |
82 |
Ricardo Zuniga (Spa) |
2h20'13" |
37 |
Andrei Toporitchev (Urs) |
1h13'27" |
83 |
Antonio Ferretti (Sui) |
2h22'12" |
38 |
Theo De Rooy (Ned) |
1h16'32" |
84 |
Miguel Indurain (Spa) |
2h24'47" |
39 |
Pablo Wilches (Col) |
1h25'41" |
85 |
Javier Castellar (Spa) |
2h25'29" |
40 |
Bernardo Alfonsel (Spa) |
1h25'53" |
86 |
Sabino Angoitia (Spa) |
2h41'45" |
41 |
Mariano Sanchez (Spa) |
1h28'18" |
87 |
Francisco Caro (Spa) |
2h43'58" |
42 |
Marc Durant (Fra) |
1h30'09" |
88 |
Guido Beyens (Bel) |
2h45'52" |
43 |
Jokin Mujika (Spa) |
1h30'17" |
89 |
Juan-Alberto Reig (Spa) |
2h45'56" |
44 |
Ronan Pensec (Fra) |
1h31'03" |
90 |
Marc Van Geel (Bel) |
2h49'20" |
45 |
Jesus Hernandez-Ubeda (Spa) |
1h31'52" |
91 |
Benjamin Carvalho (Por) |
2h56'07" |
46 |
Carlos-Mario Jaramillo (Col) |
1h32'12" |
92 |
Juan Martinez-Oliver (Spa) |
2h56'14" |
47 |
Jose Poeira (Por) |
1h36'33" |
93 |
Herman Frison (Bel) |
2h57'38" |
48 |
Anastasio Greciano (Spa) |
1h36'33" |
94 |
Noel Dejonckheere (Bel) |
2h59'41" |
49 |
Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle (Fra) |
1h36'51" |
95 |
Manuel Zeferino (Por) |
3h03'17" |
50 |
Angel Camarillo (Spa) |
1h37'34" |
96 |
Francisco Cambil (Spa) |
3h05'46" |
51 |
Francois Lemarchand (Fra) |
1h38'46" |
97 |
Eric Louvel (Fra) |
3h09'13" |
52 |
Alexander Osipov (Urs) |
1h40'33" |
98 |
Frederic Brun (Fra) |
3h11'57" |
53 |
Serguei Ermatchenko (Urs) |
1h42'27" |
99 |
Camilo Santos (Spa) |
3h27'53" |
54 |
Claudio Corti (Ita) |
1h43'26" |
100 |
Francisco Lopez (Spa) |
3h32'53" |
55 |
Miguel-Angel Iglesias (Spa) |
1h47'05" |
101 |
Francis Castaing (Fra) |
3h41'20" |
56 |
Francisco Espinosa (Spa) |
1h48'21" |
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Final Mountains Classification |
Rank |
Name |
Team |
Points |
1 |
Jose-Luis LAGUIA (Spa) |
Reynolds-TS Batteries |
85 |
2 |
Robert Millar (GBr) |
Peugeot-Shell-Michelin |
67 |
3 |
Francisco Rodriguez (Spa) |
Zor-Gemeaz Cusin |
64 |
4 |
Alvaro Pino (Spa) |
Zor-Gemeaz Cusin |
45 |
5 |
Pedro Delgado (Spa) |
Orbea-Gin MG |
43 |
Final Points Classification |
Rank |
Name |
Team |
Points |
1 |
Sean KELLY (Ire) |
Skil-Sem-Kas-Miko |
223 |
2 |
Pello Ruiz-Cabestany (Spa) |
Orbea-Gin MG |
132 |
3 |
Francisco Rodriguez (Spa) |
Zor-Gemeaz Cusin |
100 |
4 |
Jose-Luis Navarro (Spa) |
Zor-Gemeaz Cusin |
100 |
5 |
Pedro Delgado (Spa) |
Orbea-Gin MG |
99 |
VaE 1984
VaE 1986
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