43rd Vuelta a Espana 1988

Kelly's Great Finish

Irishman Sean Kelly could sprint with the sprinters and time trial with the routiers, but through his career he had to learn how to get up the mountains with the climbers. The parcours of the 1988 Vuelta a Espana offered Kelly a chance to thrive.

SPECIAL NOTE: The 43rd edition of the Vuelta marked the 10th anniversary of Unipublic as organizer of the race. 

Superior climber Laudelino Cubino rode brilliantly on Stage 2 in Sta Cruz de Tenerife and took early control of the race.

The first major mountains came on the 176.7 km Stage 8 from Leon to Branillin. Alvaro Pino wasted little time serving up the first attack and kept the peloton strung out for most of the stage. Kelly had to expend valuable energies and managed to close the time gap to the Pino led group. He lost 59” on the stage.

Elite group on the climb to Andorra

Stage 13 from Jaca to Estacion de Cerler finished at the summit of Cerler. Race leader Laudelino Cubino began to show weakness on the climb. He lost 2’13” to stage winner Fabio Parra (Col) and 1’55” to Kelly. Cubino remained in the race lead with Team BH’s Anselmo Fuente (GC +3”) and Kelly (GC +33”) were poised to attack the race leader with 6 stages until the crucial 30 km time trial.

On Stage 16 from Valencia to Albacete Fuerte wrestled the Maillot Amarillo off the shoulders of struggling teammate Laudelino Cubino. The showdown with Kelly was set for the Stage 20 time trial.

Stage 20 showdown, Fuerte held a 28” lead on Kelly at the start of the time trial. The Irishman rode flawlessly and gained 1’57” on Fuerte. Kelly put on the Maillot Amarillo for the first time with 1 stage to Madrid.

Sean “King” Kelly crossed the finish line in Madrid to achieve the 1988 Vuelta a Espana victory and erase the doubts about his ability to win a Grand Tour!

SPECIAL NOTE: Kelly also won the “Points” Classification.

Stage and Distance	Stage Winner	Race Leader
Stage 1 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 17.4 km [Series]	Ettore Pastorelli (Ita)	Modesto Urrutibeazcoa (Spa)
Stage 2 S.Cristobal Laguna-S Cruz de Ten, 210 km	Inaki Gaston (Spa)	Laudelino Cubino (Spa)
Stage 3 Las Palmas, 34 km TTT	BH	Laudelino Cubino (Spa)
Stage 4 Alcala del Rio-Badajoz, 210 km	Mathieu Hermans (Ned)	Laudelino Cubino (Spa)
Stage 5 Badajoz-Bejar, 234 km	Francisco Navarro (Spa)	Laudelino Cubino (Spa)
Stage 6 Bejar-Valladolid, 202 km	Mathieu Hermans (Ned)	Laudelino Cubino (Spa)
Stage 7 Valladolid-Leon, 160 km	Mathieu Hermans (Ned)	Laudelino Cubino (Spa)
Stage 8 Leon-Branillin, 176.7 km	Alvaro Pino (Spa)	Laudelino Cubino (Spa)
Stage 9 Oviedo-Alto Naranco, 6.8 km ITT	Alvaro Pino (Spa)	Laudelino Cubino (Spa)
Stage 10 Oviedo-Santander, 197.3 km	Mathieu Hermans (Ned)	Laudelino Cubino (Spa)
Stage 11 Santander-Alto Valdezcaray, 217.2 km	Sean Kelly (Ire)	Laudelino Cubino (Spa)
Stage 12 Logrono-Jaca, 197.5 km	Sean Yates (GBr)	Laudelino Cubino (Spa)
Stage 13 Jaca-Estacion de Cerler, 178.2 km	Fabio Parra (Col)	Laudelino Cubino (Spa)
Stage 14 Benasque-Andorra, 190.3 km	Inaki Gaston (Spa)	Laudelino Cubino (Spa)
Stage 15 Seo de Urgel-S Quirze del Valles, 166 km	Johnny Weltz (Den)	Laudelino Cubino (Spa)
Stage 16 Valencia-Albacete, 192.1 km	Mathieu Hermans (Ned)	Anselmo Fuerte (Spa)
Stage 17 Albacete-Toledo, 244.4 km	Malcolm Elliott (GBr)	Anselmo Fuerte (Spa)
Stage 18 Toledo-Avilla, 212.5 km	Juan Martinez-Oliver (Spa)	Anselmo Fuerte (Spa)
Stage 19 Avila-DYC, 150 km	Angel Ocana (Spa)	Anselmo Fuerte (Spa)
Stage 20 Las Rozas-Villalba, 30 km ITT	Sean Kelly (Ire)	Sean Kelly (Ire)
Stage 21 Villalba-Madrid, 202 km	Mathieu Hermans (Ned)	Sean Kelly (Ire)
	BEST CLIMBER PRIZE	Alvaro Pino (Spa)
	POINTS COMPETITION	Sean Kelly (Ire)

VaE 1987

VaE 1989

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