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By Barry Boyce,
CyclingRevealed Historian
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French Star Takes Advantage of Spanish Protagonists
The 1958 Vuelta a Espana was thought to be a batle between Spain 's best two riers Federico Bahamontes and Jesus Loroño. However, the personal differences existing between them and a questionable descision of their National team director, Luis Puig, allowed the foreign riders to gain an easy victory.
The malfunction of the Spanish team and the rivalry between Bahamontes and Loroño clearly appear as early as the 3° step. The French Jean Stablinski and Franois Mahé escape and gain valuable time quickly. Realizing the strength of the group Bahamontes bridged up to the breakaway. Feeling slighted Loroño attacked with Belgian Hilaire Couvreur, who was 3 rd overall. The breakaway succeeded with Pierino Baffi (Ita) winning the stage 13'40” ahead of the peloton. If nt for Loroño's effort to get Couvreur into the breakaway Bahamontes would have take the Amarillo Jersey. A ‘passion driven' error commited by the Spanish team.
The very next stage, Zaragoza to Barcelona , Rik Van Looy attacked relentlessly and escaped with Frenchman Jean Stablinski. Bahamontes joined the breakaway but team director Puig made a dubious decision to stop Bahamontes because team leader Loroño had lost several minutes and needed help. The Frenchman and the Belgian took full advantage of the Spanish situation. In Barcelona Van Looy took the stage win 13'53” ahead of Bahamntes and 16'40” ahead of Loroño. Stablinski was the new wearer of the Amarillo Jersey.
The late in the race withdrawal of Van Looy, due to injury, handed the Vuelta victory to Stablinski. The French rider arrived in Madrid for the overall victory 2'51” in front of Italian Pasquale Fornara and 3'01” on Fernando Manzaneque.
Stage and Distance |
Stage Winner |
Race Leader |
Stage 1 Bilbao-San Sebastian, 164 km |
Miguel Miguel Pacheco (Spa) |
Miguel Pacheco (Spa) |
Stage 2 San Sebastian-Pamplona, 150 km |
Antonio Jimenez-Quiles (Spa) |
Jose Herrero (Spa) |
Stage 3 Pamplona-Zaragoza, 245 km |
Pierino Baffi (Ita) |
Hilaire Couvreur (Bel) |
Stage 4 Zaragoza-Barcelona, 229 km |
Rik Van Looy (Bel) |
Jean Stablinski (Fra) |
Stage 5a Barcelona/Montjuich, 4 km TTT |
FRANCE |
Jean Stablinski (Fra) |
Stage 5b Barcelona-Tarragona, 119 km |
Rik Van Looy (Bel) |
Jean Stablinski (Fra) |
Stage 6 Tarragona-Valencia, 263 km |
Rik Van Looy (Bel) |
Daan De Groot (Hol) |
Stage 7 Valencia-Cuenca, 216 km |
Gilbert Desmet (Bel) |
Daan De Groot (Hol) |
Stage 8 Cuenca-Toledo, 206 km |
Jean Stablinski (Fra) |
Daan De Groot (Hol) |
Stage 9 Toledo-Madrid, 241 km |
Rik Van Looy (Bel) |
Rik Van Looy (Bel) |
Stage 10 Madrid-Soria, 225 km |
Rik Van Looy (Bel) |
Rik Van Looy (Bel) |
Stage 11 Soria-Vitoria, 167 km |
Rene Marigil (Spa) |
Rik Van Looy (Bel) |
Stage 12 Vitoria-Bilbao, 169 km |
Fausto Iza (Spa) |
Jean Stablinski (Fra) |
Stage 13a Bilbao-Castro Urdiales, 35 km ITT |
Guido Carlesi (Ita) |
Jean Stablinski (Fra) |
Stage 13b Castro Urdiales- Santander , 105 km |
Jean Graczyk (Fra) |
Jean Stablinski (Fra) |
Stage 14 Santander-Gijon, 221 km |
Pierino Baffi (Ita) |
Jean Stablinski (Fra) |
Stage 15 Oviedo-Palencia, 246 km |
Rik Luyten (Bel) |
Jean Stablinski (Fra) |
Stage 16 Palencia-Madrid, 241 km |
Rik Luyten (Bel) |
 Jean Stablinski (Fra)
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 Federico Bahamontes (Spa) |
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 Salvador Botella (Spa) |
| VaE April 30 - May 15, 1958 |
| 3,246 Km |
1.
Jean STABLINSKI (Fra) 94h54'21" |
2.
Pasquale Fornara (Ita) +2'51" |
3.
Fernando Manzaneque (Spa)
+3'01" |
| Starters: 100 |
| Finishers: 45 |
| Average Speed: 34.202 km/h |
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