xx 1st Vuelta a Espana 1935

The Beginning of a Grand Event

The creation of the Vuelta a Espana was set up in less than two months by Clemente Lopez Doriga, the Henri Desgrange of the Vuelta. The first edition of Vuelta was closely related to the Spanish media and promoted by the newspaper Diario Informaciones.

The race conditions were not optimal, and the race had only fifty riders on the start list. The two dominating characteristics of the first Vuelta, held from April 29 to May 15, 1935, were the difficult road course conditions and the harsh weather (rainy and cold). The Spanish riders were expecting hot weather and found themselves doubly penalized by the weather that seemed more suited for Belgians.

Race Summary:

Stage 1: (Mountains, Monday, April 29, 1935) The battle for the coveted race leader's jersey (orange in color for 1935)  started immediately on stage 1. Belgian Antoine Dignef out sprinted breakaway companion Mariano Canardo for the stage win.

Stage 3: (Mountains, Thursday, May 2, 1935) Through the initial stages race favorites Gustaaf Deloor (Bel) and Mariano Canardo (Spa) suffer multiple mishaps. Deloor survived his problems and won the third stage. Scoring a brilliant stage win he outdistanced his closest rivals Antoine Dignef (Bel) and Canardo by almost 9 minutes. He took his first race leader's Orange Jersey.

Stage 4: (Mountains, Friday, May 3, 1935) The harsh weather remained a considerable factor, and the attrition rate was high. Canardo saw all his teammates abandon the race, but the Spanish contender fought on alone. Belgian rider Gustaaf Deloor was in solid control of the GC but was still feeling the pressure applied by a fierce effort from Mariano Canardo.

Stage 13: (Mountains, Tuesday, May 14, 1935) The Belgian race leader put the Vuelta out of reach on the 273 km from Caceres to Zamora. Canardo crashed heavily and lost an additional five minutes.

Stage 14: (Mountains, Wednesday, May 15, 1935) 50,000 spectators greeted the finishers of the Vuelta in Madrid. Gustaaf Deloor broke away from Canardo and Max Bulla (Aut) and rode into Madrid for the stage win. He became the first ever winner of the Vuelta a Espana in 1935.

Canardo also rode a brilliant final stage. Going into the stage he was trailing Belgian Antoine Dignef by more than 3 minutes in his battle for second place. Canardo broke away from the peloton with Bulla and finished more than 10 minutes ahead of Dignef to move into second place overall.

General Classification:

VaE 1936

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