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2008 Vuelta favors mountain goats
Against a backdrop of falling television audiences and dwindling roadside support, the organizers of the Vuelta a España on Wednesday called for their shrinking fan base to rally behind the race once again as they unveiled the route for the 2008 edition.
"This will be the Vuelta of hope, a chance for a new cycling," said race director Victor Cordero as he unveiled the 63rd edition of the Spanish national tour.
The three-week, 3173km race begins August 30 in the southern city of Grenada and ends September 21 in Madrid. Its 21 stages include three time trials, among them a team time trial, which opens the Vuelta in Grenada, and four summit finishes among its 40 rated ascents.
On Saturday, September 13, the peloton will return to the formidable Angliru climb in the Asturias mountain range. Its inclusion after a five-year absence — following the cat. 3 Alto la Faya de los Lobos and a pair of cat. 1’s, the Alto de la Colladiella and the Alto del Cordal — is likely to send shivers down the spines of non-climbers while providing much-needed drama for viewers and supporters.
Among the riders present for the route unveiling were reigning champion Denis Menchov of Russia — who also won the 2005 edition after Roberto Heras was snared for doping — and Spaniards Oscar Pereiro, Carlos Sastre, Alejandro Valverde and Alberto Contador, the 2007 Tour de France champion.
Cordero urged them to help usher in a new era of cycling that can be “clean and spectacular.” And Spain's minister for sport, Jaime Lissavetzky, added: "A clean race is fundamental. We trust you (the cyclists) to make this Vuelta spectacular, to attract new supporters."
The Spanish public has largely lost its patience with a sport that lacks a wealth of native cycling talent after 18 months of headlines about the Operación Puerto doping scandal.
When it erupted in May 2006, some 200 athletes from a wide range of sports were reported to be involved. But in the end, only a few of the 60 or so cyclists said to be implicated were actually sanctioned. —Agence France Presse contributed to this report.
Stages of the 2008 Vuelta España
Stage 1, August 30: Granada-Granada, 7km (team time trial)
Stage 2, August 31: Granada-Jaén, 167km
Stage 3, September 1: Jaén-Córdoba, 165km
Stage 4, September 2: Córdoba-Puertollano, 153km
Stage 5, September 3: Ciudad Real-Ciudad Real, 40km (individual time trial)
Stage 6, September 4: Ciudad Real-Toledo, 162km
September 5: First rest day
Stage 7, September 6: Barbastro-Andorra (Naturlandia-La Rabassa), 224km
Stage 8, September 7: Andorra (Escaldes-Engordany)-Pla de Beret, 160km
Stage 9, September 8: Viella-Sabiñánigo, 198km
Stage 10, September 9: Sabiñánigo-Zaragoza, 173km
Stage 11, September 10: Calahorra-Burgos, 178km
Stage 12, September 11: Burgos-Suances, 180km
September 12: Second rest day
Stage 13, September 13: San Vicente de la B.-Alto de L’Angliru, 199km
Stage 14, September 14: Oviedo-E. E. Fuentes de Invierno, 158
Stage 15, September 15: Cudillero-Ponferrada, 198km
Stage 16, September 16: Ponferrada-Zamora, 185km
Stage 17, September 17: Zamora-Valladolid, 160km
Stage 18, September 18: Valladolid-Las Rozas, 179km
Stage 19, September 19: Las Rozas-Segovia, 161km
Stage 20, September 20: La Granja de S. I.-Alto de Navacerrada, 16km (individual time trial)
Stage 21, September 21: S. Sebastián de los Reyes-Madrid, 110km
Total: 3173
