1985 Vuelta a España
| Race details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Dates | 23 April - 12 May | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stages | 19 + prologue | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance | 3,474 km (2,159 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Winning time | 95h 58' 00" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 |
Winner |
 Pedro Delgado (ESP)
|
(Orbea) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second |
 Robert Millar (GBR)
|
(Peugeot-Shell-Michelin) | |
| Third |
 Francisco Rodríguez (COL)
|
(Zor) | |
|
|
|||
 |
Points |
 Sean Kelly (IRL)
|
(Skil-Sem-Reydel) |
 |
Mountains |
José Luis Laguía (ESP)
|
(Reynolds) |
| Youth |
Fabio Parra (COL)
|
(Café de Colombia) | |
| Sprints |
 Ronny Van Holen (BEL)
|
(Safir) | |
| Team | Zor - Gemeaz | ||
The 40th Vuelta a España (Tour of Spain), a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from 23 April to 12 May 1985. It consisted of 19 stages covering a total of 3,474 km. The race was won by Pedro Delgado of the Orbea cycling team after a collusion by the Spanish speaking teams against Robert Millar. The race has become known as 'The stolen vuelta'.
The Spanish favourites for the general classification of the race were Pedro Delgado, Faustino Rupérez and Pello Ruiz Cabestany and the potential foreign favourites included Robert Millar, Sean Kelly, Eric Caritoux, Peter Winnen and Gianbattista Baronchelli.
In 1985 the Vuelta a España was still held in its April - May slot as the first of the three grand tours of the season. A young Miguel Indurain took the lead on stage 2. Pedro Delgado won stage 6 to the Lagos de Covadonga and took over the race leader's jersey. Delgado lost the lead the following day to Pello Ruiz Cabestany. Scot Robert Millar then took the lead after the tenth stage, a stage won by Kelly.
Millar held the lead going into what has become one of the most infamous days' racing in the history of the event, the penultimate day of the race, stage 18. Millar started the day 10 seconds ahead of Colombian Francisco 'Pacho' Rodriguez with Spain's Pello Ruiz Cabestany 65 seconds further behind in third. With the following days last stage of the race little more than ceremonial, Millar said to the press, "I just have to stick to Pacho Rodríguez's wheel and it's done." A mountainous stage with three major climbs, Rodriguez tried but was unable to make any in roads on Millar on the first climb of the day, the Morcuera. At the foot of the second climb, the Cotos, Millar punctured meaning once the puncture had been tackled Millar had to chase to get back to Rodrigues and Cabestany. By the time riders reached the third climb, Los Leones, Millar had not only reached the men he perceived as his main rivals but was also taking their congratulations indicating their submission in their attempts to overhaul Millar and presenting the race over as a contest.
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Wikipedia