Vuelta Rider Characteristic: Eddy Merckx and Mark Cavendish collectively grasp the report of Excursion de France wins with 34 in general each and every. However what in regards to the Vuelta a España? Who holds the report in Spain? Delio Rodríguez gained a complete of 39 phases within the Spanish Grand Excursion. I had learn the title within the report books, however knew not anything of the person. This is his tale:
Delio Rodríguez nonetheless holds the report for Vuelta a España level victories with 39, which is nearly double that of 2d positioned Alessandro Petacchi, who gained 20. Delio Rodríguez Barros was once born in April 1916 and died at the 14th January 1994. Within the 1941 Vuelta a España he gained twelve level and 8 extra the following yr, however was once by no means within the most sensible 5 total. Then because of the second one Global Battle, the development was once now not held in 1943 and 1944. In 1945 Rodríguez sought after to win total, which he did via getting in an early ruin and successful level 2 via over a 30 minutes. On the end in Madrid he was once the full winner via 30:08 forward of 2d positioned Julián Berrendero. He additionally gained six phases and the issues classification, too. In 1947, he completed 3rd total, and took 8 extra level wins. His 39 level wins have been taken in simplest 5 Vueltas and he nonetheless holds the report for level wins within the Vuelta lately. No person has been in a position to take that report clear of him, now not even 28 years after his dying, in 1994.
The ones are the information, however there may be a lot more to the person from Ponteareas within the north west of Spain, close to the border with Portugal.
In 1945, in simplest the 5th Excursion of Spain cycle race, a humble athlete conquered Olympus on two wheels, at a time when the game was once simplest made for titans. That yr, Delio Rodríguez gained the los angeles Vuelta a España, the best luck of a profession stuffed with triumphs.
3-quarters of a century in the past, Delio Rodríguez rode the race of his of existence. Within the first level of the 1945 Vuelta, Julián Berrendero had ridden with authority, he was once an ideal determine of the time, winner of the 1941 and 1942 editions and Excursion de France King of the Mountains in 1936. Berrendero, who was once nicknamed the Negro with Blue Eyes (negro con ojos azules), had skilled in France, the place he took safe haven throughout the Civil Battle, and that 1945 version appeared designed for him. On the finish of the primary day, he was once already 6 mins forward of Rodríguez at the total standings. However destiny had reserved tomorrow for Delio Rodríguez.
In an out of this world level between Salamanca and Cáceres, beneath mild rain, he were given right into a ruin with different riders, all of them dropped off with the passing of the kilometres. Most effective Rodríguez resisted till the tip, in an epic experience the place he reached the end line quarter-hour forward of the second one positioned rider and part an hour forward of the favourites. Julián Berrendero may do not anything in the remainder 17 phases, with the exception of reduce a couple of seconds off Delio, who triumphantly entered Madrid in his leaders jersey on Might 31, 1945, with an good thing about greater than half-hour at the basic classification and the best luck of his profession.
The tale of Delio Rodríguez is of large benefit. He needed to construct his first bicycle himself, in his father’s workshop. He turned into a qualified via dint of coaching at the battered roads of his area, dreaming that the Picaraña was once the Col du Tourmalet. He quickly stuck the eye {of professional} biking and was once invited to the second one version of the Vuelta a España, in 1936. A nasty yr for his debut, since the Civil Battle broke out and he was once referred to as as much as alternate his race jersey for an army uniform.
After the Civil Battle, in 1939, he was once in a position to pedal once more and within the Excursion of Catalonia in 1939 they are saying that his motorbike was once stolen on the finish of a level. He had long past right into a ironmongery store to shop for some portions and, when he got here out, his race motorbike had disappeared. The Civil Guard positioned the thief hours later because of one element: His title, Delio Rodríguez, was once painted at the body.
After that, there have been many successes and victories within the nice races. He additionally attempted his good fortune at the global calendar, contesting two excursions of Switzerland. However his nice triumph would are available in 1945 within the Vuelta Ciclista a España. In that version he would additionally win six phases, to proceed development his unbeatable report of 39 victories. He additionally has any other present report, the only with the best successful margin to the second one rider at the total, along with his half-hour and eight seconds over Berrendero.
In Vigo, he’s additionally remembered for his motorbike industry and since his title has at all times been a beacon for biking lovers. And he was once an instance for any other Ponteareas champion, Álvaro Pino, along with his memorable Vuelta a España in 1986, in a mythical version wherein he defeated Laurent Fignon, Sean Kelly, Robert Millar and Perico Delgado.
However the pioneer was once Delio Rodríguez. Who, as well as, can nonetheless boast of information that appear impossible. It’s now 77 years since that historical Vuelta Ciclista a España.
Rodríguez additionally had two more youthful brothers, Emilio and Manolo, they have been additionally skilled cyclists. Within the 1950 Vuelta a España, Emilio gained the full and Manolo was once 2d.
The palmarès of Delio Rodríguez:
1935
1st GP San Froilan Lugo
1939
2d Clasica a los Puertos
sixth General Volta a Catalunya
1940
1st General GP Agustin
1st Levels 1, 2, 3 & 4
1st General Vuelta a Alava
1st Levels 1, 2 & 3
1st General Madrid-Salamanca-Madrid
1st Levels 1 & 2
Volta a Catalunya
1st Levels 1 & 2
1st Level 1b Trofeo Masferrer
2d General Circuito del Norte
1st Levels 1 & 2
third General Vuelta a Cantabria
1st Level 1
third Clasica a los Puertos
1941
1st General Vuelta a Alava
1st Levels 1 & 2
Volta a Catalunya
1st Levels 4, 5, 6 & 9
Circuito del Norte
1st Levels 1, 3, 6 & 7
Vuelta a Navarra
1st Levels 2 & 4
1st Subida al Naranco
4th General Vuelta a España
1st Levels 3, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16a (ITT), 16b, 17, 18 & 19
1942
Volta a Catalunya
1st Levels 7 & 9
third General Circuito Castilla-Leon-Asturias
1st Levels 1, 3, 5, 6 & 8
seventh General Vuelta a España
1st Levels 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 (ITT), 12 & 14
1943
Volta a Catalunya
1st Levels 3, 6 & 9
1st Level 3 GP Ayutamiento de Bilbao
1st Subida al Naranco
third Circuito Castilla-Leon-Asturias
1st Level 2 & 4
1944
Volta a Catalunya
1st Levels 1, 2 & 3
Vuelta a Cantabria
1st Levels 1 & 2
third General Volta a l. a. Comunitat Valenciana
1st Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 & 6
1945
1st General Vuelta a España
1st Issues classification
1st Levels 2, 8, 9, 14, 16 & 18
1st General Excursion of Galicia
1st Levels 2b, 5b & 7
1946
Vuelta a Castilla y León
1st Levels 4, 5, 6 & 7
fifth General Vuelta a España
1st Levels 13, 14, 15 & 17
1947
Vuelta a Asturias
1st Levels 2 & 10
1st Level 1 Vuelta a Castilla y León
1st Level 3 Vuelta a Burgos
2d Clasica a los Puertos
third General Vuelta a España
1st Issues classification
1st Levels 1, 5, 8, 10, 14, 15, 18 & 23
third General Excursion of Galicia
1st Levels 5 & 6
1948
Volta a Portugal
1st Levels 2, 3 & 11
seventh General Volta a l. a. Comunitat Valenciana
1st Levels 1, 3 & 6
# Due to the entire photographers and the numerous assets of knowledge, particularly Los angeles Voz de Galicia. #
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