Vuelta a España: Winners and records

image: Cor VosOut of all 3 Grand Tours the Vuelta a España is really the one requiring climbers legs. Without them you don't even have to go there, unless you are looking for some lost sprinter stages. Cyclingstage.com presents the recent winners.

You’ll recognize the overall leader by his red jersey. The green jersey is around the shoulders of the first man in the points classification – because of all the top finishes this is usually a climber. Just like in the Tour de France, the winner of the KOM classification is awarded a polka dot jersey, only difference being the dots are blue instead of red.

La Vuelta first introduced the best young rider classification in 2019. Before that a combination classification was in order, which was a complicated mix of the other three classifications.

Year	GC	Points	Mountains	Combi/youth (2019)
2021	Primoz Roglic	Fabio Jakobsen	Michael Storer	Gino Mäder
2020	Primoz Roglic	Primoz Roglic	Guillaume Martin	Enric Mas
2019	Primoz Roglic	Primoz Roglic	Geoffrey Bouchard	Tadej Pogacar
2018	Simon Yates	Alejandro Valverde	Thomas De Gendt	Simon Yates
2017	Chris Froome	Chris Froome	Davide Villella	Chris Froome
2016	Nairo Quintana	Fabio Felline	Omar Fraille	Chris Froome
2015	Fabio Aru	Alejandro Valverde	Omar Fraille	Joaquim Rodriguez
2014	Alberto Contador	John Degenkolb	Luis León Sanchez	Alberto Contador
2013	Chris Horner	Alejandro Valverde	Nicolas Edet	Chris Horner
2012	Alberto Contador	Alejandro Valverde	Simon Clarke	Alejandro Valverde
2011	Chris Froome	Bauke Mollema	David Moncoutié	Chris Froome
2010	Vincenzo Nibali	Mark Cavendish	David Moncoutié	Vincenzo Nibali
2009	Alejandro Valverde	André Greipel	David Moncoutié	Alejandro Valverde
2008	Alberto Contador	Greg Van Avermaet	David Moncoutié	Alberto Contador

Records in the Vuelta a España

With 5 overall victories Roberto Heras is record holder. Of the still active drivers Primoz Roglic comes closest with two GC wins.

If you talk stage wins, only one rider is the king. In the 1940’s Spaniard Delio Rodríguez won 33 stages and in edition 1941, 12 out of 22 stages were his. Alessandro Petacchi comes closest with 20 stages.

The 1984 Vuelta saw the smallest GC gap ever recorded in a Grand Tour. Eric Caritoux (France) won the race with a 6 seconds lead over Alberto Fernandez Blanco (Spain).

Alberto ContadorChris FroomeNairo QuintanaAlejandro ValverdeVincenzo NibaliFabio AruPrimoz RoglicSimon YatesFabio JakobsenTadej PogacarEnric MasGuillaume MartinGino MäderMichael StorerVuelta 2022

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1 comment(s)

David Wells says:

15 September, 2019 at 22:15

I used to find this race quite boring BUT the route and the commitment of the riders over the past few years have changed my opinion. This year, 2019, has been the most compelling, watching live coverage for around 5 hours every day. Congratulations to all those involved with organisation, competing and reporting the excitement as it happened. We must also give special mention to the fantastic helicopter filming of not only the race but the wonderful mountain scenery. Well done to everyone.

Reply

David Wells says:

15 September, 2019 at 22:15

I used to find this race quite boring BUT the route and the commitment of the riders over the past few years have changed my opinion. This year, 2019, has been the most compelling, watching live coverage for around 5 hours every day. Congratulations to all those involved with organisation, competing and reporting the excitement as it happened. We must also give special mention to the fantastic helicopter filming of not only the race but the wonderful mountain scenery. Well done to everyone.