The Tour of Spain returns to the city of Benidorm

The Tour of Spain returns to the city of Benidorm. On August 20 starts this great international cycling tour from the tourist capital of the Costa Blanca, with a long love affair with the race. The first departure from Benidorm dates back to 1964, with two sectors against the clock of 42 miles, won by the Belgian and Spanish Sels Eusebio Velez, who became the first leader of a round win Raymond Poulidor. We had to wait 23 years to see the second (1987). It was also an individual time trial winning the Belgian Vandenbrouke, who wore the leader's jersey, but it was the final winner Lucho Herrera. Now 24 years later, Benidorm and tourists can watch the show back to the start of the Tour of Spain.

But Benidorm has been a benchmark of the Spanish race many times over. The first stage in 1961 with a Valencia-Benidorm winning the Belgian Van Meenan. The following year, the same stage, gave the Irish victory Elliot, who repeated the triumph in the time trial next day on the streets Benidorm.

After the departure of 64, returned to make stops in the race in Benidorm 65 (Albacete-Benidorm) and 66 (La Manga, Benidorm). The winners of those stages are the Belgian and Spanish Van Looy Mendiburu respectively. In 67 of Albacete new shopping area, with victory for Dolman and 68 other winning Valencia-Benidorm Peffgen Wilfried.

We had to wait until 1975 to see another arrival, with stage-Benidorm Murcia, awarding the Italian Marino Basso. The fastest time of the next day was for Miguel María Lasa. Be repeated in 1977 Benidorm Murcia-stage winning the Dutch Den Hertog. In that edition the next day, there was a time trial to Sierra Frost, who won the Belgian Michel Pollentier. The round had another point of arrival in Benidorm in 1980 with another Benidorm La Manga-stage, won by Sean Kelly and in 1985, another Valencia-Benidorm, which was Pepe Recio. After the departure of 87 a1994 had to wait to see the eighth stage, a Benidorm-Benidorm is allotted Rominger, up to 1999 when it hosted the first stage Benidorm, Murcia, Benidorm won Hunte.