Vuelta Rider Characteristic: In Ed Hood’s 2022 PEZ Vuelta a España preview, he mentions Delio Rodríguez, the file holder of 39 stage wins within the Spanish Grand Tour. I had learn the identify within the file books, however knew nothing of the person. Right here is his story:
Delio Rodríguez nonetheless holds the file for Vuelta a España stage victories with 39, which is sort of double that of second positioned Alessandro Petacchi, who received 20. Delio Rodríguez Barros was born in April 1916 and died on the 14th January 1994. Within the 1941 Vuelta a España he received twelve stage and eight extra the subsequent 12 months, however was by no means within the high 5 total. Then because of the second World Battle, the occasion was not held in 1943 and 1944. In 1945 Rodríguez needed to win total, which he did by moving into an early break and profitable stage 2 by over a half-hour. On the end in Madrid he was the general winner by 30:08 forward of second positioned Julián Berrendero. He additionally received six levels and the factors classification, too. In 1947, he completed third total, and took eight extra stage wins. His 39 stage wins have been taken in solely 5 Vueltas and he nonetheless holds the file for stage wins within the Vuelta at this time. Nobody has been in a position to take that file away from him, not even 28 years after his demise, in 1994.
These are the details, however there may be way more to the person from Ponteareas within the north west of Spain, close to the border with Portugal.
In 1945, in solely the fifth Tour of Spain cycle race, a humble athlete conquered Olympus on two wheels, at a time when the game was solely made for titans. That 12 months, Delio Rodríguez received the la Vuelta a España, the best success of a profession filled with triumphs.
Three-quarters of a century in the past, Delio Rodríguez rode the race of his of life. Within the first stage of the 1945 Vuelta, Julián Berrendero had ridden with authority, he was an ideal determine of the time, winner of the 1941 and 1942 editions and Tour de France King of the Mountains in 1936. Berrendero, who was nicknamed the Negro with Blue Eyes (negro con ojos azules), had educated in France, the place he took refuge through the Civil Battle, and that 1945 version appeared designed for him. On the finish of the primary day, he was already 6 minutes forward of Rodríguez on the general standings. However destiny had reserved the subsequent day for Delio Rodríguez.
In an unimaginable stage between Salamanca and Cáceres, beneath mild rain, he received right into a break with different riders, all of them dropped off with the passing of the kilometres. Solely Rodríguez resisted till the top, in an epic journey the place he reached the end line quarter-hour forward of the second positioned rider and half an hour forward of the favourites. Julián Berrendero might do nothing within the remaining 17 levels, besides lower a number of seconds off Delio, who triumphantly entered Madrid in his leaders jersey on Might 31, 1945, with a bonus of greater than half-hour on the overall classification and the best success of his profession.
The story of Delio Rodríguez is of monumental advantage. He needed to construct his first bicycle himself, in his father’s workshop. He grew to become knowledgeable by dint of coaching on the battered roads of his area, dreaming that the Picaraña was the Col du Tourmalet. He quickly caught the eye {of professional} biking and was invited to the second version of the Vuelta a España, in 1936. A foul 12 months for his debut, as a result of the Civil Battle broke out and he was referred to as as much as change his race jersey for a army uniform.
After the Civil Battle, in 1939, he was in a position to pedal once more and within the Tour of Catalonia in 1939 they are saying that his bike was stolen on the finish of a stage. He had gone right into a ironmongery shop to purchase some components and, when he got here out, his race bike had disappeared. The Civil Guard positioned the thief hours later as a consequence of one element: His identify, Delio Rodríguez, was painted on the body.
After that, there have been many successes and victories within the nice races. He additionally tried his luck on the worldwide 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 levels, to proceed constructing his unbeatable file of 39 victories. He additionally has one other present file, the one with the best profitable margin to the second rider on the general, along with his half-hour and eight seconds over Berrendero.
In Vigo, he’s additionally remembered for his bike enterprise and since his identify has at all times been a beacon for biking followers. And he was an instance for an additional Ponteareas champion, Álvaro Pino, along with his memorable Vuelta a España in 1986, in a legendary version wherein he defeated Laurent Fignon, Sean Kelly, Robert Millar and Perico Delgado.
However the pioneer was Delio Rodríguez. Who, as well as, can nonetheless boast of information that appear unattainable. It’s now 77 years since that historic Vuelta Ciclista a España.
Rodríguez additionally had two youthful brothers, Emilio and Manolo, they have been additionally skilled cyclists. Within the 1950 Vuelta a España, Emilio received the general and Manolo was second.
The palmarès of Delio Rodríguez:
1935
1st GP San Froilan Lugo
1939
2nd Clasica a los Puertos
sixth General Volta a Catalunya
1940
1st General GP Agustin
1st Phases 1, 2, 3 & 4
1st General Vuelta a Alava
1st Phases 1, 2 & 3
1st General Madrid-Salamanca-Madrid
1st Phases 1 & 2
Volta a Catalunya
1st Phases 1 & 2
1st Stage 1b Trofeo Masferrer
2nd General Circuito del Norte
1st Phases 1 & 2
third General Vuelta a Cantabria
1st Stage 1
third Clasica a los Puertos
1941
1st General Vuelta a Alava
1st Phases 1 & 2
Volta a Catalunya
1st Phases 4, 5, 6 & 9
Circuito del Norte
1st Phases 1, 3, 6 & 7
Vuelta a Navarra
1st Phases 2 & 4
1st Subida al Naranco
4th General Vuelta a España
1st Phases 3, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16a (ITT), 16b, 17, 18 & 19
1942
Volta a Catalunya
1st Phases 7 & 9
third General Circuito Castilla-Leon-Asturias
1st Phases 1, 3, 5, 6 & 8
seventh General Vuelta a España
1st Phases 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 (ITT), 12 & 14
1943
Volta a Catalunya
1st Phases 3, 6 & 9
1st Stage 3 GP Ayutamiento de Bilbao
1st Subida al Naranco
third Circuito Castilla-Leon-Asturias
1st Stage 2 & 4
1944
Volta a Catalunya
1st Phases 1, 2 & 3
Vuelta a Cantabria
1st Phases 1 & 2
third General Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
1st Phases 1, 2, 3, 4 & 6
1945
1st General Vuelta a España
1st Factors classification
1st Phases 2, 8, 9, 14, 16 & 18
1st General Tour of Galicia
1st Phases 2b, 5b & 7
1946
Vuelta a Castilla y León
1st Phases 4, 5, 6 & 7
fifth General Vuelta a España
1st Phases 13, 14, 15 & 17
1947
Vuelta a Asturias
1st Phases 2 & 10
1st Stage 1 Vuelta a Castilla y León
1st Stage 3 Vuelta a Burgos
2nd Clasica a los Puertos
third General Vuelta a España
1st Factors classification
1st Phases 1, 5, 8, 10, 14, 15, 18 & 23
third General Tour of Galicia
1st Phases 5 & 6
1948
Volta a Portugal
1st Phases 2, 3 & 11
seventh General Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
1st Phases 1, 3 & 6
# Because of all of the photographers and the various sources of data, particularly La Voz de Galicia. #
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