’02 Vuelta route announced

By VeloNews Interactive , Copyright AFP 2001

The route for the 57th Vuelta a España was unveiled Thursday, and it was music to the ears of defending champion Angel Casero of Spain. This year’s Tour of Spain, September 7-29, won’t pass through the Pyrenees and there will be only four mountain stages — down from eight in previous years.

“I like the course,” said Casero who was pleased to hear there will be three time trials — two individual and one team time trial. Casero took the winner’s jersey this year from fellow Spaniard Oscar Sevilla in the final time trial at Madrid.

But even without the Pyrenees, there is the tough 15th stage Angliru climb, which has a gradient of 20 percent in some places and which stretches over 14km. There is also the stage 6 Pandera climb, which is almost as challenging, as well as the climb to 2500m altitude at Sierra Nevada for the fifth stage and to 2000m at Covatilla for the 18th stage. Sprinters will be showcased with 10 of the 21 stages laid out to suit their style.

In honor of the Real Madrid soccer club’s centenary, the race will finish in the eight-time European champions’ Santiago Bernabeu stadium, meaning the champion will accomplish his triumph on the turf graced by such soccer legends as Alfredo Di Stefano, Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane. The 3144km race opens on September 7, 2002 with a team time-trial at Valencia in eastern Spain and finishes in Madrid on September 29.

2002 VUELTA A ESPANA

STAGE 1 – Sept 7, Valencia, team time-trial 30km

STAGE 2 – Sept 8, Valencia – Alcoy 138km

STAGE 3 – Sept 9, San Vicente del Raspeig – Murcia 140km

STAGE 4 – Sept 10, Aguilas – Roquetas de Mar 148km

STAGE 5 – Sept 11, El Ejido – Sierra Nevada 210km

STAGE 6 – Sept 12, Grenada – Sierra de La Pandera 153km

STAGE 7 – Sept 13, Jaen – Malaga 198km

STAGE 8 – Sept 14, Malaga – Ubriqua 172km

STAGE 9 Sept 15, Cordoba – Cordoba 153km

STAGE 10 – Sept 16, Cordoba, individual time-trial 50km

Sept 17, rest day and transfer to Madrid

STAGE 11 – Sept 18, Alcobendas – Collado Villalba 162km

STAGE 12 – Sept 19, Segovia – Burgos 187km

STAGE 13 – Sept 20, Burgos – Santander 178km

STAGE 14 – Sept 21, Santander – Gijon 180km

STAGE 15 – Sept 22, Gijon – Alto d’Angliru 176km

Sept 23, rest day

STAGE 16 – Sept 24, Aviles – Leon 145km

STAGE 17 – Sept 25, Benavente – Salamanca 150km

STAGE 18 – Sept 26, Salamanca – La Covatilla 191km

STAGE 19 Sept 27, Bejar – Avila 178km

STAGE 20 – Sept 28, Avila – Parc Warner 160km

STAGE 21 Sept 29, individual time-trial Parc Warner – Madrid 45km

Total: 3144km