The Vuelta Espana (Tour of Spain) is the third Grand Tour of the year after the Giro d’Italia (May) and Tour de France (July) It’s held from late August to mid-September.
The Vuelta Espana is commonly known as the climber’s race as the route is littered with steep climbs, providing cycling fans plenty of entertainment. It’s also a race that provides the riders who failed to perform at the Tour de France the last chance to redeem themselves for the year.
A recent example is 3-times consecutive winner Primož Roglič. He finished second at the 2020 Tour de France and did not finish the 2021 edition. From there, he went on to redeem himself by winning the 2019, 2020, and 2021 Vuelta Espana.
Roberto Heras (Spain) has the most Vuelta Espana general classification wins with four (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005), followed by his fellow countryman Alberto Contador (2008, 2012, 2014), Primož Roglič (2019, 2020, 2021) and Swiss rider, Tony Rominger (1992, 1993, 1994).
Throughout its history since 1935, 60 riders have won the general classification.
| Wins | Rider | Country | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Roberto Heras | Spain | 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005 |
| 3 | Primož Roglič | Slovenia | 2019, 2020, 2021 |
| 3 | Alberto Contador | Spain | 2008, 2012, 2014 |
| 3 | Tony Rominger | Switzerland | 1992, 1993, 1994 |
| 2 | Gustaaf Deloor | Belgium | 1935, 1936 |
| 2 | Bernard Hinault | France | 1978, 1983 |
| 2 | Denis Menchov | Russia | 2005, 2007 |
| 2 | José Manuel Fuente | Spain | 1972, 1974 |
| 2 | Julián Berrendero | Spain | 1941, 1942 |
| 2 | Pedro Delgado | Spain | 1985, 1989 |
| 2 | Alex Zülle | Switzerland | 1996, 1997 |
| 2 | Chris Froome | United Kingdom | 2011, 2017 |
| 1 | Eddy Merckx | Belgium | 1973 |
| 1 | Edouard Van Dyck | Belgium | 1947 |
| 1 | Ferdinand Bracke | Belgium | 1971 |
| 1 | Franz De Mulder | Belgium | 1960 |
| 1 | Freddy Maertens | Belgium | 1977 |
| 1 | Luis Herrera | Colombia | 1987 |
| 1 | Nairo Quintana | Colombia | 2016 |
| 1 | Eric Caritoux | France | 1984 |
| 1 | Jacques Anquetil | France | 1963 |
| 1 | Jean Dotto | France | 1955 |
| 1 | Jean Stablinski | France | 1958 |
| 1 | Laurent Jalabert | France | 1995 |
| 1 | Raymond Poulidor | France | 1964 |
| 1 | Roger Pingeon | France | 1969 |
| 1 | Jan Ullrich | Germany | 1999 |
| 1 | Rolf Wolfshohl | Germany | 1965 |
| 1 | Rudi Altig | Germany | 1962 |
| 1 | Sean Kelly | Ireland | 1988 |
| 1 | Angelo Conterno | Italy | 1956 |
| 1 | Fabio Aru | Italy | 2015 |
| 1 | Felice Gimondi | Italy | 1968 |
| 1 | Giovanni Battaglin | Italy | 1981 |
| 1 | Marco Giovannetti | Italy | 1990 |
| 1 | Vincenzo Nibali | Italy | 2010 |
| 1 | Alexander Vinokourov | Kazakhstan | 2006 |
| 1 | Jan Janssen | Netherlands | 1967 |
| 1 | Joop Zoetemelk | Netherlands | 1979 |
| 1 | Abraham Olano | Spain | 1998 |
| 1 | Agustín Tamames | Spain | 1975 |
| 1 | Aitor González | Spain | 2002 |
| 1 | Alejandro Valverde | Spain | 2009 |
| 1 | Álvaro Pino | Spain | 1986 |
| 1 | Ángel Casero | Spain | 2001 |
| 1 | Angelino Soler | Spain | 1961 |
| 1 | Antonio Suárez | Spain | 1959 |
| 1 | Bernardo Ruiz | Spain | 1948 |
| 1 | Dalmacio Langarica | Spain | 1946, |
| 1 | Delio Rodriguez | Spain | 1945 |
| 1 | Emilio Rodriguez | Spain | 1950 |
| 1 | Faustino Rupérez | Spain | 1980 |
| 1 | Francisco Gabica | Spain | 1966 |
| 1 | Jesús Loroño | Spain | 1957 |
| 1 | José Pesarrodona | Spain | 1976 |
| 1 | Luis Ocaña | Spain | 1970 |
| 1 | Marino Lejarreta | Spain | 1982 |
| 1 | Melchior Mauri | Spain | 1991 |
| 1 | Simon Yates | United Kingdom | 2018 |
| 1 | Chris Horner | United States | 2013 |
General Classification wins by country
14 different rider nationalities have won the Vuelta Espana general classification.
Spanish riders are by far the most successful for general classification wins. 24 different riders have won 32 editions from 1935 to 2021. The first Spanish winner was Julián Berrendero in 1941, and the last winner was Alberto Contador in 2014.
Eight French riders won nine editions. The last French winner was Eric Caritoux in 1984.
Six Belgian riders won seven editions. The last Belgian winner was Freddy Maertens in 1977.
Six Italian riders won six editions. The last Italian winner was Fabio Aru in 2015.
| Country | No. of riders | GC wins | Last winner | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 24 | 32 | Alberto Contador | 2014 |
| France | 8 | 9 | Eric Caritoux | 1984 |
| Belgium | 6 | 7 | Freddy Maertens | 1977 |
| Italy | 6 | 6 | Fabio Aru | 2015 |
| Switzerland | 2 | 5 | Alex Zülle | 1997 |
| Germany | 3 | 3 | Jan Ullrich | 1999 |
| Slovenia | 1 | 3 | Primož Roglič | 2021 |
| United Kingdom | 2 | 3 | Simon Yates | 2018 |
| Colombia | 2 | 2 | Nairo Quintana | 2016 |
| Netherlands | 2 | 2 | Joop Zoetemelk | 1979 |
| Russia | 1 | 2 | Denis Menchov | 2007 |
| Ireland | 1 | 1 | Sean Kelly | 1988 |
| Kazakhstan | 1 | 1 | Alexander Vinokourov | 2006 |
| United States | 1 | 1 | Chris Horner | 2013 |