Sastre the seventh Spaniard to win yellow
  November 22, 2024 Login  

Current Articles    |   Archives    |   RSS Feeds    |   Search

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Sastre the seventh Spaniard to win yellow

by Agence France-Presse at 10:03 AM EST   comments
Categories: Pro Cycling, Tour de France
 
Carlos Sastre became the seventh Spaniard to win the Tour de France yellow jersey when he wrapped up overall victory here on Sunday, taking his country's total to 11 wins.

Federico Bahamontes, nicknamed the 'Eagle of Toledo' thanks to his formidable climbing skills, broke new ground for his countrymen by winning the race in 1959.

Following in Bahamontes' trail, albeit 14 years later was the great Luis Ocana, who claimed his only win in 1973. It took another 15 years for Spain to hail a winner, in the shape of Pedro Delgado, in 1988.

Only three years later, in 1991, the great Miguel Indurain began a five-year winning streak which lasted until halfway through the 1996 race.

It took another 11 years for Spain to hail a new yellow jersey champion.

Spaniard Oscar Pereiro finished second in the 2006 race, but was proclaimed champion a year later when American Floyd Landis, who tested positive for testosterone during the race's stag 17, was officially disqualified.

Alberto Contador claimed his first Tour victory in 2007.

Wins by country after 95 editions

36: France
18: Belgium
11: Spain
10: United States
9: Italy
4: Luxembourg
2: Netherlands, Switzerland
1: Germany, Denmark, Ireland
      comments




Subscribe via RSS or daily email

WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW
  Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy  Copyright 2008-2013 by VeloNation LLC