The 35th Edition ''Vuelta a España'' (Tour of Spain), a long-distance bicycle

stage Stage or stages may refer to: Acting * Stage (theatre), a space for the performance of theatrical productions * Theatre, a branch of the performing arts, often referred to as "the stage" * ''The Stage'', a weekly British theatre newspaper * Sta ...

race and one of the three

grand tours In road bicycle racing, a Grand Tour is one of the three major European professional cycling stage races: Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, and Vuelta a España. Collectively they are termed the ''Grand Tours'', and all three races are similar in ...

, was held from 22 April to 11 May 1980. It consisted of 20 stages covering a total of , and was won by

Faustino Rupérez Faustino Rupérez Rincón (born 29 July 1956) is a Spanish former professional road racing cyclist who raced between 1979 and 1985. Ruperez is most famous for capturing the overall title at the 1980 Vuelta a España. He finished 4th in the 19 ...

of the Zor cycling team.

Roberto Visentini Roberto Visentini (born 2 June 1957) is an Italian former professional road racing cyclist who won the White Jersey in the 1978 Giro, finished in the top 10 of the 1979, 1980, and 1981 Giro's, made the podium in 1983, wore the Maglia Rosa fo ...

won the prologue of the race and kept the leader's jersey for the first five days of the race. Sean Kelly finished second in the prologue and won the next two stages but did not get to wear the leader's jersey. On the first mountain stage, Faustino Rupérez came solo to the finish and took the leader's jersey which he kept until the end of the race. Pedro Torres put in an attack on the penultimate stage on the climb to Puerto de la Morcuera. However Rupérez together with Miguel Mari Lasa bridged up to Torres half way to Alto de Cotos and the leader's jersey was safe. Rupérez won the race ahead of Torres and

Claude Criquielion Claude Criquielion (11 January 1957 – 18 February 2015) was a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who raced between 1979 and 1990. In 1984, Criquielion became the world road race champion in Barcelona, Spain on a gruelling course. ...

. Criquielion's Splendor teammate Kelly won five stages of the race, the points jersey and finished fourth overall.

Marino Lejarreta Marino Lejarreta Arrizabalaga (born 14 May 1957) is a retired Basque professional road racing cyclist. His biggest victory was capturing the 1982 Vuelta a España, a Grand Tour stage race, and he is the inaugural and record three-time winner of ...

finished the race fifth overall. Juan Fernández won the Mountains competition.

Teams and riders

Route

Results

Final General Classification

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vuelta A Espana, 1980 1980 in road cycling 1980 1980 in Spanish sport April 1980 sports events in Europe May 1980 sports events in Europe 1980 Super Prestige Pernod