Who won the first Vuelta a España in 1935?

Gustaaf Deloor won the first Vuelta a España in 1935.

The inaugural Vuelta started and finished in Madrid and ran for 14 stages. It covered approximately 3,425 kilometres, making it a demanding test for the 50 riders who started. Deloor, a Belgian cyclist, won the overall classification ahead of Spain’s Mariano Cañardo.

Deloor also won the second Vuelta in 1936, making him the first rider to take consecutive victories in the Spanish Grand Tour. The race was then interrupted by the Spanish Civil War and did not return until 1941, when Spanish rider Julián Berrendero became champion.

The Vuelta is now one of cycling’s three Grand Tours, alongside the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia. Its official name means “Tour of Spain,” and its overall leader traditionally wears a red jersey. That colour changed at different points in the race’s history, so the first winner should not be confused with the first rider to wear the modern red jersey.