By Jesus A. Garcia, Jr.

THE 21-day 2021 Tour of Spain popularly known in the cycling world as Vuelta a España ended last Sunday, September 5. Being a former professional cyclist, I cannot help but comment on this multi-stage annual bikefest considered by the world governing cycling body Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) as the third richest, longest, toughest, oldest, and the most prestigious bicycle race in the world, after Tour de France (TdF) and Tour of Italy (Giro).  As most perhaps predicted, it was the two-time winner and defending champion and this year’s Tokyo Olympic Games time-trial gold medal winner Primoz Roglic of Slovenia who scored his third consecutive victory to equal the record of Spain’s elite rider Alberto Contador and Tony Rominger of Switzerland.

So far, it’s Robert Heras of Spain who holds the record with the most titles with four (2000, 2001, 2003, 2005), so far. I might be wrong but I surmise that this 31-years-old, Roglic, a new world cycling sensation, will equal or even break Heras’ record within this decade to win the TdF tiara and the Giro as well. Who knows, it could happen next year. Remember, Roglic placed a close second to his compatriot Tadej Pogacar in the TdF last year.

Roglic deliberately abandoned the start of the 9^th stage this year’s TdF due to infections of his injuries he sustained in the 3^rd lap caused by a bad spill. What I had not expected was the decision of this year’s TdF champion Pogacar (nicknamed Pogi, like our governor Espino) to opt out of Vuelta this year. And, while  Roglic never won the TdF title, he also holds the distinction of being the first Slovenian cyclist to win a stage in the TdF.

History says Vuelta was first organized  in 1935 and originally being conducted in the months of April and May. Gaining prominence and popularity, the bikathon was eventually contested by Europeans and UCI that eventually resulted in moving the Tours bikathon to months of August/September every year to give way to Tdf and Giro to be conducted first among the three world’s Grand Tours. While the route changes every year (like our then Tour of Luzon, Marlboro Tour, Tour of PICCA, Ronda, et al), the format stayed the same and only accredited and world well-known commercial firms licensed by UCI are qualified to participate.

The first rider to win the Vuelta was Gustaaf Deloor of Belgium and he successfully defended his title the following year, 1936. Because of world wars and domestic conflicts in Spain many years ago, Vuelta was suspended and was revived after the global wars, like what happened to TdF and Giro.

The Roglic’s memorable 2019 Vuelta victory was cited as the first Slovenian to win a Grand Tour after beating Spain’s strongest cyclist and home town favorite Alejandro Valverde and his countryman and TdF winner Pogacar, who landed second and third overall, respectively.

Gone were the dominance of the  Spaniards in Grand Tours led by Federico Bahamontes, Miguel Indurain, Heras, Contador; the Frenchmen led by Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault, Laurent Jalabert; the Italians fronted by Alfredo Benda, Fausto Coppi, Felice Gimondi; the Belgians headed by the greatest cyclist of-all-time Eddy Merckx, Rik Van Looy, Freddie Maertens, and the Englishmen paced by Chris Froome, Mark Cavendish, and the Americans led by Greg Lemond Andy Hamspten, Lance Armstrong.

Now it’s the Slovenian time! Roglic and Pogacar are the talks of the cycling world during these days.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Now see that I, even I, am He, and there’s no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; nor is there any who can deliver from My hand. DEUTERONOMY 32: 39

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