"It has procedures comparable to Formula 1" - Says the organisers of the Vuelta a Espana

Today was the 'Day in the Senate' of the Vuelta a España, ahead of its 90th birthday. The director of the race, Javier Guillén, addressed the senators to give them an accurate picture of what the race represents worldwide and what it gives to Spain, in statements collected by EFE.

"La Vuelta represents emotion, intensity and surprise; it generates a passion that touches us deeply. It is not just an event, it is a communication tool that gives visibility to millions of people around the world, reaching 190 countries and reaching 400 million viewers."

On the history of the race he commented as follows, "La Vuelta has gone through three different political systems, was interrupted by the Civil War and the Second World War. It was born thanks to the newspaper Informaciones and in 1935 fifty brave, almost adventurous people started this story."

"We carry the name of each territory through which La Vuelta passes, and through them we build an identity. When we mention the Lakes, everyone thinks of the Lagos de Covadonga; if we talk about the Angliru, even without having been there, we know it's a mythical pass."

In a country with little coexistence due to its political and social particularity, Guillén speaks of the Vuelta as a nexus of union:

"For me, La Vuelta is an element of territorial connection, the only event capable of reaching any corner, from big cities to small towns. We have finished stages on more than 40 little-known summits, generating a positive impact on both tourism and cycling tourism."

This is how he continued his speech, "Cycling appeals to us because we understand it: it is a demanding sport of endurance and sacrifice, reserved for those who face the epic. In the grand tours, that epic becomes a story. It is our duty to respect it and pay tribute to it. Let us not forget that there are only three three-week races in the world.

"Today cycling is also a technologically advanced discipline, with procedures comparable to those of Formula 1," Guillén concluded.