Agustín Tamames

In 1975 Spanish cyclist Agustín Tamames had the biggest victory of his career when he won the Vuelta a España, winning five individual stages along the way. A decade earlier Tamames began his career by becoming the Spanish under-23 road cycling champion in 1966, winning the title again in 1968. That same year he was selected to ride in the road race at the Mexico City Olympics, but he did not finish the course. The potential of his talent began to show in 1970 when he finished second in the Vuelta, in addition to winning a stage of the race and taking the King of the Mountains classification.

Tamames continued with his good form at his home Grand Tour, winning a stage in 1971, followed by two more stages a year later, with him also finishing third overall. After finishing seventh at the 1973 edition, he then won two stages a year later, but only managed to finish in 17th. His success at the 1975 Vuelta was followed by two stage wins at that years’ Tour of the Basque Country before Tamames became the Spanish road race champion one year later.