# 1987 Vuelta a España

The 42nd Edition Vuelta a España (Tour of Spain), a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from 23 April to 15 May 1987. It consisted of 22 stages covering a total of 3,921 km, and was won by Luis Herrera of the Café de Colombia cycling team. It was the first win of a Grand Tour by a Colombian and also the first of a South American.
With the 1986 Vuelta Champion, Álvaro Pino was absent due to health problems, the principal favourites for the overall classification were Laurent Fignon, Pedro Delgado and Sean Kelly. Jean Luc Vandenbroucke won the prologue and wore the first leader's jersey. Kelly who was in form after winning Paris–Nice for the sixth time won the first stage and took the jersey. The sixth stage saw the beginning of the fight for the overall classification. Luis Herrera in the company of Ángel Arroyo and Vicente Belda attacked several times on the final ascent of the stage. However Kelly was still able to ride into the leader's jersey again. On the following stage to Cerler which was won by the Spaniard Laudelino Cubino, Herrera put time into Kelly and Dietzen finished ahead of Kelly and took the leader's jersey. Herrera took the jersey after the 11th stage that finished on the Lagos de Covadonga. However Kelly retook the leader's jersey in the stage 18 time trial and with four stages to go it looked as if he was going to win his first grand tour. However Kelly was forced to withdraw from the race the following day due to a saddle boil. Fignon won the following stage and moved up to third place overall ahead of Delgado. Herrera took back the jersey which he kept to the end to win the race. It was the first win of a Grand Tour by a Colombian and also the first of a South American.

## Route

List of stages :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Type | Winner |
| P | 23 April | Benidorm – Benidorm | 6.6 km (4 mi) | | Individual time trial | Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke (BEL) |
| 1 | 24 April | Benidorm – Albacete | 219 km (136 mi) | | | Sean Kelly (IRL) |
| 2 | 25 April | Albacete – Valencia | 217 km (135 mi) | | | Paolo Rosola (ITA) |
| 3 | 26 April | Valencia – Valencia | 34.8 km (22 mi) | | Individual time trial | Sean Kelly (IRL) |
| 4 | 27 April | Valencia – Villarreal | 169 km (105 mi) | | | Alfonso Gutiérrez (ESP) |
| 5 | 28 April | Salou – Barcelona | 165 km (103 mi) | | | Roberto Pagnin (ITA) |
| 6 | 29 April | Barcelona – Grau Roig (Andorra) | 220 km (137 mi) | | | Jesús Ignacio Ibáñez Loyo (ESP) |
| 7 | 30 April | La Seu d'Urgell – Cerler | 186 km (116 mi) | | | Laudelino Cubino (ESP) |
| 8 | 1 May | Benasque – Zaragoza | 219 km (136 mi) | | | Iñaki Gastón (ESP) |
| 9 | 2 May | Zaragoza – Pamplona | 180 km (112 mi) | | | Antonio Esparza (ESP) |
| 10 | 3 May | Miranda de Ebro – Alto Campoo | 213 km (132 mi) | | | Enrique Aja (ESP) |
| 11 | 4 May | Santander – Lakes of Covadonga | 179 km (111 mi) | | | Luis Herrera (COL) |
| 12 | 5 May | Cangas de Onís – Oviedo | 142 km (88 mi) | | | Carlos Hernández (ESP) |
| 13 | 6 May | Luarca – Ferrol | 223 km (139 mi) | | | Carlos Emiro Gutiérrez (COL) |
| 14 | 7 May | Ferrol – A Coruña | 220 km (137 mi) | | | Juan Fernández (ESP) |
| 15 | 8 May | A Coruña – Vigo | 185 km (115 mi) | | | Antonio Esparza (ESP) |
| 16 | 9 May | Ponteareas – Ponferrada | 237 km (147 mi) | | | Dominique Arnaud (FRA) |
| 17 | 10 May | Ponferrada – Valladolid | 221 km (137 mi) | | | Roberto Pagnin (ITA) |
| 18 | 11 May | Valladolid – Valladolid | 24 km (15 mi) | | Individual time trial | Jesús Blanco Villar (ESP) |
| 19 | 12 May | El Barco de Ávila – Ávila | 213 km (132 mi) | | | Laurent Fignon (FRA) |
| 20 | 13 May | Ávila – Palazuelos de Eresma (Destilerías DYC) | 183 km (114 mi) | | | Omar Hernández (COL) |
| 21 | 14 May | Palazuelos de Eresma (Destilerías DYC) – Collado Villalba | 160 km (99 mi) | | | Francisco Rodríguez (COL) |
| 22 | 15 May | Alcalá de Henares – Madrid | 173 km (107 mi) | | | Jaime Vilamajó (ESP) |
| | Total | Total | 3,921 km (2,436 mi) | 3,921 km (2,436 mi) | 3,921 km (2,436 mi) | 3,921 km (2,436 mi) |

## Classification leadership

Classification leadership by stage :
| Stage | Winner | General classification | Points classification | Mountains classification | Young rider classification | Team classification | Sprint classification | Flying goal classification |
| P | Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke | Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke | Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke | Not Awarded | Jesús Montoya | Kas | Not Awarded | Not Awarded |
| 1 | Sean Kelly | Sean Kelly | Sean Kelly | Henri Abadie | Johnny Weltz | Kas | José Enrique Carrera [es] | Pello Ruiz Cabestany |
| 2 | Paolo Rosola | Roberto Pagnin | Sean Kelly | Omar Hernández | Luc Suykerbuyk | Kas | Roberto Pagnin | Pello Ruiz Cabestany |
| 3 | Sean Kelly | Sean Kelly | Sean Kelly | Omar Hernández | Jesús Montoya | Kas | Roberto Pagnin | Pello Ruiz Cabestany |
| 4 | Alfonso Gutiérrez | Sean Kelly | Sean Kelly | Mariano Sánchez Martinez | Jesús Montoya | Kas | Jesús Suárez Cueva | Miguel Ángel Iglesias |
| 5 | Roberto Pagnin | Roberto Pagnin | Sean Kelly | Henri Abadie | Jesús Montoya | Kas | Roberto Pagnin | Roberto Pagnin |
| 6 | Jesús Ignacio Ibáñez Loyo | Sean Kelly | Sean Kelly | Jesús Ignacio Ibáñez Loyo | Johnny Weltz | Kas | Roberto Pagnin | Miguel Ángel Iglesias |
| 7 | Laudelino Cubino | Reimund Dietzen | Sean Kelly | Luis Herrera | Johnny Weltz | Postobón–Manzana–Ryalcao | Henri Abadie | Miguel Ángel Iglesias |
| 8 | Iñaki Gastón | Reimund Dietzen | Sean Kelly | Luis Herrera | Johnny Weltz | Postobón–Manzana–Ryalcao | Jesús Suárez Cueva | Miguel Ángel Iglesias |
| 9 | Felipe Yáñez | Reimund Dietzen | Sean Kelly | Luis Herrera | Johnny Weltz | Postobón–Manzana–Ryalcao | Jesús Suárez Cueva | Miguel Ángel Iglesias |
| 10 | Enrique Aja | Reimund Dietzen | Sean Kelly | Luis Herrera | Johnny Weltz | Postobón–Manzana–Ryalcao | Jesús Suárez Cueva | Miguel Ángel Iglesias |
| 11 | Luis Herrera | Luis Herrera | Sean Kelly | Luis Herrera | Johnny Weltz | Postobón–Manzana–Ryalcao | Jesús Suárez Cueva | Miguel Ángel Iglesias |
| 12 | Carlos Hernández Bailo | Luis Herrera | Sean Kelly | Luis Herrera | Johnny Weltz | Postobón–Manzana–Ryalcao | Henri Abadie | Miguel Ángel Iglesias |
| 13 | Carlos Emiro Gutiérrez | Luis Herrera | Sean Kelly | Luis Herrera | Johnny Weltz | Postobón–Manzana–Ryalcao | Henri Abadie | Miguel Ángel Iglesias |
| 14 | Juan Fernández Martín | Luis Herrera | Sean Kelly | Luis Herrera | Johnny Weltz | Postobón–Manzana–Ryalcao | Jesús Suárez Cueva | Miguel Ángel Iglesias |
| 15 | Antonio Esparza | Luis Herrera | Sean Kelly | Luis Herrera | Johnny Weltz | Postobón–Manzana–Ryalcao | Henri Abadie | Miguel Ángel Iglesias |
| 16 | Dominique Arnaud | Luis Herrera | Sean Kelly | Luis Herrera | Johnny Weltz | Postobón–Manzana–Ryalcao | Henri Abadie | Miguel Ángel Iglesias |
| 17 | Roberto Pagnin | Luis Herrera | Sean Kelly | Luis Herrera | Johnny Weltz | Postobón–Manzana–Ryalcao | Henri Abadie | Miguel Ángel Iglesias |
| 18 | Jesús Blanco Villar | Sean Kelly | Sean Kelly | Luis Herrera | Johnny Weltz | Teka | Henri Abadie | Miguel Ángel Iglesias |
| 19 | Laurent Fignon | Luis Herrera | Alfonso Gutiérrez | Luis Herrera | Johnny Weltz | Postobón–Manzana–Ryalcao | Henri Abadie | Miguel Ángel Iglesias |
| 20 | Omar Hernández | Luis Herrera | Alfonso Gutiérrez | Luis Herrera | Johnny Weltz | Postobón–Manzana–Ryalcao | Henri Abadie | Miguel Ángel Iglesias |
| 21 | Francisco Rodríguez Maldonado | Luis Herrera | Alfonso Gutiérrez | Luis Herrera | Johnny Weltz | Postobón–Manzana–Ryalcao | Henri Abadie | Miguel Ángel Iglesias |
| 22 | Jaime Vilamajó | Luis Herrera | Alfonso Gutiérrez | Luis Herrera | Johnny Weltz | Postobón–Manzana–Ryalcao | Henri Abadie | Miguel Ángel Iglesias |
| Final | Final | Luis Herrera | Alfonso Gutiérrez | Luis Herrera | Johnny Weltz | Postobón–Manzana–Ryalcao | Henri Abadie | Miguel Ángel Iglesias |

## Final classification standings
### General classification

Final general classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Luis Herrera (COL) | Café de Colombia–Varta | 105h 34' 25" |
| 2 | Reimund Dietzen (FRG) | Teka | + 1' 04" |
| 3 | Laurent Fignon (FRA) | Système U | + 3' 13" |
| 4 | Pedro Delgado (ESP) | PDM–Ultima–Concorde | + 3' 52" |
| 5 | Óscar Vargas (COL) | Postobón–Manzana–Ryalcao | + 4' 03" |
| 6 | Vicente Belda (ESP) | Kelme | + 4' 40" |
| 7 | Anselmo Fuerte (ESP) | BH | + 4' 59" |
| 8 | Yvon Madiot (FRA) | Système U | + 5' 25" |
| 9 | Henry Cárdenas (COL) | Café de Colombia–Varta | + 7' 08" |
| 10 | Omar Hernández (COL) | Postobón–Manzana–Ryalcao | + 7' 33" |

### Points classification

Final points classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Alfonso Gutiérrez (ESP) | Teka | 149 |
| 2 | Luis Herrera (COL) | Café de Colombia–Varta | 104 |
| 3 | Jesús Blanco Villar (ESP) | Teka | 104 |
| 4 | Reimund Dietzen (FRG) | Teka | 100 |
| 5 | Manuel Jorge Domínguez (ESP) | BH | 92 |
| 6 | Pascal Poisson (FRA) | Système U | 85 |
| 7 | Iñaki Gastón (ESP) | Kas | 72 |
| 8 | Vicente Belda (ESP) | Kelme | 70 |
| 9 | Søren Lilholt (DEN) | Système U | 62 |
| 10 | Laurent Fignon (FRA) | Système U | 61 |

### Mountains classification

Final mountains classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Luis Herrera (COL) | Café de Colombia–Varta | 174 |
| 2 | Vicente Belda (ESP) | Kelme | 105 |
| 3 | Henri Abadie (FRA) | Fagor-Larios | 97 |
| 4 | Omar Hernández (COL) | Postobón–Manzana–Ryalcao | 89 |
| 5 | Pablo Wilches (COL) | Postobón–Manzana–Ryalcao | 68 |
| 6 | Francisco Rodríguez Maldonado (COL) | BH | 63 |
| 7 | Jesús Ignacio Ibáñez Loyo (ESP) | Zahor | 49 |
| 8 | Enrique Aja (ESP) | Teka | 42 |
| 9 | Laurent Biondi (FRA) | Système U | 42 |
| 10 | Mariano Sánchez Martinez (ESP) | Dormilón | 42 |

### Young rider classification

Final young rider classification (1–6) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Johnny Weltz (DEN) | Fagor-Larios | 106h 25' 35" |
| 2 | Henri Abadie (FRA) | Fagor-Larios | + 7' 12" |
| 3 | Jesús Montoya (ESP) | Kas | + 42' 45" |
| 4 | Roberto Torres (ESP) | Zahor | + 43' 41" |
| 5 | Joaquín Hernández Hernández (ESP) | Kelme | + 1h 05' 57" |
| 6 | Serafin Vieira De Araujo (POR) | Sporting–Vitalis | + 1h 06' 25" |

### Team classification

Final team classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Team | Time |
| 1 | Postobón–Manzana–Ryalcao | 316h 51' 36" |
| 2 | BH | + 1' 42" |
| 3 | Café de Colombia–Varta | + 3' 20" |
| 4 | Système U | + 13' 13" |
| 5 | Teka | + 24' 58" |
| 6 | Kas | + 1h 02' 20" |
| 7 | Zahor | + 1h 09' 07" |
| 8 | PDM–Ultima–Concorde | + 1h 14' 41" |
| 9 | Reynolds | + 1h 20' 17" |
| 10 | Kelme | + 1h 22' 11" |

### Sprint classification

Final sprint classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Henri Abadie (FRA) | Fagor-Larios | 25 |
| 2 | Laurent Fignon (FRA) | Système U | 14 |
| 3 | Carlos Emiro Gutiérrez (COL) | Kelme | 9 |
| 4 | Antonio Coll (ESP) | Kelme | 9 |
| 5 | Pascal Poisson (FRA) | Système U | 6 |
| 6 | Juan Fernández Martín (ESP) | Zahor | 6 |
| 7 | Éric Guyot (FRA) | Système U | 6 |
| 8 | Jesús Ignacio Ibáñez Loyo (ESP) | Zahor | 6 |
| 9 | Santiago Portillo Rosado (ESP) | Zahor | 6 |
| 10 | Ricardo Zúñiga Carrasco (ESP) | Frinca-Colchón CR [ca] | 5 |

### Flying goal classification

Final flying goal classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Miguel Ángel Iglesias (ESP) | Frinca-Colchón CR [ca] | 31 |
| 2 | Henri Abadie (FRA) | Fagor-Larios | 12 |
| 3 | Laurent Fignon (FRA) | Système U | 9 |
| 4 | Antonio Coll (ESP) | Kelme | 8 |
| 5 | Carlos Emiro Gutiérrez (COL) | Kelme | 8 |
| 6 | Laurent Biondi (FRA) | Système U | 7 |
| 7 | Ricardo Zúñiga Carrasco (ESP) | Frinca-Colchón CR [ca] | 7 |
| 8 | Marino Lejarreta (ESP) | Caja Rural–Orbea | 6 |
| 9 | Jesús Ignacio Ibáñez Loyo (ESP) | Zahor | 6 |
| 10 | Éric Guyot (FRA) | Système U | 6 |