Date Early March Type UCI America Tour 2.2 First winner Glen Chadwick (NZL) First edition 2008 Organisers Telmex, CONADE | Discipline Men's Stage Race Editions 5 (as of 2014) Region Mexico Edition 5 (2014) | |
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Nickname(s) "Latin America's Grand Tour"
"Tour of the Americas" Most wins Oscar Sevilla (ESP) (2 wins) Competition UCI Pro Continental Teams UCI Continental Teams UCI National Teams Local Regional Teams | ||
Vuelta Ciclista Mexico Telmex is an annual road cycling race in Mexico that takes place over the course of eight days, involving eight stages. The Mexico national tour has a rich history dating back to the 1940s, and this latest incarnation was revived in late 2008 and early 2009 as the condensed evolution of the Vueltas de las Americas, 21-day stage race, defunct from 2003. This national tour is currently ranked 2.2, according to UCI race classifications, and is a part of the UCI America Tour. Title sponsorship is provided via CONADE (Comisión Nacional de Cultura Física y Deporte), as well as the Telmex Foundation, a philanthropic entity created by Telmex C.E.O., Carlos Slim. Additional sponsorship has been provided previously by BMW, Mercury, Coca-Cola, NovoSportware, and Metalurgica Creativa.
Contents
While 2008 primarily featured non-UCI regional Mexican teams, with nine such squads, 2009 saw that number shrink to eight, of which Arenas and Canel's had been UCI the year prior and may not have renewed due to the poor global economy. More importantly 2009 featured, for the first time, two UCI Professional Continental Teams with Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, and Amica Chips. Also present in each of the first two editions are various North American national squads: 2008 saw the participation of the Guatemalan and Cuban national teams, and in 2009 the Cuban National Team returned along with first time appearances by national squads, USA and Mexico.
Jerseys
UCI Scheduling
In what was for all intents and purposes the "de facto" inaugural event, the revamped 2009 Vuelta Mexico Telmex was given a new date on the UCI America Tour calendar. This made it possible for American teams to join the race; the race is scheduled one week after the conclusion of February's Amgen Tour of California, and ends well before March's Redlands Classic and April's Tour de Georgia. The Vuelta Mexico Telmex aims to become the most significant stage race in Latin America, as a standard for Latin American teams, North American teams, and UCI Pro Continental teams seeking results and Grand Tour invite.
2008 Event
With prizes of 2,000,000 Peso, worth roughly 188,000 (USD), the inaugural edition, held September 13–20th, centered primarily in the region north of Mexico City, commencing in Aguascalientes and concluded in the outskirts of Distrito Federal. Stage four was neutralized due to bad weather reducing the length of the Vuelta to 1,059 kilometers down from the scheduled 1,139. The final General Classification was won by New Zealand racer, Glen Alan Chadwick riding for team sponsor Team Type 1, which supports persons inflicted with Type 1 Diabetes. Chadwick would return in 2009 to defend his title, albeit with rival sponsor Team Rock Racing.
2009 Event
The 2009 Vuelta saw diverse North American presence, with first time participants including Rudy Pevenage directed, Rock Racing; Steve Bauer directed, Planet Energy; U.S. based OUCH Pro Cycling Team featuring Floyd Landis, all alongside the 2008 winning team Team Type 1. In addition, Trek–Livestrong U-23 Developmental Team, featuring Taylor Phinney started the race. The team is directed by Axel Merckx and partially owned by seven time consecutive Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, who was on hand to fire the start signal for the 2009 race.
During his trip to Vuelta Mexico, Armstrong stated that "a country the size of Mexico, with such diverse landscape needs to have a tour." With the primary devotion of fighting childhood cancer on behalf of his Lance Armstrong Foundation, Armstrong participated in various events with sponsors and the public, including a health care forum with Mexican President Felipe Calderon.
With prizes of 2.5 million Peso, worth roughly 163,000 (USD), the 2009 edition held March 1–8th centered primarily among regional states located in the south-central part of Mexico. The race began in Oaxaca and passed through Puebla, Tlaxcala, Morelos, Edomex, Guanajuato, and Hildago before culminating in the center of Mexico City. The final stage, won by Canada's Andrew Pinfold, ended with a finish similar to that of the Tour de France as the 100+ kilometer circuit race completes twelves laps of La Angel de la Independencia along a large portion of the 12 km Paseo de la Reforma (Reform Promenade). The extra wide boulevard, with its historically elegant design, sharply resembles Paris' Champs-Élysées. It stretches from Chapultepec Park, passing alongside Latin America's tallest building, the Torre Mayor, continuing through the Zona Rosa and then on to El Zócalo (Plaza de la Constitución). Among the largest central squares in the world, El Zócalo is bordered by the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, National Palace, and is adjacent to the ancient Templo Mayor site. Ironically, Paseo de la Reforma, was modeled during the French occupation of the 1860s upon orders from Emperor Maximilian I with the dual purpose of linking Chapultepec Castle to the National Palace, while also creating a French legacy in the city centre.
Despite the presence of pre-race favorites Gilberto Simoni, Floyd Landis, Tyler Hamilton, Glen Chadwick, and Arquimedes Lam, the Final Overall General Classification was won by Venezuelan racer Jackson Rodriguez, of Venezuelan team sponsor Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni.
Best Young Rider Classification, awarded to the highest place rider under the age of 23, was won by American Peter Stetina of the U.S. National Team.
2010 Event
The Vuelta Mexico Telmex was won by Oscar Sevilla riding for the Rock Racing team in 2010.