August 26, 2006 – The Tour of Spain begins today with a 7.3km Team Time Trial. The 2006 Vuelta, the final major tour of the season, begins in the aftermath of Operacion Puerto, cycling’s biggest drug scandal, and the Tour de France’s doping catastrophe, which saw winner Floyd Landis test positive for testosterone.

This year’s Vuelta could prove to be a turning point for the sport. As further evidence of the sweeping changes in the sport of cycling, Rabo’s Denis Menchov will wear the golden jersey at today’s TTT. Menchov finished second last year, but was declared the winner after Spain’s Roberto Heras tested positive for EPO and was stripped of his Vuelta title.

Two Canadians will take to the start line, Phonak’s Ryder Hesjedal and Disco’s Michael Barry. Hesjedal will be looking to impress as he is looking for a new employer (Phonak will leave cycling after ’06), while Barry will be working hard for team leader Tom Danielson and also hoping for stage wins and a high placing in the overall.

STAGES DAY ROUTE KMS

1 26/08 Sat Málaga – Málaga (T.T.T.) 7,3
2 27/08 Sun Málaga – Córdoba 176
3 28/08 Mon Córdoba – Almendralejo 219
4 29/08 Tue Almendralejo – Cáceres 135
5 30/08 Wed Plasencia – Estación de Esquí La Covatilla (Béjar) 178
6 31/08 Thu Zamora – León 177
7 01/09 Fri León – Alto de El Morredero (Ponferrada) 154,2
8 02/09 Sat Ponferrada – Lugo 181,6
9 03/09 Sun A Fonsagrada – Alto de La Cobertoria 207,4

04/09 Mon DAY OFF and TRANSFER

10 05/09 Tue Avil̩s РMuseo de Altamira (Santillana del Mar) 199,3
11 06/09 Wed Torrelavega (Velódromo Oscar Freire) – Burgos 173,6
12 07/09 Thu Aranda de Duero – Guadalajara 169,3
13 08/09 Fri Guadalajara – Cuenca 180
14 09/09 Sat Cuenca – Cuenca (I.T.T.) 33,2
15 10/09 Sun Motilla del Palancar – Factoría Ford (Almussafes) 182

11/09 Mon DAY OFF and TRANSFER

16 12/09 Tue Almería – Observatorio Astronómico de Calar Alto 145
17 13/09 Wed Adra – Granada 166,7
18 14/09 Thu Granada – Sierra de la Pandera 153,1
19 15/09 Fri Ja̩n РCiudad Real 205,3
20 16/09 Sat Rivas Futura – Rivas Vaciamadrid (I.T.T.) 27,5
21 17/09 Sun Madrid – Madrid 142,2