2008 Vuelta a España

Infobox Cycling race report
name =

---

image_caption = Overview of the stages
date = August 30–September 21
stages = 21
distance = 3133.6
unit = km
time = 80h 40' 23"
speed = 38.84
first = Alberto Contador
first_nat = Spain
first_natvar =
first_team = Astana
second = Levi Leipheimer
second_nat = United States
second_natvar =
second_team = Astana
third = Carlos Sastre
third_nat = Spain
third_natvar =
third_team = Team CSC Saxo Bank
points = Greg Van Avermaet
points_nat = Belgium
points_natvar =
points_team = Silence-Lotto
mountains = David Moncoutié
mountains_nat = France
mountains_natvar =
mountains_team = Cofidis
youth =
youth_nat =
youth_natvar =
youth_team =
combination = Alberto Contador
combination_nat = Spain
combination_natvar =
combination_team = Astana
sprints =
sprints_nat =
sprints_natvar =
sprints_team =
team = Caisse d'Epargne
team_nat = Spain
team_natvar =

The 2008 Vuelta a España is the 63rd edition of the Vuelta a España cycling race. The event took place from August 30 to September 21, 2008 over 21 stages covering convert|3133.6|km|lk=on. The first stage was a convert|7|km|abbr=on team time trial in Granada. The event finished in Madrid 23 days later. The race saw the return of Angliru, one of the hardest climbs in professional road bicycle racing.

Teams

The 19 teams invited to the race were:cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/7373910.stm|title=Astana in Vuelta, High Road out|work=BBC Sport|date=2008-04-29|accessdate=2008-08-12]

tage recaps

*2008 Vuelta a España, Stage 1 to Stage 11
*2008 Vuelta a España, Stage 12 to Stage 21

tandings

General Classification

King of the Mountains Classification

Withdrawals

40 riders withdrew or were disqualified:

* DNS (Did not start) Denotes that the cyclist didn't start that stage and so left the Vuelta at that moment.
* DNF (Did not finish) Denotes that the cyclist didn't end the mentioned stage and so had to retire from the Vuelta.
* DSQ (Disqualified) Denotes that the cyclist got disqualified from the Vuelta for the explained reason.

Caisse d'Epargne, Astana, Xacobeo-Galicia and Ag2r-La Mondiale had all nine cyclists reach the end of the Vuelta. [http://www.lavuelta.com/08/ingles/noticias/noticias21.html?e=21]

References

External links

* [http://www.lavuelta.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/vuelta08/ cyclingnews.com]
* [http://www.cyclingfans.com/ Cyclingfans.com ] : Guide to live race coverage, video and audio streaming