José Manuel Fuente Lavandera (September 30, 1945 – July 18, 1996) was a professional road racing cyclist and noted climbing specialist.
Fuente was a professional from 1970 to 1976. He had the same nickname as his father and grandfather, which was "El Tarangu", a word in the Asturian language for a man reputed for his strength and character. Fuente was known as one of the greatest climbers of his generation. He was a two-time winner of the Vuelta a España and won four consecutive climbers classification (or King of the Mountains) at the Giro d'Italia. He was rivals with the great cyclists of his time: Eddy Merckx and Luis Ocaña. He won the Vuelta a España in 1972, which at that time was held in late April and early May. Several weeks later, in the 1972 Giro d'Italia, Fuente had a great battle with Eddy Merckx. Fuente took the pink jersey as leader of the general classification early on in the race but Merckx took it back. On the mountain stage to Bardonecchia, Fuente put in an attack that put pressure on Merckx. Little by little, Merckx increased his pace and came back to Fuente and ended up winning the stage.
Health problems due to kidney disease forced Fuente to retire in 1975. After retirement he opened a successful cycle business in Oviedo and in 1988 was appointed directeur sportif of the CLAS team. This lasted only a year, after which he was replaced in 1989 by Juan Fernadez. Fuente died following a long battle with kidney disease at the age of 50.
Major results
1969 3rd Vuelta Asturias 1970 1st Stage 9 Volta a Catalunya 3rd Overall Vuelta a los Valles Mineros 1971 Giro d'Italia 1st Mountains classification 1st Stage 10 Tour de France 1st Stages 14 & 15 1972 1st Overall Vuelta a España 1st Mountains classification 1st Combination classification 1st Stage 12 2nd Overall Giro d'Italia 1st Mountains classification 1st Stages 4a & 17 Held after Stages 4a–6 1973 1st Overall Tour de Suisse 1st Mountains classification 1st Stages 4 & 5 2nd Overall Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 3rd Overall Tour de France Held after Stages 9–10 8th Overall Giro d'Italia 1st Mountains classification 1st Stage 19 1974 1st Overall Vuelta a España 1st Stages 9 & 13 5th Overall Giro d'Italia 1st Mountains classification 1st Stages 3, 9, 11a, 16 & 20 Held after Stages 3–13 8th Overall Tour of the Basque Country 1976 1st Stage 3a Vuelta a los Valles Mineros
Grand Tour general classification results timeline Grand Tour 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 Vuelta a España 16 541 —1 DNF Giro d'Italia — 39285 18 Tour de France — 72 —3 — DNF
+ Legend — Did not compete DNF Did not finish
References
External links Palmares of Jose Manuel Fuente