The Conselh Generau d’Aran paid tribute yesterday to the seven Spanish winners of the Tour de France in a ceremony chaired by the síndic d’Aran, Carlos Barrera, which featured three of the seven cyclists: Miguel Indurain, Oscar Pereiro and Pedro Delgado as well as relatives of Luis Ocaña.They have excused their presence for work Carlos Sastre and Alberto Contador and Federico Bahamontes for a last minute unexpected event. This tribute is within the events organized by the 9th stage of the Tour.
The honourees had been received by the síndic at the headquarters of the Conselh Generau in a private ceremony at 11 am. Then, the procession has gone to the lookout of Portillon for the official inauguration of the commemorative monolith with their names, which had the presence of sportive director of the Tour de France, Thierry Gouvenou and members of the Aranese government.
Also each of the winners have a milestone in each of the seven major curves of the Aranese side of the Portillon, with their name and the date of the edition that they had been proclaimed Tour winners. The day has ended with a press conference and a visit to Aran Park. Today’s tribute will be followed by other popular cycling activities, within them the popular riding that will take place the 5th of June.
With an unprecedented traced so far in the history of the race, the ninth stage of the Tour de France 2016 will start in Vielha next July 10 and will have a distance of 184.5 km through five mountain passes. Aranese stage is one of those chosen to be broadcasted live on television entirely.