The REIGN IN SPAIN Challenge

The theme: Many years ago I was riding across Spain with my friend Ralph. When passing outside the city of Huesca he pointed to a castle on a hill and excitedly explained to me that during Napoleon’s occupation Spanish volunteers dragged what was then the largest canon ever made hundreds of kilometers across Spain to attack Napoleon’s army. For the several minutes of riding it took for the edifice to eventually fade behind us that morning and into the rolling countryside, Ralph elaborated the story based on a movie he's seen starring Anthony Quinn. During this year’s Vuelta, bike riders will pass under El "Castillo de Huesca “on their way to finish stage 8 in the city of Zaragoza.  The castle [and my adventure with Ralph] remains my icon for that wonderful country. *

The third and final Grand Tour of 2025 is El Vuelta Espania, The Tour of Spain, or known simply as La Vuelta. Your challenge (if you choose to accept it) is to keep account of the hours you train, use them to bid on the daily and the final overall results.  You will choose who will “reign” in Spain – and (naturally) if you choose well; there are “valuable” prizes you will have bestowed upon you!

How to play: Train then Bid

-              Train (exercise) and note your duration (hours) daily from August 22 – September 13

-              The day before each stage bid on the rider’s team  you feel will win next day’s stage.

-              E-mail your bids to youngstraining@gmail.com

-              You get one bid for every hour you exercised the day of your bid(s).

-              Date to make the overall jersey bids is Sunday, September 7.

Sample bid sent via e-mail the day before (say) stage 2:  Stage 2 – team 7

WARNING: ONLY BIDS IN THE ABOVE FORMAT; stage # - team #(s) will be accepted.

Use the above Team Numbers to make your bid

Notes:

-              You may include comments and text below your bids for fun and discussion.

-              For jersey bids September 7; name of jersey(s) – the team #(s)

-              Multiple bid example: Stage 2- teams 7,5,11 (you did 3 hours of training that day)

-              Valuable prizes: will be distributed the week of September 15.

FAQ:

Q: Can I make more than one bid / day?

A: Yes you get one bid/day for each hour you exercise. No bid limit.

Q: Can I accumulate bids?

A: NO!  You may only use bids you’ve earned that day.

Q: Can I make more than one bid on the same rider/team?

A: Nope; one bid/rider/team

Q: Can I make multiple bids on different rider/teams?

A: Yep; for each hour you exercise you may make a bid on a number of rider/teams

Q: On the jersey bid(s) are there special rules?

A: Naw! If you want to bid on multiple jerseys you better ride your butt off Sunday September 7. One hour, one bid (same as individual stages).

Q: How many prizes can I win?

A: A “valuable” prize for each win.

*       It turns out Ralph was out of his gorda in his usual way.  The Spanish did indeed drag a huge ordinance across the countryside, but it was to the city of Sepúlveda (not Huesca) in defense of Madrid (not Zaragosa).  And the movie, The Pride and the Passion, featured Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra, and Sofia Loren not Anthony Quinn…

   (note the cannon)

In Raph’s defense; the location for the movie (Huesca) was indeed the one he’d pointed out. Sepulvada was too close to modern Madrid for a period piece, too many touristas and a parking lot for the castle Sepulvada just wouldn’t work.  But how’d he get Anthony Quinn mistaken for Cary Grant then miss Sinatra and Sophia Loren altogether?  That’s just nuts – and Ralph (rest in peace) was exactly that.