And yet, Espana said her husband had stayed home for the day, along with virtually all his co-workers.

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Cavendish, 25, becomes the first British rider to lead the Vuelta a Espana since Robert Millar in 1986.

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Of course, for many people, the current economic situation will be no bar to the annual trip to Espana.

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The deadliest explosion ripped through a Spanish social club called Casa de Espana.

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In other MLS news Tim Cahill joins the New York Red Bulls while Honduran midfielder Mario Martinez moves to Seattle Sounders on loan from Real Espana.

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The incredible Plaza de Espana, designed by famous architect Anibal Gonzalez in 1928, paid tribute to the heritage of the area, combining Andalusian architectural features with Neo-Mudejar style.

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The Kazakhstan native was one of the favorites to win this year's Tour de France after a breakthrough performance that won him first place in the 2006 Vuelta a Espana.

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Cavendish, 25, is making his debut in the Vuelta a Espana but is joined by only one of the HTC-Columbia line-up that helped him win five stages of the Tour de France in July - Austrian Bernhard Eisel.

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The 34-year-old knows the terrain well around Varese but will have to fend off the challenge of Oscar Freire and his powerful Spanish squad, which includes Vuelta Espana winner Alberto Contador, Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez and UCI ProTour winner Alejandro Valverde.

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