History

1931

The 1931 edition, the number 13, with seven stages, lived a spectacular fight between two of its most outstanding cyclists, the three-time champion of the Volta Mariano Cañardo and Salvador Cardona, who won the overall classification ahead of the Olite cyclist.
The two cyclists were exchanging stage victories in the first days, but a penalty to Cañardo of five minutes in the sixth stage facilitated the triumph of Cardona in the overall standing.

13a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Salvador Cardona / Mariano Cañardo / Aleardo Simoni

1932

Mariano Cañardo regained the throne of the Volta in the 14th edition, which took place from September 4th to 11th, 1932. The presence of great Belgian and Italian international cyclists did not prevent a new triumph of Cañardo, who surpassed the Italian Domenico Piemontesi and Isidre Figueras.
In seven stages, the Volta a Catalunya had a great participation with 110 riders, and Cañardo suffered a lot to enjoy a leadership that did not get until the sixth stage.
In the 1930s Cañardo became an idol in Catalonia for his victories, which could have been more, but the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) broke out.
The Generalitat de Catalunya was the main sponsor of the race, and that was until 1936, when the war broke out.

14a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Bernardo Rogora / Alphonse Deloor / Nino Sella

1933

The 15th edition of the Volta reached the 9 stages and returned to the month of June, from 10th to 18th. It was a Volta with surprises since the triumph fell to the Italian Alfredo Bovet, who in the third stage between Tortosa and Reus was up to 45 minutes ahead, and Cañardo pulled out due to mechanical problems.
The Italian celebrate his first Volta on the Montjuïc circuit, in an edition with a very prominent international participation and great support from the Generalitat de Catalunya.

15a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Alfredo Bovet / Ambrogio Morelli / Antoine Dignef

1934

The Volta of 1934, with 10 hard stages, started with the novelty of awarding the Grand Prize of the Mountain, and one more year with a very high level of foreign participation. Another Italian, Bernardo Rogora succeeded his compatriot to the list of winners, in an edition with 136 participants.
Cañardo was fourth after suffering numerous injuries and mechanical problems, behind Rogora, the Belgian Alphonse Deloor and the Italian Nino Sella.

16a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Bernardo Rogora / Alphonse Deloor / Nino Sella

1935

In the 17th edition of the Volta returned the control of Mariano Cañardo, who achieved a new triumph, his fifth, in an edition that had a significantly lower participation than in previous years, especially in the international arena.
Cañardo won with more than 10 minutes of margin on Federico Ezquerra and the Belgian Joseph Huts. It was probably the easiest victory for the Catalan-Navarran cyclist, who won three stages, including the last in Montjuïc, where many spectators were to support the idolized the cyclists.
The Volta of 1935 was celebrated from June 1st to 9th with 9 stages.

17a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Mariano Cañardo / Federico Ezquerra / Joseph Huts

1936

The last edition before the Spanish Civil War also was for Mariano Cañardo. It was held from June 13th to 21th, one month before the start of the war, with nine stages that defined the 18th edition.
Cañardo won the Belgian Frans Bonduel and Juan Gimeno and added three more stages in his impressive track record. Until the last stage in Montjuïc was not decided that "Volta", which saw how the Belgian was surpassed by Cañardo in the lasts laps to the circuit.
The 1936 edition was the last of the "Volta" until 1939, because of the war. La Volta had become a national project and it was usual to see in Barcelona political figures such as Lluís Companys or Francesc Macià with the cyclists.

18a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Mariano Cañardo / Frans Bonduel / Juan Gimeno

1939

The Volta was not held in 1937 and 1938 for obvious reasons. Even though the war left a country in ruins and devastated, the Volta went ahead. The new times of the Francoism saw that the idol of the 30s, Mariano Cañardo, also won in this edition of 1939, in a year where there were no international representatives, since Europe was at the beginning of the Second World War, and only 40 cyclists participated.
The poster of this 19th edition already reflected the times lived under the dictatorship, with the inscription "Franco, Franco, Franco", 1939 "year of victory". Cañardo won ahead of Diego Cháfer and Fermín Trueba.
It would be the 7th and last victory of Cañardo in the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, a record that nobody has been able to beat again ... until now.

19a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Mariano Cañardo / Diego Cháfer / Fermín Trueba

1940

The Volta arrived in 1940 to its 20th edition, and had nine stages from May 5th to 12th, two of them time trail. European cyclists escaping from the war participated in the race.
The first two positions on the podiumum were occupied by two Luxembourgish cyclists, Christophe Didier and Mathias Clemens, who sent Mariano Cañardo to the third position in the podiumum.
In an unprecedented situation, all the stages of the Volta were won by foreign cyclists, among Dutch, Belgians, Italians and Luxembourgers.

20a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Christophe Didier / Mathias Clemens / Mariano Cañardo

1941

The 21st edition of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, unlike the previous edition, was contested without foreign cyclists. A total of 10 stages that was held from September 6th to 14th. As a highlighted fact it can be noted that Mariano Cañardo won his last stage in the Volta, accumulating a total of 22 stages.
The final victory in the general classification was for Antonio Andrés Sancho, ahead Andreu Canals and José Campamá.
This edition was the first of the Pirelli Grand Prix, the tire brand, as the main sponsor, a relationship that would last for years.

21a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Antonio Andrés Sancho / Andrés Canals / Josep Campamà

1942

From September 5th to 13th, 1942, the 22nd edition of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya was held. An edition with 10 stages that started with a team time trial at the Montjuïc circuit.
The stages by sector were habitual in this time, and in this 1942 the glory arrived finally for Federico Ezquerra, that during many years had occupied places of honor in the classification, but never had obtained the final triumph.
In an edition with 68 participants, Ezquerra exceeded in the classification to Julian Barrendero -winner of seven stages of the Volta during his career- and Diego Chafer.

22a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Federico Ezquerra / Julián Barrendero / Diego Cháfer

1943

The 1943 edition, with 9 stages and which was held from September 5th to 12th, crowned Berrendero as first classified, after the second position in the previous year.
Berrendero won ahead Vicente Miró and Antonio Destrieux, in an edition with 68 participating cyclists that the champion dominated with great superiority, as well as his team, FC Barcelona.

23a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Julián Berrendero / Vicente Miró / Antonio Destrieux

1944

The 1944 edition, IV Pirelli Grand Prix, was more open than ever and Miguel Casas took advantage of this situation to register his name in the competition's list of winners.
Casas was accompanied to the podiumum by Dalmancio Langarica and Vicente Miró, in an edition that gathered in 57 cyclists in nine stages. Montjuïc was again the scene of the beginning and the finish of the Volta.

24a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Miguel Casas / Dalmancio Langarica / Vicente Miró

1945

With the end of the war in Europe, the Volta reached its 25th edition. To celebrate the anniversary of the 25 editions of the race, the Volta was extended until the 14 stages, from September 2th to 16th. The Volta passed through the four Catalan provinces, in the longest edition of its history.
Bernardo Ruiz was the protagonist and inscribed with all the honors his name in the 25th edition of the Volta. He was accompanied to the podiumum by Juan Gimeno, and the Swiss Robert Zimmermann.

25a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Bernardo Ruiz / Juan Gimeno / Robert Zimmermann

1946

After the 25th edition, the Volta returned to the 9 stages, from September 8th to 15th, 1946. The presence of foreign participants was remarkable again, but the Volta lived an old winner, Julian Berrendero, who had already won in the edition of 1943.
The Spaniard of San Agustín de Guadalix was accompanied to the podiumum by the Swiss Gottfied Weilenmann and Bernardo Capó.
La Volta remained firm in its 26th edition, with a lot of popular support during the month of September.

26a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Julián Berrendero / Gottfried Weilenmann / Bernardo Capó

1947

The edition of 1947 coincided with the 25th anniversary of the birth of UE Sants, the organizer of the cycling event and it had a great participation, with a total of 87 cyclists who took the start in Barcelona.
In an edition that was exciting and very hard, the victory went to Emilio Rodríguez, ahead of Miguel Gual and the Swiss Georges Aeschlimann. In fifth place appears one of the great protagonists of the Volta in the following years Miquel Poblet, who in this edition won three stages, the firsts of the 33 that he achieved until the end of his career, the absolute historical record.

27a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Emilio Rodríguez / Miguel Gual / Georges Aeschlimann

1948

The edition of 1948, the 28th edition of the Volta, was won again for Emilio Rodríguez, seconded to the podiumum by the Italians Giulio Bresci and Ezio Cecchi. The foreign participation was strong, and the Volta was followed by thousands of spectators on its way.
Miquel Poblet, from Montcada and Reixach, won two more stages demonstrating his ability to get partial victories, as could be seen throughout his career, especially in the Volta and the Giro d'Italia.

28a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Emilio Rodríguez / Giulio Bresci / Ezio Cecchi

1949

From the 18th to the 25th of September the 29th edition of the Volta was disputed. He did it with the traditional start in the Montjuïc Circuit, where Poblet won. La Volta presented a route with the novelty of a stage finale to Perpignan, where the Frenchman Robert Desbats won.
The race was for the Frenchman Emile Rol, who beat Poblet -four stage triumphs- and his compatriot Desbats.

29a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Emile Rol / Miquel Poblet / Robert Desbats

1950

La Volta entered the decade of the 50 with an edition that celebrated its 30 years, with 9 stages and which was played from September 17th to 24th. The national cyclists were the most prominent and the victory was for Antonio Gelabert, ahead Josep Serra and Francesc Masip.
Gelabert dominated the race from start to finish, and was leader from the first to the last stage, in a bunch where a total of 87 cyclists took the start.

30a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Antonio Gelabert / Josep Serra / Francesc Masip

1991

From September 6th to 12th, the 71st edition of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya was played with a luxury winner, Miguel Indurain, who achieved his second victory in the Catalan race, after starting his reign in the Tour de France.
The victory of the Navarrese was consolidated in the Tarragona time trial, where he prevailed with superiority to his main rivals. In fact, the second position was for his teammate in Banesto Perico Delgado, and in third position ended the ONCE Swiss Alex Zülle.
The climb to Mont Caro (Tortosa) was less decisive for the good performance of Indurain in the mountains. The 1991 Volta finished in Tortosa with the victory of Uzbekistan sprinter Djamolidine Abdoujaparov.

71a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Miguel Indurain / Pedro Delgado / Alex Zülle

1992

In a fundamental sport year for Catalonia and Barcelona, with the celebration of the Olympic Games in the Catalan capital, the 72nd edition of the Volta was celebrated with an excellent participation, with cyclists such as Miguel Indurain, the Italian Gianni Bugno, the French Laurent Jalabert , the Swiss Tony Rominger, the Belgian Johan Bruyneel or the Dutch Erik Breukink.
The triumph was for the second consecutive year for Miguel Indurain, who got his third Volta in this way - the last of his impressive track record. He was accompanied on the podiumum by Rominger and a young Antonio Martín.
The Volta of 1992 started with a team trial chrono with victory of the ONCE in Sant Carles de la Ràpita and ended in Sant Feliu de Guíxols. Laurent Jalabert, with three stage victories and the initial team chrono, was one of the great protagonists.

72a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Miguel Indurain / Tony Rominger / Antonio Martín

1993

Miguel Indurain could not get his third consecutive Volta in an edition with final surprise, since the favorites saw as the Colombian Álvaro Mejía (Motorola) claimed the final triumph.
Names such as Claudio Chiapucci, Maurizio Fondriest and Alex Zülle gave prestige to the race, which began in Sant Feliu de Guíxols and ended in Vielha e Mijaran, with triumphs for Fondriest in the two time trials.
The 73rd edition of the Volta was held from 9th to 15th September with a route that went through cities such as Salou, l'Hospitalet de Llobregat or Granollers.

73a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Álvaro Mejía / Maurizio Fondriest / Antonio Martín

1994

The 74th edition of the Vuelta took place from September 8th to 14th, starting at l'Hospitalet de Llobregat and ending at Sant Feliu de Guíxols. Another illustrious name was added to the track record of the Volta with the victory of the Italian team Carrera Claudio Chiapucci.
Chiapucci obtained a sufficient advantage with his victory in the ski resort of Boí - Taüll and exceeded by only 21 seconds Fernando Escartín and 30 Pedro Delgado, in his last year as a professional. Delgado finished again on the podiumum of the Volta, which could never win despite having tried in many editions.
As a curiosity, the 1994 edition saw the participation of the Texan Lance Armstrong, at that time an off-road racer who had been world champion the previous year in Oslo.
No one suspected at that time the influence it would have on world cycling in the years after, nor its golden age nor its descent to hell because of doping.

74a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Claudio Chiapucci / Fernando Escartín / Pedro Delgado

1995

The main novelty of the edition that commemorated the 75th edition of the race was the forced change of dates. The Volta left the month of September - where the Vuelta a España took over - and settled in the month of June.
Laurent Jalabert's conversion from sprinter to stage winner began to consolidate in this edition, where the ONCE Frenchman beat his teammate, the Catalan Melcior Mauri, by 46 seconds, and Jesus Montoya.
The great dominator of the sprints was the Italian Mario Cipollini, a true specialist who left his mark on the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya.

75a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Alex Zülle / Patrcik Jonker / Marco Fincato

1996

In the 1996 edition, also held on the dates of the month of June, it was the turn of the victory for the ONCE Swiss Alex Zülle. The ONCE was imposed for the second consecutive year in the Volta, on a podiumum that also completed the teammate, the Australian Patrick Jonker, and the Italian Marco Fincato.
Cipollini, with two stage wins, was the king of the sprints, in an edition with start to Platja d'Aro and final in Igualada, with presence in the theme park of Port Aventura and in France, with the arrival in Superbagnères of Luchon.
All the stage victories were for foreign runners: Zülle, three stages, Cipollini, two stages, the Italian Marco Saligari, the Australian Jonker and the German Wust, a stage.

76a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Alex Zülle / Patrcik Jonker / Marco Fincato

1997

From 19th to 26th June, with the start in Vila-seca and final in Andorra la Vella, the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya lived its 77th edition with great emotion thanks to the minimum advantage obtained by the winner of that edition, the Kelme - Costa Blanca Fernando Escartín.
The climber beat Ángel Luis Casero, from Banesto, by two seconds, and Mikel Zarrabeitia, from ONCE, by 26 seconds; while one of the big favorites, the Russian Pavel Tonkov, could only be fifth.
Escartín won the stage with Alto del Cortijo Nuevo, and one of the great protagonists was the British Chris Boardman, who dominated the time trial stages with two stage victories. La Volta was one of the most prestigious victories in Escartín's career.

77a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Fernando Escartín / Ángel Luis Casero / Mikel Zarrabeitia

1998

The 78th edition of the Volta, also held in June, a date that was consolidating in the cycling calendar, showed the great potential of the Italian sprinter Mario Cipollini (Saeco Cannondale), who won in four stages: Vila-seca, El Vendrell, Barcelona and Manlleu.
Apart from the partial triumphs of Cipollini, the Volta del 98 was the scene of the struggle between the Colombian Hernán Buenahora, the German Georg Totschnig and the winner of the previous edition Fernando Escartín.
Buenahora, from Vitalicio Seguros, took advantage of the mountainous profile of the Volta, with finishes in Andorra, Boí Taüll and Arcalís, and claimed a brilliant victory against Totschnig for only 8 seconds.
The Volta continued to bring together the best cyclists on the international and national scene such as Frank Vanderbroucke, Lance Armstrong, Mario Cipollini, Abraham Olano, Chris Boardman, Melcior Mauri, Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano, Oscar Sevilla...

78a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Hernán Buenahora / Georg Totschnig / Fernando Escartín

1999

The last edition of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya of the 20th century saw the victory of a luxury gregarious, as was the runner of Jaén Manuel "Triki" Beltrán (Banesto) who finished first on a 100% Spanish podiumum, with Roberto Heras (Kelme ) and José María Jiménez (Banesto).
But the sports field was in the background due to the tragic death of the cyclist Manolo Sanromà, who fell in the sprint of the second stage in Vilanova i la Geltrú and died as a result of the accident. The stage of the following day was cancelled.
The 79th edition of the race started with a prologue in Vila-seca, with Casero's triumph, and it was quite mountainous with arrivals in Andorra and the end with a time trial to La Rabassa, where Beltrán triumphed.
Mario Cipollini added two more stage victories to the sprint, proving that he had no rival in the massive arrivals.

79a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Manuel Beltrán / Roberto Heras / José María Jiménez

2000

The 21st century gave way to the 80th edition of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, from June 15th to 22th, with a format similar to the previous edition. Starts in Vila-seca and ends at Alto de la Rabassa. The fight for victory was again among Spanish riders.
José María "Chava" Jiménez got a magnificent absolute win ahead of Óscar Sevilla (Kelme) and his Italian teammate Leonardo Piepoli. Jiménez won the last two stages of the mountain and made the audience vibrate.
On the other hand, the German sprinter Erik Zabel took the relay of Cipollini and imposed himself in two stages to the sprint, in Vilanova i la Geltrú and in Badalona.

80a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: José María Jiménez / Óscar Sevilla / Leonardo Piepoli

2001

From June 21st to 28th the edition number 81 of the Volta was celebrated with the triumph, again, of a Spanish cyclist, who in recent years completely dominated the Catalan race.
After the victories in previous years of Escartín, Beltrán, Jiménez ... came the triumph of another classic like Joseba Beloki (ONCE).
His teammate Igor González de Galdeano accompanied him to the podiumum, 33 seconds, with Fernando Escartín in third position.
Beloki, in addition, added a stage win in Barcelona, and the already traditional time trial to La Rabassa, completing a magnificent Volta for him and his team.

81a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Joseba Beloki / Igor González de Galdeano / Fernando Escartín

2002

L’edition 82de la Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, que es va disputar del 17 al 23 de juny va tenir com a guanyador un altre corredor espanyol de renom com Roberto Horas (US Postal) que va imposar-se a Aitor Garmendia (Banesto) i Luis Pérez (Team Coast).
En una edition que va fer homenatge a Miquel Poblet pel 50è aniversari de la seva victòria a la Volta -amb stage la seva ciutat natal, Montcada i Reixac-, la Volta va tenir un perfil ideal per a escaladors que va confirmar a Heras.
La cronoescalada a Boí Taüll va ser clau perquè Heras agafés el liderat i pogués defensar-lo fins la darrera stage amb final a Barcelona, a la Sagrada Familia. 31 segons el van separar del basc de Banesto Garmendia. 126 ciclistes i 16 equips van prendre la sortida de la Volta.

82a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Roberto Heras / Aitor Garmendia / Luis Pérez

2003

Despite the big names that were presented at the starting line of Salou in the 83rd edition of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, from June 16th to 22th, like the Italians Iván Basso and Stefano Garzelli or the winner of the previous edition Roberto Heras, the triumph was for José Antonio Pecharromán, of the Paternina - Costa de Almería team.
The cronoescalada of the sixth stage between Molins de Rei and Vallvidrera, of 13,1km, was decisive so that Pecharromán exceeded in the general classification Roberto Heras, whom he left to 43 seconds and to the third classified, Koldo Gil (Once - Eroski).
The three time world champion Óscar Freire won his stage in the Volta with a triumph in Manresa, in a disputed sprint in which he overtook other sprinters such as Ángel Vicioso and Haselbacher.

83a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: José Antonio Pecharromán / Roberto Heras / Koldo Gil

2004

Once again, the Volta lived an unexpected winner, in an edition in which participation was far from other years, especially by the proximity of the Tour de France on the dates of the calendar. Miguel Ángel Martín Perdiguero (Saunier Duval) inscribed his name in the list of winners of the 84th edition of the Volta, held from June 14th to 20th.
Martín Perdiguero was the great dominator of this edition with three stage triumphs, surprising all the rivals and fans, in an edition in which the Russian Vladimir Karpets (Balearic Islands - Banesto) finished second and the Euskaltel Basque Roberto Laiseka completed the podium.
Starting with a team time trial in Salou and final in Barcelona, in a final stage in which the Catalan Isaac Galvez won the sprint.

84a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Miguel Ángel Martín Perdiguero / Vladimir Karpets / Roberto Laiseka

2005

The Volta saw how the new World Tour calendar changed the dates of race again, and did so in May and coinciding with the Giro of Italy, but further away from the Tour dates, which allowed it to have a good participation with names like Jan Ullrich, Carlos Sastre, Iban Mayo, Alejandro Valverde, Leonardo Piepoli, Floyd Landis...
Despite the numerous renowned participants, the victory was for a non favourite such as the Ukrainian Yaroslav Popovich, who was the leader of the Discovery Channel in the absence of Lance Armstrong in the Volta.
The stage of Pal Arinsal, which was won for the Italian Leonardo Piepoli, was key to the triumph of Popovich, who consolidated it in the time trial of Ordino Arcalís. Piepoli finished second, while Frenchman David Moncoutié was third.

85a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Yaroslav Popovich / Leonardo Piepoli / David Moncoutié

2006

New surprise in the track record of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, in its 86th edition. David Cañada won the most favorite names like Francisco Mancebo, Denis Menchov, Santiago Botero or Samuel Sánchez.
It was an edition where names like those of the Norwegian sprinters Thor Husovd and the German Erik Zabel or the Italian Daniele Bennati, as well as other cyclists like the Swiss Fabian Cancellara, the Dutchman Michael Boogerd and the Italian Filippo Pozzato also shone.
But Cañada was able to find his moment in the sixth stage, when surpassed the Colombian Santiago Botero, two seconds behind, and the Frenchman Christophe Moreau,. This was the final podium of an edition with a time trial in which a great specialist like Cancellara won.

86a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: David Cañada / Santiago Botero / Christophe Moreau

2007

From May 21th to 27th the 87th edition of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya was held, with victory for the Russian of the Caisse de Epargne Vladimir Karpets, when he overtook the Australian Michael Rogers and his compatriot Denis Menchov in the general standings.
In the decisive mountain stages, which won Oscar Sevilla and Denis Menchov, Karpets was the most regular and got a leadership that did not leave, with the support of his team, the structure of the Banesto that was now called Caisse de Epargne, because of the sponsorship of the French bank.
To highlight the sprint dominance of the young sprinter of the British Isle of Man Mark Cavendish, who won in two stages, in Perafort and Lloret de Mar.

87a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Vladimir Karpets / Michael Rogers / Denis Menchov

2008

Gustavo César Veloso, of the Karpin Galicia team, was the surprising winner of a Volta with maximum emotion, since was decided on the last kilometer of the last stage in Barcelona.
The 88th edition was held again in May, and the young Colombian Rigoberto Urán (Caisse de Epargne) was the second classified, only 16 seconds behind Veloso, while the French Remy Pauriol (Credit Agricole), was third.
The Norwegian Thor Hushovd, with two stage victories, in the initial crono in Lloret de Mar and in the second stage with final in Banyoles, continued to maintain his idyll with the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, which in this edition had a strong French accent with stage wins for cyclists like Pierrick Fedrigo, Cyril Dessel and Sylvain Chavanel.

88a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Gustavo César Veloso / Rigoberto Urán / Rémy Pauriol

2009

Alejandro Valverde won in 2009 the first of his 3 Volta Ciclista a Catalunya with a great triumph over the Irishman Dan Martin (Garmin - Slipstream) and the Basque Haimar Zubeldia (Astana).
Valverde became leader in the second stage of the Volta, between Girona and Roses and no longer released the white and green jersey. A triumph of great prestige for a cyclist who would win the Volta with great superiority in 2017 and 2018.
The Norwegian Hushovd, with two stage victories, again showed that the Volta was a race that was perfect for its characteristics.

89a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Alejandro Valverde / Dan Martin / Haimar Zubeldia

2010

For the first time in its history, the "Volta" was held in March. And 27 years later, it was time for another Catalan to win the "Volta": Joaquim Purito Rodríguez. The last Catalan rider to do so was José Recio in 1983.
The "Volta" started in Lloret de Mar with an individual three-kilometre time trial, which the German Paul Voss won ahead of the specialists Leipheimer and Kloden.
The second stage, arriving into Banyoles, ended in a sprint and was won by the best sprinter at the time, the Briton Mark Cavendish.
The third stage between the Vall d’en Bas and La Seu d’Urgell saw two Catalans taking the lead: Joaquim Rodríguez and Xavier Tondo, who broke away on the climb to Josa. At the finish line, Tondo won the stage and Rodríguez took the white and green jersey. A minute later, Luis León Sánchez crossed the line.
The German rider Jens Voigt, from the Saxo-Bank team, won the fourth stage between Oliana and Ascó, after attacking on the climb to Paumeres.
The fifth stage was a truly gruelling route through the Priorat region and ending in Cabacés. A breakaway group of four riders defined the stage as one of the breakaway riders, the Italian Davide Malacrane, crossed the line alone, ahead of the group of favourites.
The Frenchman Samuel Dumoulin won the second-last stage, finishing in front of the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, the same place where a stage of the Tour de France ended last year.
The last stage finished in the Circuit de Catalunya where the sprinters could demonstrate all their power on the last stretch. The Argentinian Juan Jose Haedo was the fastest.
An excellent "Volta" with an excellent winner, the Catalan Joaquim Rodríguez, has come to an end.

90a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Joaquim Rodríguez / Xavier Tondo / Rein Taaramae

2011

On March 27th 2011, the Centenary edition of the "Volta" Ciclista a Catalunya came to an end with Alberto Contador’s overall victory. But a few months beforehand Contador was sanctioned for testing positive in an anti-doping test in the 2010 Tour de France, and consequently, he was stripped of his victory of the Centenary "Volta", with the Italian Michele Scarponi being announced the final winner.
The Centenary "Volta" started in Lloret de Mar with the Lithuanian rider Smukulis winning. The Italian sprinter Petacchi won in Banyoles. The third stage, ending in Pal in Andorra, was won by Contador, ahead of Scarponi and Leipheimer. The other stages ended with sprints, with the Portuguese Cardoso taking the victory in El Vendrell, the Frenchman Dumoulin winning in Tarragona and Barcelona, and the Spaniard Rojas winning in Mollet del Vallès.
In the last stage, the US rider Leipheimer, who was second in the general classification, was not able to participate due to illness.
After Contador’s disqualification, the Italian Michele Scarponi ended up winning the race ahead of the Girona-based Irishman Daniel Martin and the American rider Chris Horner.

91a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Michele Scarponi* / Dan Martin / Chris Horner *Desqualificació Alberto Contador

2012

The Swiss Michael Albasini won the "Volta" Ciclista a Catalunya in 2012. The cyclist from the Australian team GreenEdge won in the first two stages, in Calella after a breakaway and in Girona sprinting away from the leaders’ group. The third stage, ending in Port-Ainé, after passing through Coubet, Toses and Cantó, was shortened halfway up the climb to Cantó on account of the adverse weather conditions the riders were enduring. The stage times did not count for the general classification and this meant Albasini could comfortably hold on to the leading position in the race until the end of the "Volta".
In the stage that arrived into Ascó, won by Urán, the leader’s main rivals unsuccessfully tried to leave him behind on the climb to Paumeres, as occurred in the Manresa stage won by the Frenchman Simon, on the climb to Montserrat.
The only stage in which Albasini lost time was the arrival into Badalona where Samuel Sánchez surprised the peloton by winning the stage and taking two seconds from the leader, not enough time to win the "Volta". The last stage, arriving into Sarrià, and a new victory for the Frenchman Simon, was a nail-biting stage and Sánchez made another attempt in Vallvidrera.
Little did Albasini know that the Calella victory would mean a final victory in the "Volta". He was joined on the podium by Samuel Sánchez, from the Euskaltel-Euskadi team, and the Belgian Jurgden Van den Broek from the Lotto-Belisol team.

92a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Michael Albasini / Samuel Sánchez / Jürgen Van den Broeck

2013

The Irishman Daniel Martin (Garmin Sharp) won the 93rd edition of the "Volta" Ciclista a Catalunya with a 17-second advantage over Joaquim Rodríguez (Team Katusha) and 34 seconds over Michele Scarponi (Lampre-Merida).
The three riders on the final podium were part of a group of 13 riders who broke away on the Collsacreu climb in the last kilometres of the first stage, starting and finishing in Calella. The control of the Sky Procycling team, with their group leader Bradley Wiggins at the front, made a first selection in the race. The Belgian Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) won the first stage.
As occurred last year with the Swiss Michael Albasini, the Belgian Meersman won the second stage wearing the leader’s jersey. In a flat stage between Girona and Banyoles, the Belgian was once again the fastest in the sprint.
In the third stage, arriving into Vallter 2000, the Movistar Team took the stage victory, with the Colombian Nairo Quintana, and the leading position in the race, with Alejandro Valverde.
Valverde soon lost the leader’s jersey, when in the queen stage he fell during the descent to La Seu d’Urgell, forcing him to pull out of the race. The stage winner, the Irishman Dan Martin, emerged from a breakaway group of 23 riders, and he went on to take the lead, with a ten-second advantage over Purito Rodríguez.
The next two stages, finishing in Lleida and Valls, ended with sprints, with victories by François Parisien (Team Argos-Shimano) and Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge) respectively. The leader Martin managed to increase his advantage by seven seconds by winning two intermediate sprints.
The last stage, with the final circuit in Montjuïc, kept the fans on the edge until the very last minute. The Italian Michele Scarponi broke away with three other riders and for several kilometres was the virtual leader. In the end, the breakaway group helped him to achieve third position in the general classification. One of the breakaway riders, the Belgian Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil-DCM), won the final stage.

93a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Dan Martin / Joaquim Rodríguez / Michelle Scarponi

2014

Joaquim “Purito” Rodríguez (Katusha) was the winner of the 94th "Volta" a Catalunya, one of the most outstanding editions in the history of the race in terms of participation, since the first four riders classified from the Tour de France were on the starting line in Calella. And one of those four, the Catalan Joaquim Rodríguez, took the trophy home.
The race started with two mass arrivals, in Calella and Girona, won by the Slovenian Luka Mezgec (Giant-Shimano). Mezgec had to conquer the summit of Collsacreu in the initial stage, where despite movement on the descent, there was no breakaway group like in last year’s race. However, on the way to Girona, the rain was the main obstacle for the large group, which arrived together at the finish line, despite Thomas Voeckler’s (Europcar) attempt at making a solo breakaway.
The mountains took centre stage on the third day, with the final stage in La Molina. This section ended up being decisive in the final stages of the race. “Purito” positioned himself as leader there, responding in the last kilometre to an attack by Chris Froome (Sky). The advantage he gained there was not beaten by any of his direct rivals in the later stages.
Not even the queen stage, which finished in Vallter 2000 with a gruelling route and snow during the final ascent, made the leader suffer. The US rider Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) won the stage, positioning himself as third in the general classification, ahead of the Frenchman Romain Bardet, and Alberto Contador (Saxo-Tinkoff), second in the general classification, only recovered one second.
The fifth stage, which finished in Valls, was the last mass finish, and once again the winner was an overjoyed Mezgec, who kept the large group at bay despite the considerable amount of movement among riders aspiring to win the general classification who met on the Coll de Lilla, ten kilometres from the finish line.
However, breakaways were the protagonists of the last two stages. Stef Clement (Belkin), final winner of the mountain classification, left behind a group of nine cyclists with an effective attack in the last kilometre in Vilanova i La Geltrú. And Lieuwe Westra (Astana) was the solo winner in Barcelona after eight laps around Montjuïc, while the favourites attempted attacks under the rain, but ended up arriving together.
This was Rodríguez’s second "Volta" a Catalunya win after the 2010 edition, when he became the first Catalan to take home the trophy in the general classification since Pepe Recio in 1983. The German Michel Koch (Cannondale) took home the Miquel Poblet trophy and the intermediate sprints classification thanks to three breakaways, and Garmin-Sharp won the team classification.

94a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Joaquim Rodríguez / Alberto Contador / Tejay Van Garderen

2015

The Australian Richie Porte (Sky) has been the final winner of the 95th "Volta" a Catalunya, which again has had a very tight resolution in the final day, which has finished Barcelona with eight laps in the Montjuic circuit. Porte finished just 4 seconds ahead of Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), who finished a brilliant "Volta" with a third stage win, and with 5 seconds over the Italian Domenico Pozzovivo (Ag2r La Mondiale).

Te Volta started in Calella with a victory for the polish Maciej Paterski, while in the second stage the main favourites started to move. Alejandro Valverde triumphed in Olot, Valls and Barcelona, while other cyclists like Domenico Pozzovivo, in Girona, and Tejay Van Garderen, in La Molina, were also able to celebrate a victory.

The Volta finished with a prestigious and high level winner among its participants.

95a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Richi Porte / Alejandro Valverde / Domenico Pozzovivo

2016

Nairo Quintana (Movistar) became the third Colombian to win the "Volta" after Álvaro Mejía (1993) and Hernán Buenahora (1998) and, despite not being able to decorate the victory with any stage win, he got it from way fully deserved.

The great dominator of the massive arrivals the first two stages was the Frenchman of Cofidis Nacer Bouhanni, who won in Calella and Olot. The mountain arrived in the third stage, with victory in the Molina of the Irishman Dan Martin - winner of the Volta 2013-.

The always combative Thomas de Gendt won the queen stage of Port Ainé, while the Dutch Wout Poels won in Valls. Quintana beat Alberto Contador and Dan Martin in a highly disputed edition with big names in the top positions.

96a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Nairo Quintana / Alberto Contador / Dan Martin

2017

The winner of the 97th edition of the "Volta" Ciclista Catalunya, the Murcian Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team), has finished in the best possible way a race that has dominated from head to toe, adding the stage victory in the seventh and last stage of the test. Valverde added in 2017 his second "Volta" after the 2009.

The Volta recovered for this edition number 97 a team time trial, which won the BMC in Banyoles, while sprinters such as Davide Cimolai (Calella), Nacer Bouhanni (Igualada) or Daryl Impey (Reus) could celebrate a stage victory.

The great dominator without any doubt was Alejandro Valverde, with three stage victories at La Molina, Lo Port and Barcelona, and was accompanied on the podium by Alberto Contador and the young Catalan from Vilanova i la Geltrú, Marc Soler.

97a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Alejandro Valverde / Alberto Contador / Marc Soler

2018

Alejandro Valverde Belmonte got his third Volta Ciclista a Catalunya in the 98th edition of the race, revalidating his victory of the previous year (2017), in addition to the triumph of 2009. Valverde added two stage victories more, in Valls and La Molina.

The Murcian initiated thus a fantastic season that finished with the triumph to the World Championship of Innsbruck, proclaiming himself for the first time World Champion.

It was a Volta of discoveries, like those of the Colombian sprinter Alvaro Hodeg (winner in Calella) or the German Max Schachmann (winner in Torrefarrera), but also of consolidated names such as Thomas De Gendt, with a spectacular triumph alone in Camprodon, or the Colombian Jarlinson Pantano, winner in Vielha, where the Volta had not finished for 25 years.

The last stage was for another name that would give much to talk in 2018: Simon Yates, who won in Barcelona and months later would win the Vuelta a España.

A spectacular Volta with a name for the story: Alejandro Valverde.

98a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Alejandro Valverde / Nairo Quintana / Pierre Roger Latour

2019

Miguel Ángel López (Astana) won the 99th ‘Volta’ a Catalunya, driven by his victory in the demanding fourth stage, that finished in the ski station of La Molina. The colombian cyclist was the most regular during the race, that in this edition had a great participation, with illustrious riders as Chris Froome (Sky), Egan Bernal (Sky), Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), Nairo Quintana (Movistar), Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) or Adam and Simon Yates (Mitchelton Scott).

It was the eighth consecutive year that the ‘Volta’ started with an inaugural stage whith a start and finish line in Calella. Thomas de Gendt (Lotto Soudal) won the first stage and the belgian was the first leader of the race. He defended this condition during the first three stages.

Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) also shone in this edition of the ‘Volta’. The australian won the second stage, between Mataró and Sant Feliu de Guíxols, after an intense fight with Valverde in the final sprint. In this day, Chris Froome, four-time winner of the Tour, suffered a drop that separated him of the fight for the overall ranking. Matthews repeated victory in the sixth stage, between Valls and Vila-seca, when he was the most strong in the final meters again.

The first contact with the high mountain came in the third stage, which connected Sant Feliu de Guíxols and Vallter 2000. Adam Yates (Mitchelton Scott) was the fastest rider in his duel with another favorites, such as Bernal, Quintana or ‘Superman’ López, in the hardest part of the port.

Miguel Ángel López showed his quality at the stage between Llanars and La Molina and the colombian got the leadership in the overall ranking. He kept up this condition the last three days, but he had to fight until the last day of the race. In the last stage, with the traditional circuit in the mountain of Montjuïc, in Barcelona, López had to respond to the attack of Adam Yates, that with the help of his brother Simon maintained the emotion until the finally of the ‘Volta’. Finally, Adam Yates finished second in the overall ranking, and Bernal, who four months later he would be the new winner of the Tour, completed the podium.

99a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Miguel Ángel López / Adam Yates /Egan Bernal

1911

From January 6th to 8th, the 1st edition of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya was held. It was the origin of the race that has been consolidated over time as one of the most important races with a long trajectory in the world.
The first edition consisted of 3 stages: Barcelona - Tarragona (97km), Tarragona - Lleida (111km) and Lleida - Barcelona (157km).
The victory was by the Tarragona cyclist Sebastià Masdeu, who won two of the three stages and beat Josep Magdalena and Vicente Blanco in the podiumum. A total of 34 cyclists took the start in the 1st edition of the race, which started on the day of Kings at the Passeig de la Reina Elisenda in Barcelona. Miquel Artimán, editor of cycling of Mundo Deportivo, under the umbrella of the Club Deportivo de Barcelona, were the promoters. The beginning of everything.

1a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Sebastià Masdeu / Josep Magdalena / Vicente Blanco

1912

The second edition of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya was held on April 6th, 7th and 8th, with three stages: Barcelona - Manresa (127km), Manresa - Lleida (128km) and Lleida - Barcelona (171km), and had an absolute protagonism of Josep Magdalena, who won the three stages, demonstrating their excellent conditions in all areas.
The race finished in the Nou Velòdrom of the Cyclist Club Sants and had a great following among the fans, who followed with devotion the evolutions of the cyclists to the "Volta".

2a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Josep Magdalena / Joaquim Martí / Antonio Crespo

1913

With the 3rd edition of the Volta there was a new change of dates, from January to April and from April to September, on days 6th, 7th and 8th. The Volta celebrated its 3rd edition and did it in three stages: Barcelona - Tarragona - Lleida (190km), Lleida-Manresa (128km) and Manresa - Terrassa - Barcelona (130km).
Joan Martí, born in La Garriga, was the final winner of this 3rd edition ahead of Antoni Crespo and Guillermo Antón.

3a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Juan Martí / Antonio Crespo / Guillermo Antón

1920

Until 1920 the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya did not held the the 4th edition. The Volta stopped its activity because of the dispute of the 1st World War that devastated Europe. The return of the Volta was strong, with 5 stages and a clear dominator, the Frenchman José Pelletier, who won four stages and the general.

4a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: José Pelletier / José Nat / Jaime Janer

1923

Unió Esportiva de Sants, born in 1922 from the merger of several sports entities in the neighborhood of Sants, took the reins of the organization of the Volta through its cycling section from 1923.
The fifth edition of the race was held from May 31th to June 3th with four stages, and the French were the dominators. Maurice Ville won three stages and the overall, and Pelletier, winner of the 1920 edition, won the remaining stage.
The "Volta" started a new period under the organization of the UE Sants.

5a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Maurice Ville / José Pelletier / José Nat

1924

With only Spanish participants, the 1924 edition consisted of 4 stages and was won by Mucio Miquel ahead of Teodoro Monteys and Victorino Otero.
The stages were the following: Barcelona - Figueres (184km), Figueres - Vic (178km), Vic - Reus (188km) and Reus - Barcelona (110km).

6a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Muç Miquel / Teodoro Monteys / Victorino Otero

1925

Barcelona's Mucio Miquel won for the second consecutive year the race, in the 7th Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, which was held from 21th to 24th May, 1925. La Volta returned to the five stages, with start and finish in Barcelona.
The stages were Barcelona - Figueres (196km), Figueres - Vic (120km), Vic - Igualada (88km), Igualada - Reus (191km) and Reus - Barcelona (116 km).
The final podiumum was for Mucio Miquel, with Barcelona Jaume Janer in second position and winner of three stages and Teodoro Monteys, third.

7a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Muç Miquel / Jaume Janer / Teodoro Monteys

1926

The 8th Volta Ciclista a Catalunya was held on new dates, from August 22th to 29th, and for the first time in six stages. The race returned to be international after several years where the participation of cyclists abroad Spain was not allowed.
This fact was clearly seen on the podiumum and stage victories: Frenchman Victor Fontan was the winner, ahead Mucio Miquel and a young Mariano Cañardo, who for the first time was seen in the Volta.

8a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Victor Fontan / Muç Miquel / Mariano Cañardo

1927

The 9th Volta Ciclista a Catalunya was extended to eight stages, from August 28th to September 4th, with a significant foreign participation.
The French cyclists won all the stages, with different riders like Maurice Ville, LeDrogo, Cuvelier or again Victor Fontan, who took the overall standings ahead of Mariano Cañardo, who proved for the second year in a row that he could be a “Volta-man".

9a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Victor Fontan / Mariano Cañardo / Georges Cuvelier

1928

As interest in the Volta grew, the organization was committed to organize a bigger race. In the 10th edition, the 9 stages were reached, with a start and finish in Barcelona, and a presence throughout the Catalan territory.
The race lived in 1928 the first of the seven victories that Mariano Cañardo achieved. The Olite cyclist, resident in Catalonia, began his legend winning three stages and the general classification.
An idol was born in the "Volta": Mariano Cañardo, who overcame the double winner of the Volta Mucio Miquel and Julio Borràs. In addition, the Citroën vehicle brand entered to sponsor the Grand Prix of the race.

10a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Mariano Cañardo / Muç Miquel / Julio Borràs

1929

With seven stages and the traditional dates of September, from September 8th to 15th, the Volta faced its 11th edition. Despite the emergence of the Belgian Jean Aerts, who won 5 of the 7 stages, Mariano Cañardo consolidated his second triumph to the general with a stage victory in Gironella on the sixth stage. La Volta finished at the Montjuïc Stadium, which was recently opened.

11a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Mariano Cañardo / Jean Aerts / Arturo Bresciani

1930

The Volta Ciclista a Catalunya of 1930 was held from 7th to 14th September in 7 stages, and for the third consecutive year crowned Mariano Cañardo as champion.
The Italian Giuseppe Pancera won three stage victories, and the podiumum was completed by Frenchman Marcel Maurel, 22 minutes more than Cañardo, and Ricardo Montero, a circumstance that demonstrated the superiority of Cañardo, who won the last stage on Montjuïc with a large audience.

12a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Mariano Cañardo / Marcel Maurel / Ricardo Montero

1951

The 31st edition of the Volta began with several novelties. The incorporation of the newspaper Mundo Deportivo as an official newspaper was a fact, while the first stage was not made from the traditional Montjuïc circuit, but from Sant Esteve de Sesrovires, in the Canals and Noviola cellars.
In addition, the race was disputed in 12 stages, and the participation of 77 riders was recorded. The final triumph was for the Italian Primo Volpi, ahead of Francesc Masip and Manolo Rodríguez.

31a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Primo Volpi / Francesc Masip / Manolo Rodríguez

1952

The 32nd edition marked the first absolute victory in the Volta for the Montcada and Reixach Miquel Poblet cyclist, despite the large foreign participation that was registered. The Volta was held in 10 stages and started again at the Circuit de Montjuic.
Poblet took advantage of his characteristics of sprinter to prevail in three stages and add bonuses that gave him his first Volta, ahead of the Italian Adolfo Grosso and Josep Serra.

32a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Miquel Poblet / Adolfo Grosso / Josep Serra

1953

The Volta of 1953 was disputed by regional teams, with 60 cyclists representing their territories and with foreign participants from Italy, Germany and Belgium. The victory was for the Valencia cyclist Salvador Botella, who surpassed Francesc Masip and Josep Serra, habitual in the first positions of the Volta.
The GP of the Mountain was won for Federico Martín Bahamontes, while Miquel Poblet added two more stage victories.

33a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Salvador Botella / Francesc Masip / Josep Serra

1954

The Volta returned in its 34th edition to the commercial teams and gathered up to 94 riders, and the absolute triumph was for the Italian Walter Serena, who took advantage of his great potential as a time trialist to prevail in the general.
Miquel Poblet, third classified and with the colors of the RCDE Espanyol, won 4 stages, the last three consecutively, demonstrating that was an idol for the fans and a stellar cyclist.

34a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Walter Serena / Albert Sant / Miquel Poblet

1955

The Volta of 1955 started in Sabadell, with a 100km stage with a finish at Tibidabo. The absolute winner of this 35th edition was José Gómez de Moral, with great superiority ahead Gabriel Company and Emilio Rodríguez.
Bahamontes, one of the big favorites, won the stage in Barcelona on the last day, and finished in the fifth position on the overall standings.

35a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: José Gómez del Moral / Gabriel Company / Emilio Rodríguez

1956

From September 2nd to 9th, 1956, the Volta celebrated its 36th edition with 82 cyclists. Miquel Poblet, after a year of absence, came back with strength and won up to 3 stages, in an edition in which the victory was for Aniceto Utset, who knew how to hold the first position despite not winning any stage.
The podiumum was completed by Vicente Itural and Francesc Masip, with Poblet in fourth place.

36a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Aniceto Utset / Vicente Iturat / Francesc Masip

1957

The Volta of 1957, which was played from September 1st to 8th with 10 stages, was presented with a duel between Jesús Loroño and Federico Martín Bahamontes, who had previously given a great show in the Vuelta a España.
The absolute triumph was for Loroño, who dominated with authority a fantastic year and managed to add to his great track record the 37th Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. Bahamontes suffered many mechanical problems and lost all options in the eighth stage.

37a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Jesús Loroño / Salvador Botella / René Marigil

1958

With 89 cyclists, the Volta Ciclista of 1958, in its 38th edition, saw the first triumph of a Belgian cyclist. The victory was by cyclist Richard Van Genechten, who overtook Gabriel Mas and Aniceto Utset on the final podiumum.
The race was held on the traditional dates of September and Miquel Poblet could add a new stage win in his record.

38a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Richard Van Genechten / Gabriel Mas / Aniceto Utset

1959

The 39th edition of the Volta was from September 6th to 13th with 9 stages through the Catalan territory. Poblet added three more stages to the list, with victories in the first, sixth and final stage, while the absolute triumph was by the Valencian Salvador Botella.
It was the second absolute victory for Botella, who was accompanied to the podiumum by Fernando Manzaneque and José Herrero Berrendero.
Manzaneque i José Herrero Berrendero.

39a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Salvador Botella / Fernando Manzaneque / José Herrero Berrendero

1960

The second absolute victory of Miquel Poblet in the Volta was in 1960. The Montcada and Reixach won eight years later his second Volta, ahead of José Pérez Francés, the great revelation of the race, and Emilio Cruz.
The race was held from September 4th to 11th with 69 cyclists representing teams of commercial brands. This was the opening of the 60’s for the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya with the victory of an idol like Poblet.

40a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Miquel Poblet/ José Pérez Francés / Emilio Cruz

1961

From September 17th to 24th, 1961, the 41st edition of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, as could be seen in the promotional poster. A special edition with the sponsorship of Wynn's, and in which a total of 70 cyclists participated.
The young Frenchman Henri Duez, of the Peugeot-BP team, surprised the home cyclists and won this Volta that celebrated the 50th anniversary (1911-1961) of life.
Jorge Nicolau and Juan Manuel Menéndez completed the podiumum in the 1961 edition, which go through 9 stages.

41a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Henri Duez / Jorge Nicolau / Juan Manuel Menéndez

1962

The Volta Ciclista a Catalunya went ahead despite the economic difficulties and the 1962 edition, the 42nd of its history, had 81 cyclists ready to give a show on the Catalan roads, with the Italian team Ignis as the only foreigner.
The victory was for the Mallorcan Antoni Karmany, of the KAS, who beat his teammate Manuel Martín Piñera and Ginés Garcia.
A 58km time trial between Girona and Palafrugell, won by Pérez Francés, was decisive for Karmany's victory.

42a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Antonio Karmany / Manuel Martín Piñera / Ginés García

1963

The 43rd edition of the Volta was for another Frenchman, Joseph Novales, even though he was born in Huesca. The foreign participation was remarkable this time, with Italian, French and Belgian runners, and good national stars like Bahamontes or Perez Francés, in addition of last year winner, Karmany.
Novales, who made a difference of more than 5 minutes to his rivals Angelino Soler and Antonio Suárez, won a stage and defended his leadership from the third stage, finished in Lloret de Mar.

43a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Joseph Novales / Angelino Soler / Antonio Suárez

1964

The town of Castelldefels was the starting point of the 1964 Volta, with a 69km stage with a final in Barcelona in which the Italian Primo Nardello won the sprint. The 44th edition of the Volta was very open, with 76 runners who took the start.
The Frenchman Joseph Carrara got an advantage over 15 minutes in a flight in the fourth stage and managed his income. The podiumum was completed by the Italian Pasquale Fabbri and José Maria Errandonea.

44a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Joseph Carrara / Pasquale Fabbri / José Maria Errandonea

1965

The Volta Ciclista a Catalunya of 1965 started with a time trial stage in Tortosa, and with the KAS favoritism. 8 stages between September 12th and 19th that gathered 76 cyclists.
The winner of the general classification was Antonio Gómez de Moral, brother of the winner of 1955, José Gómez de Moral. His teammate Carlos Echevarría KAS was second, and the Italian Roberto Poggiali, was third.

45a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Antonio Gómez del Moral / Carlos Echevarría / Roberto Poggiali

1966

The Volta Ciclista a Catalunya give a step forward in its 46th edition, especially in foreign participation. Names such as the mythical Jacques Anquetil, Paul Gutty, the Belgian Walter Godefroot and the Swiss Louis Pfenninger, gave prestige to the Catalan race.
The triumph was for the Dutchman Arie Den Hartog, ahead of the French Jaques Anquetil and Paul Gutty.
One of the main protagonists of this edition was the Belgian Godefroot, who won up to 4 stages in a Volta that started in Sabadell.

46a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Arie Den Hartog / Jacques Anquetil / Paul Gutty

1967

The 1967 Volta, in its 47th edition, had an illustrious winner. The French Jacques Anquetil, winner of 5 Tours, 2 Giros and a Vuelta, completed his impressive track record with a Volta at the end of his career.
The Frenchman, who represented the BIC team, overcame his rival of the KAS Antonio Gómez de Moral and the Swiss Robert Hagmann in an edition to remember that started with a stage between Tortosa and Terrassa and finished in a stage between L’Estartit and Castelldefels.

47a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Jacques Anquetil / Antonio Gómez del Moral / Robert Hagmann

1968

Probably the 48th edition of the Volta is one of the most remembered in its history due to the excellent participation, and the battle between the favourites. Mythical names of cycling like Eddy Merckx, Felice Gimondi and Luis Ocaña disputed the victory.
The Cannibal Eddy Merckx, who during his career won 5 Tours, 5 Giro, 1 Vuelta and was three times World champion, also left his name in the track record of the Volta, when he was only 23 years old.
The podiumum was the following: Eddy Merckx, Felice Gimondi and Giancarlo Ferretti, with Ocaña on the fourth position. One of the best "Volta" in history with a memorable winner. It was held from September 8th to 15th with 62 cyclists.

48a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Eddy Merckx / Felice Gimondi / Giancarlo Ferretti

1969

Starting in Figueres, the Volta of 1969 had one of the most exciting editions in history, since Mariano Díaz, of the Fagor team, won by only 8 seconds against Franco Bitossi (Filotex) and 27 seconds over Jesús Manzaneque ( La Casera - Bahamontes), third classified.
An edition without cyclists of as much renown as the previous one, but that was very exciting because of the uncertainty in the final triumph. The course ended in Manresa on September 16th with a stage victory by Italian Bitossi, who won the last two stages consecutively.

49a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Mariano Díaz / Franco BItossi / Jesús Manzaneque

1970

The decade of the 70s was inaugurated with the 50th edition of the Volta, the Golden weddings of the Catalan event, the third oldest stage race in the world after the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia. To celebrate this anniversary the Volta had up to 11 stages, with presence throughout the territory (Manresa, Tarragona, Lleida, Vielha e Mijaran, Puigcerdà, Girona, and final in Barcelona, among many other cities).
Franco Bitossi, the Italian who had already finished second in the previous edition, had the honor of winning this Volta. The podiumum was completed by Francisco Galdós and the French Bernard Labourdette., With Luis Ocaña in the tenth position.

50a edition Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Franco Bitossi / Francisco Galdós / Bernard Labourdette

2021

The 100th edition of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya had to wait another year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but its celebration in 2021 was a complete success of participation and organization, with illustrious winners who dignified the race.

Starting in Calella, the Volta began with the surprise victory of young Danish Andreas Kron (Lotto Soudal), who prevailed in a small group breakaway. The Volta recovered in the centenary of editions an individual time trial through the Pla de l'Estany, where INEOS showed its potential and the world champion of the discipline Rohan Dennis took the victory.

Once the mountain arrived, the domain of INEOS continued. Adam Yates repeated his victory and took the lead of the race in Vallter 2000, while on arrival at Port Ainé, the Colombian Esteban Chaves claimed himself with a triumph.

Manresa was also the protagonist of the centennial edition with a beautiful stage that has Montserrat as a great incentive, and the German Lennard Kämna won alone. In the sixth stage, starting in Tarragona and finishing in Mataró, the three-time world champion Peter Sagan won a magnificent sprint victory, in his first participation in the Volta.

The 100th edition finished once again in Barcelona, ​​where the incombustible Thomas de Gendt added another solo triumph in la Volta. The general was clearly dominated by INEOS Grenadiers, on a historic podium with three representatives of their team. The glory of this special edition was for the British Adam Yates, accompanied by the Australian Richie Porte and the Welshman Geraint Thomas.

An unforgettable edition to commemorate 100 legendary races!

100a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya  

Podi: Adam Yates / Richie Porte / Geraint Thomas

2022

The 101st edition of the Volta a Catalunya started with the novelty of the start from Sant Feliu de Guíxols after nine consecutive editions starting from Calella. Australian Michael Matthews was the first leader of the race, winning the sprint in the same finish where he had already triumphed in 2019, while his teammate Kaden Groves was the fastest in the second stage, a special day that started from L'Escala for the first time in the history of the Volta and finished in Perpignan 67 years after the last visit of the race.

The mountain arrived in the third stage between Perpinyà and La Molina, where Australian Ben O'Connor was able to take the lead after winning the stage alone. The situation changed in the fourth stage, starting in La Seu d'Urgell and finishing in the resort of Boí Taüll, where Joao Almeida won ahead of Colombian Nairo Quintana, who took the lead tied on time with the Portuguese rider. This meant that a bonus in an intermediate sprint on the fifth stage, which linked Pobla de Segur and Vilanova i la Geltrú, allowed Almeida to dress as leader at the end of a day decided by a sprint, where the young Briton Ethan Vernon won.

It seemed that this tight duel between Almeida and Quintana could be the main focus of the last days of the race, but everything changed in the sixth stage on the Costa Daurada, with a hilly route between Salou and Cambrils on a rainy day that allowed Richard Carapaz and Sergio Higuita to break the race from the first climb of the day, the Coll de les Llebres-Mussara. Carapaz, the reigning Olympic champion, took the stage victory, while Higuita took the lead with the last stage to go. The finish in Barcelona, with the six climbs at the Castell de Montjuïc as the main attraction, once again offered a beautiful battle, but in the end a reduced group fought for the stage victory, with the Italian Andrea Bagioli as the winner, while Higuita, Carapaz and Almeida climbed onto the final podium of the general classification, which for the fifth time in history proclaimed the victory of a Colombian cyclist.

101a Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Podium: Sergio Higuita / Richard Carapaz / Joao Almeida