La Molina and Vallter, top-level mountains for the Volta 2023

June 30 ^th 2022 - 10:00

The sky mountain resorts of La Molina and Vallter will be two stage finishes in the 102nd edition of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, which will take place from 20 to 26 March 2023. Two mountain passes that are already a reference in the recent history of the race and that offer a great sporting spectacle.

The sky resort of La Molina, located in the municipality of Alp in the Cerdanya region, has been regular at the Volta since it first arrived in 2014. With 12,1km, an average slope of 4,4% and maximum gradient of 15%, La Molina has been the scene of up to 7 finishes of the Volta, all in this last decade. The Australian Ben O'Connor (2022), the Colombian Miguel Ángel López (2019), the Spanish Alejandro Valverde (2018 and 2017), the Irish Dan Martin (2016), the American Tejay Van Garderen (2015) and the Catalan Joaquim Rodríguez (2014) are the riders who have raised their arms in the Pyrenean resort of La Cerdanya.

On the other hand, Vallter will be the other Pyrenean finish of the Volta 2023. A sky resort that is part of the municipality of Setcases and that has been key to understanding the recent history of the Volta as it is where several general classification winners have based their victory.

The British Adam Yates has been the winner on the last two occasions that Vallter has been climbed (2021 and 2019), but renowned riders such as Tejay Van Garderen (2014, the only one to have done it in both resorts), the Colombian Nairo Quintana (2013), and decades before, the Swiss Tony Rominger (1992) and the Spanish Juan Fernández (1986), have also won.

Vallter, a special category mountain pass that is also ideal for cycle-tourism, is the top of Catalonia's cycling itinerary with the finish at 2,150 meters and 11,2km length with an average slope of 7,6% and a maximum gradient of 18%. A hard mountain pass that can decisively determine the general classification of the Volta.

The president of FGC, Marta Subirà, said that "once again, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat reaffirms its commitment to the territory and to the promotion of competitive sport by collaborating with a great event such as the Volta. A great showcase for the international projection of the Pyrenees. The Volta is an institution and is a great opportunity to place Catalonia on the international sporting map". Subirà added that "cycling in the Pyrenees helps to do not seasonalise the activities of Ferrocarrils mountain resorts beyond the snow season and helps to diversify the offer and the uses of our facilities".

“In 2023, the Volta will have stage finishes in La Molina and Vallter, two mountain passes where we feel very comfortable, as they have always offered a great spectacle with magnificent winners. We are sure that, once again, we will experience a great cycling festival, and for us it is a pleasure to continue the collaboration with the FGC mountain resorts", said the president of the Volta, Rubèn Peris.

The stage starts of the two Pyrenean stages, as well as the exact day of the race, will be determined once the 102nd edition of the Volta is defined.

Pictures of the last two finishes in La Molina and Vallter - 2022, victory of Ben O'Connor (AG2R Citroën Team) and Vallter 2021 victory of Adam Yates. Arxiu Volta.