La Molina will host the first high mountain finish of the Volta
January 18 th 2024 - 11:15 [GMT + 1]
The Volta Ciclista a Catalunya will release UCI 2.1 category and will be held from one to three days and will have a stage finish in the mountain station of La Molina. Thus, the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya station will become the first stage finish of the women's race, which will be held from June 7 to 9, 2024.
La Volta Ciclista a Catalunya is unveiling the route of the next edition of the race. After being presented in society a few weeks ago and making the leap to the UCI 2.1 category, the organization has confirmed a high-altitude finish at the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) station in La Molina, which will be very attractive for all participating teams and cyclists, including some of the best teams in the world.
Thus, the first edition of the Volta a Catalunya will have a high mountain pass. It will be on Saturday, June 8, in a second stage that will take the cyclists to a climb of up to 1,690 meters of altitude. It will be, without a doubt, an exciting final stage, a demanding and high voltage second stage that will be key in the development of the race. FGC's commitment to the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya goes back a long way.
In the last decade the ascent to the mythical Pyrenean pass of Vallter, or the resorts of Port Ainé and La Molina, have been protagonists of high finishes in several editions of the race. A relationship with the Volta that has been maintained over the years, with great future projection. The men's race has visited the mountain resort of La Molina up to eight times, in which we have seen cyclists such as Alejandro Valverde crowned twice (2017 and 2018), Joaquim Rodríguez (2014), Tejay Van Garderen (2015), Dan Martin (2016), Miguel Ángel López (2019), Ben O'Connor (2022) and Remco Evenepoel in the last edition of the race. Next June we will know which cyclist will include his name in the golden book of the race, for the first time, as winner of this mountain stage.
Toni Segarra, president of FGC has confirmed that "from now on, our commitment to the Volta will go even further. FGC is a company that defines itself as an activist, and we also understand that activism in gender equality issues. We are firmly committed to more initiatives that help to put women's sport in its rightful place in full equality with men's sport. The women's Volta Ciclista a Catalunya is a clear and decisive initiative in this direction. You will always find us committed to all those proposals that contribute to equality".
Rubén Peris, general director of the Volta has celebrated the good predisposition of FGC to host stage finishes of the Volta; "The high finishes of the Volta are always one of the great attractions of the race, so we celebrate all the facilities that we have always found from FGC. We have witnessed great stages with historic finishes, which have made us enjoy the best cycling. Now, with the arrival of one of the stages of the women's race at La Molina, we are assured of a great show."
In less than three months, the 103rd edition of the Volta Ciclista Catalunya will celebrate two stage finishes in the FGC ski resorts of Port Ainé and Vallter. Two Pyrenean passes that will focus the sporting interest of the race, due to their hardness. Now, with the confirmation of La Molina as the stage finish of the women's race, the commitment of FGC with cycling in our country is reaffirmed.
The women's race will live, in 2024, three days of the best cycling in which it will cross much of the Catalan territory. Now, with the confirmation of a day with a high finish, the Volta Ciclista Catalunya ensures a prestigious edition, with luxury stages and the presence of some of the best teams in the world.
Picture: Rubèn Peris and Toni Segarra
