Barcelona reaffirms its commitment to the Volta a Catalunya
February 7 th 2024 - 12:30 [GMT + 1]
The city of Barcelona will continue to be an emblem of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. After more than a hundred editions as a great protagonist of the route of the historic Catalan cycling race, the consistory has renewed for four years its commitment to the men's race, which has in Montjuïc one of the most iconic final stages of world cycling and will host the end of the first edition of the history of the women's stage race.
Barcelona and the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya go hand in hand since the first edition of the race, when on January 6th ,1911 the race started from the Catalan capital to finish the race three days later. Since then, the capital of Catalonia has been present in every one of the 102 editions of the cycling race, the oldest of the international cycling elite after the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia, and this year will continue to make history by hosting the finish of the last stage of the first edition of the women's stage race.
The Barcelona City Council and the race organizers have renewed their agreement for four years, which will last at least until 2027. With this agreement, the city of Barcelona will continue to host the end of the men's race, fully consolidated in the elite of world cycling in the UCI World Tour calendar, which this year will be held between March 18 and 24. For its part, the Catalan capital will also host in 2024 the end of the first edition of the women's stage race, a historic edition to be held between 7 and 9 June.
This 2024 will mark 70 editions in which Barcelona has been the starting or finishing point of the Volta, being by far its most visited venue. Its finish in Montjuïc is uninterruptedly since 2013 the closing of the race, consolidated as one of the most emblematic scenarios of world cycling, for its sporting potential and public demonstrated year after year, as well as its role in the history of cycling and the Volta. The magical mountain has hosted two World Cycling Championships, and its role in the Volta has been continuous over the years, especially between the 40s and 60s, when it opened and closed the route of the race and hosted up to three stages in one edition, as in 1955.
Other places as emblematic of the city as Las Ramblas, Via Laietana or Plaça Catalunya have also been protagonists of the route of the Volta in the 80s and 90s, seeing great stars of world cycling win. In the modern era, reigning world champion Remco Evenepoel (2023), Alejandro Valverde (2015 and 2017) and Thomas De Gendt (2013 and 2021) have been some of the most important winners in Barcelona in recent years, all in the final stage on Montjuïc.
A history that will continue to write new pages with the women's race, which this 2024 will be held for the first time in history as a stage race, making a place in the international calendar with UCI 2.1 category. A large part of the best women's teams in the world will compete on the Catalan roads between June 7 and 9, and Barcelona will host the closing of the race in its final stage, as it does with the men's. The Catalan capital already hosted the first of four editions of the reVolta, the women's one-day race that the Volta a Catalunya launched in 2018. The first edition of the women's Volta Ciclista a Catalunya has the support of the Generalitat de Catalunya, through the program "Entre totes, tot", with which the Secretaria General de l'Esport i l'Activitat Física, supports and promotes women's sport in our country.
"Our city will vibrate again this 2024 with the best cycling and with the spectacle of the emblematic climb to Montjuïc of the Volta a Catalunya. Barcelona renews this commitment with the Catalan race that, in addition, this year will also fill our streets with the best cyclists in the women's race. Two fantastic opportunities for fans to enjoy this sporting spectacle," said David Escudé, Councillor for Sports of the Barcelona City Council.
"Barcelona is a totally essential partner to make the Volta a Catalunya a formula for success. The city is a symbol at international level and its most emblematic scenarios have closely experienced our race throughout more than 100 editions. We are proud to be able to continue carrying a world-class sporting event such as the Volta in Barcelona, especially adding this year the women's edition. For us it is very important to bring the sport closer to the fans, and Barcelona offers us a unique opportunity to do so, also with a guarantee of great sporting level", says Rubèn Peris, president of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Associació Esportiva.
Thus, Barcelona will vibrate with the Volta a Catalunya for both men and women this 2024 with Sundays March 24 and June 9 as dates. The best world cycling will continue to have the city of Barcelona as a protagonist, hosting a world-class sporting event with a long tradition that year after year offers its spectacle through the streets of the city.
