It was just announced that Barcelona will be the starting point of Vuelta a España 2023. It will be a team time trial into the city, and a second stage in the mountains around Barcelona.
The last time La Vuelta arrived at Barcelona was in 2012, stage Andorra-Barcelona with victory for the Belgian Philippe Gilbert ahead of the catalan Joaquim Rodriguez (picture on the left). The usual ending point of the stages in Barcelona is Montjuic, the mountain where the Olimpic Stadium is (Olympics were in 1992).
Only once so far Barcelona was the starting point of La Vuelta a España. It was in the remote 1962 with the stage Barcelona-Barcelona, which winner was the basque Anton Barrutia.
On the other hand, Barcelona also made part of the most important Grand Tour: Le Tour de France. Barcelona hosted the Tour in 1957, 1965 and was stage ending in the Tour de France 2009 in the stage Girona-Barcelona. The winner was Thor Hushovd.
Of course, Barcelona is usually the ending point of the local professional race Volta a Catalunya. This race, by the way, celebrated recently its 100th edition.
Then, this is big news for the Barcelona cycling community, hosting the start of Vuelta a España 2023. It will be a nice opportunity to show the world what our city has to offer to the cycling fans!
