The world’s best cyclists - Vingegaard, Evenepoel, Ayuso and Roglic, to name a few – will be taking part in the 78th edition of La Vuelta 23, setting off from Barcelona on 26 August. The first stage is a team time trial with the cyclists following a route around the city’s most iconic points. Barcelona will also be playing host to the final part of the second stage, which sets off from Mataró and finishes at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium on 27 August. A team presentation gala, open to all city residents, will be held before the start of the race, on Thursday, 24 August, in Plaça del Mar.
Team presentation gala on Thursday, 24 August
Plaça del Mar in La Barceloneta will be playing host to the presentation gala for the 22 cycling teams taking part in the 78th edition of La Vuelta. This is a big event open to the city’s residents.
There will be entertainment with music and draws before the presentation, from 6.30 pm on. The team presentation gala will start at 8 pm, featuring internationally renowned cyclists, including this year’s champion of the Tour de France, Jonas Vingegaard, the winner of the 2022 La Vuelta and 2022 UCI World Road Race Championships, Remco Evenepoel, and up-and-coming cyclists such as the Catalan Juan Ayuso.
First leg: teams time trial, on Saturday, 26 August
The first team is expected to set off at 7.25 pm. It will set off from a structure put up on Somorrostro beach. The teams will cover a 14.8 km route through the city centre and finish in Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina.
Route: Somorrostro beach, Marina, Pl Voluntaris Olímpics, Marina, Ramon Turró, Sardenya, Pujades, Pg Pujades, Pg Lluís Companys, Pg Sant Joan, Casp, Lepant, Sancho de Ávila, Badajoz, av. Diagonal, Cristóbal de Moura, Bac de Roda, Guipúscoa, Aragó, Lepant, Mallorca, Roger de Llúria, Rosselló, Pg Gràcia, Aragó, Tarragona, Pl Espanya, Av Reina Maria Cristina.
There will be one-off restrictions and disruptions to mobility, starting at 5 am on Saturday, 26 August, with the route completely isolated from 2 pm on.
Once the route has been closed off, pedestrians will not be allowed to cross along their usual paths. Specific sign-posted paths will be established for crossing the area’s streets.
No parking in the route’s streets will be allowed from Friday, 25 August on. Any vehicle parked there during the assembly work will be removed by municipal tow.
Check out the full details of the disruptions to mobility at https://www.barcelona.cat/mobilitat/ca/afectacions-de-mobilitat-la-vuelta-23.
Second stage: Mataró-Barcelona, Sunday, 27 August
The second stage, 182 km long, will set off from Mataró and finish at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium. The cyclists will enter the city along Gran Via and cover the last section of the stage on Montjuïc mountain. The first cyclists are expected to arrive in Barcelona from 4.30 pm on.
There will be disruptions to mobility starting at 10 am on Sunday, 27 August. The route for the stage will close to traffic from 3 pm on.
Vehicles will not be allowed to park within the route’s area as of Saturday, 26 August. Any vehicle parked there during the assembly work will be removed.
Route: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, Pl Espanya, Av Reina Maria Cristina, Av Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, Polvorí, La Foixarda tunnel, Camí de la Foixarda, Foixarda, Av Montanyans, Mirador del Palau Nacional, Pg Santa Madrona, Av Miramar, Torreforta, Ctra Montjuïc, Castell, Pg Migdia, Foc, Jocs del 92, Av Estadi.
Check out the disruptions to mobility at https://www.barcelona.cat/mobilitat/ca/afectacions-de-mobilitat-la-vuelta-23.
Parc Vuelta: a grand celebration of cycling
The Parc Vuelta will be set up in Passeig de Lluís Companys over the weekend.
The Parc Vuelta offers a large space for cycling enthusiasts, with activities, workshops and shows for everybody. It will be open on Saturday and Sunday, from 3 pm to 8 pm.
Light projections at the Torre Glòries
The Torre Glòries is set to fill with light and colour with a special projection to celebrate the start of La Vuelta 23 from Barcelona. The projection can be seen on Thursday, 24 August, and on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 August, from 9 pm to midnight.