For a few weeks now we have known the official route of this Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2023, which will take place the first week of February. For pedal lovers, this race is essential since it begins the stage of cycling in Spain. Cycling, in Spain, is one of the great sports and one of the most practiced over the years. Around the country, many athletes enjoy it, both watching it and practicing it. With the beginning of the year comes the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, with new challenges and a new beginning of cycling in our country.
How is this new career presented? On January 14, the route that the participants were going to travel and its stages were officially released. It will take place the first week of February, more specifically from the 1st to the 5th. In this Volta 2023, the protagonist will once again be the mountains, as it does not have the individual or team time trial and together with the presence of the mountain passes, in each stage, make the race a great opportunity for climbers.
Route and stages
The race will be held in five stages, distributed among different locations in the Valencian Community, starting in Orihuela and ending in the city of Valencia. And what characterizes each stage?
Stage 1
The first stage of this race begins in Orihuela and ends in Altea, around 189.4 kilometers. It has two mountain passes: Coll de Rates and Bernia, which produce an increase in difficulty at the time of the mass arrival at the sprint. Before reaching the finish line in the province of Alicante they will have to pass through these ports, the first 60 km away and the second 46.1 km from the finish. In addition to the kilometers that separate the start from the finish line, its great challenge is the two demanding and meticulous climbs.
Stage 2
The second stage is undoubtedly full of ups and downs, as it has a total of 7 mountain passes. Runners are going to have to prepare their legs when the season has just started. These mountain passes range from Maigmó, Benifallim, Cumbres del Sol to Alto de Pinos in Benissa, making up two of the third category, four of the second category, and one of the first category, ending in the Alto de Pinos in Benissa, an unprecedented ending. A territory created for climbers of 178.2 kilometers.
Stage 3
On February 3, the third stage will take place, which will go from Bétera to Sagunto covering 145.1 kilometers. This circuit has two mountain passes: Oronet and Garbí, classics in the world of cycling. This route is tagreat opportunity to look for an escape towards the yellow jersey. Although it may seem less difficult and in a well-known area, it is still a great mountain challenge to overcome.
Stage 4
This stage will cover the province of Castellón, from Burriana to Cueva Santa en Altura. Five mountain passes will be present: Aín, Collado de Ayódar, Torralba, Montemayor, and Cueva Santa. In addition, it is considered the queen stage of the edition, since the peaks they face are some of the most iconic in the Sierra de Espadán The end of this tour will be in front of the Holy Cave Sanctuary A race where they will have little time to recover their legs. There will be 181.6 kilometers of pure rivalry and racing, pure cycling in a Vuelta of this level.
Stage 5
The fifth and final stage of the race will take place in the province of Valencia, 93.2 kilometers that go from Paterna to the city of Valencia. This route has represented a change concerning previous editions, to maintain uncertainty regarding the classification. Although the start and finish maintain their original locations, in the middle of the route they have placed two tricky mountain passes: Oronet and La Frontera with a unique climb. Without a doubt, a stage that will mark excitement from the first moment, a unique and exciting Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana between the great mountains of the Community.
