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Where to watch the Vuelta this weekend
01/09/2023
NOW into its seventh stage and a new calendar month, Spain's version of the Tour de France concludes its only incursion into coastal towns on Sunday,
The last of the 'Big Three' international cycling tournaments – after the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia – the Vuelta a España hit the Mediterranean seaboard on Tuesday (August 29), when the fourth stage took it from the principality of Andorra, a different country altogether, down to Tarragona, southern Catalunya.
Stage five began at the Mediaeval inland town of Morella in northern Castellón province, finalising in the coastal town of Burriana, via Onda, Nules and La Vall d'Uixó.
Australia's Kaden Groves won both these stages, with the first three being won by Italy's Lorenzo Milesi, Denmark's Andreas Kron, and Belgium's Remco Evenepoel, in that order.
Stage six continued through southern inland Castellón province, briefly diverting into that of Teruel in the neighbouring land-locked region of Aragón, covering Segorbe and Montanejos in the former and Mora de Rubielos and Sarrión in the latter, finalising at the astrophysical observatory in Javalambre, Teruel, a ski resort between December and March and a high-altitude (1,966 metres) hikers retreat the rest of the year.
Victory for stage six went to the USA's Sepp Kuss.
Stage seven has now left the western Valencia-province wine-region town of Utiel, and is expected to reach the province's southernmost coastal town, Oliva, at around 17.30 today (Friday, September 1).
Anyone who lives in a town the Vuelta is due to cross through should pay very close attention to local news, since road closures and parking restrictions will be significant. Not only will the route itself be shut to traffic and parking prohibited, but a much wider area, typically up to a half-kilometre radius of the route, is likely to be in the same situation: Cyclists' support teams and the world's media will need to set up stations, meaning the actual roads used by the peloton are only a fraction of space that needs to be cleared. Restrictions normally continue for several hours after the race has already passed through, to allow for the huge supporting and filming crews to move on to the next venue.
Stage seven (Friday, September 1): Utiel to Oliva (Valencia)
Cyclists left the start of the stage in Utiel – close to the regional border of Castilla-La Mancha – at exactly 12.52, with 165 cyclists taking part in one of the few largely flat race days of the tournament. The 201-kilometre trek across the province of Valencia is mainly along town and city roads, predominantly with a sea view, and the second-longest stage of the 2023 Vuelta.
Given the high altitude of most of non-coastal mainland Spain, the route to Utiel's neighbouring wine capital, Requena, and then on to the rustic, attractive village of Chera sits at over 660 metres above sea level, with a dramatic drop to 153 metres by the time the peloton reaches Pedralba.
Town residents concerned about parking, traffic restrictions and finding a suitable spot to watch the competition should be aware that the event crosses through Cheste, home of the Ricardo Tormo Circuit used for the final MotoGP date of every season, and then Torrent, in the dead centre of the region.
They are expected to arrive at around 15.30, before heading to Valencia – Spain's third-largest metropolitan area and its second-biggest coastal city – moving in a southerly direction towards El Perelló beach.
From there, the rest of today's stage takes in the entire Valencia-province coast, just days after this popular summer 'staycation' belt will have seen a major tourist exodus.
Cullera, a tasteful high-rise holiday enclave popular for its vast urban beaches, Aquópolis water park and the huge Hollywood-style letters of its name emblazoned along the mountainside below its Mediaeval castle, the quaint, modern-looking coastal village of Xeraco and the so-called 'Playa de Madrid', Gandia Beach – several kilometres by road from the district capital town of Gandia itself – are a strategic point for those few holidaymakers left before schools go back to catch some highly-Instagrammable photos whilst sunning themselves on the sand.
From Gandia, the peloton heads for the modern, pastel-coloured beach village of Daimús – a summer destination of choice for French nationals in particular – before hitting La Safor county's second-largest town of Oliva.
Now right on the province border – around five kilometres from that of Alicante – riders will take a well-earned rest before tackling a much more mountainous, but equally coastal, stage the following day.
Anyone in the Oliva area should know that the main N-332 inter-provincial highway will be shut, with the parts spilling onto the Ronda Sur and the Paseo Gregori Maians being the final leg.
Also, the AP-7 motorway will be closed at exit 61 (Oliva-Pego) for 24 hours, with diversions set up.
The peloton are scheduled to reach Oliva at around 17.30, crossing the finishing line minutes later.
Stage eight (Saturday, September 2): Dénia to Xorret de Catí, Castalla (Alicante province)
Assuming all 165 cyclists complete stage seven, they will be setting off from the district capital of Dénia at approximately 12.55, covering several town-centre streets along an urban circuit of seven kilometres.
Now just finishing its summer holiday season – which is largely dominated by holiday-home owners – this lively beach town of around 45,000 inhabitants is likely to be calmer than it was a week ago, but residents should still be extra-vigilant to road closures and parking bans that stretch well beyond the roads used for the race itself.
Streets listed as being along the route include the main Marqués de Campo boulevard, the Miguel de Cervantes seafront esplanade, the central C/ Diana, C/ Patricio Ferrándiz, Avenida Joan Fuster, Avenida de Alicante, Avenida Montgó, Avenida Valencia, the Ronda Muralles around the base of Dénia's central castle, and the CV-730 regional highway.
The northern Alicante-province coast is a massively popular retirement spot for northern Europeans, especially those from Germany, The Netherlands and the UK, meaning stage eight is likely to see the most international on-site audiences of the entire Vuelta.
Following Dénia's built-up Las Marinas coast road, taking in over 20 kilometres of beaches, the race cuts through the village of Els Poblets before heading inland to Pego, where it is likely that residents from the huge hillside urbanisation of Monte Pego will make the event a day out. Again, they should be careful of parking restrictions, and be prepared for a lengthy walk from wherever they manage to leave their cars.
Here, spectators will catch a glimpse of the world's top cyclists along the C/ del Mar, C/ Murla, Avenida Fontilles, and the CV-712 regional highway.
After an arrival in Pego expected between approximately 13.30 and 13.40, the flat sprint of the past three days comes to an abrupt end: Competitors will now make their way into the mountains, covering some of the best-loved hiking and endurance-cycling routes in the north of the province.
One of these, and the nearest to Pego, is the Vall d'Ebo, a valley with a village of the same name, a trekking route known as Hell's Ravine (Barranc de l'Infern), some fascinating million-year-old caves discovered by a dog out on a walk and named after his owner, and mountain orchards with dry-stone steps, cherry and almond trees, and giddy heights. The scenery is spectacular, but although these rural, almost-untouched areas are barely 30 or 40 minutes by car from the nearest bustling, busy beach town, they are suffering from a population exodus that leaves them in danger of complete extinction within a generation or two. Events such as the Vuelta are key to bringing in visitors, as well as encouraging tourists who seek to following in the wheel-tracks of the crème of the cycling circuit on their own bikes.
In fact, cyclists from across the province are likely to be setting off early to reach the summits so they can watch their heroes in remote mountain zones that the average spectator cannot feasibly reach.
Tomorrow, they will pass by the above-mentioned caves – the Cova del Rull – en route to the next valley, the Vall d'Alcalà. The village of the same name is split into two hamlets, Alcalà de la Jovada and Beniaia, both of which will see the peloton ride through, reaching them at approximately 14.10.
They then continue deep into the mountains towards the tiny village of Tollos, taking them on an entirely land-locked and high-altitude journey with several mountain challenges of an average gradient of 5.6%.
Gradually working south-west, the peloton is set to cover the out-of-town lanes through Fageca, Quatretondeta, Gorga, Benilloba, Benifallim, Torre de les Maçanes, and the Carrasqueta mountain towards the historic toy-making towns of Ibi, Onil, and Castalla.
The latter, a very traditional and historic but surprisingly international town with a significant European expatriate community, is the last in the Comunidad Valenciana, but residents will probably not witness the teams cross the finishing line. The stage ends on the Xorret de Catí peak just outside Castalla, then riders check out for the rest of the day ahead of their Sunday start in the south-eastern region of Murcia.
Stage nine (Sunday, September 3): Cartagena to Caravaca de la Cruz (Murcia)
Competitors are scheduled to set off from the Naval city, with its beautifully-preserved Roman theatre, at 12.20. As Cartagena is the central hub of coastal satellite towns and urbanisations stretching down to La Manga del Mar Menor, this cross-regional tour is likely to be another with a highly-international audience: Northern Europeans are attracted to this warm Mediterranean coastal haven, especially golfers and those fond of spa breaks.
Set off early if you plan to catch the Vuelta departing, since the Alfonso XII esplanade in Cartagena port is certain to be packed, as cyclists will be signing autographs and a 'Vuelta fête' will be in place all day.
Cartagena city council says the best view for spectators is from the Muralla del Mar, or sea wall, near the Escalinata Real (literally, 'Royal Steps').
Teams will race along the C/ Real towards the C/ Alameda and the Plaza de España, then cover the Avenida Colón and Avenida Juan Carlos I.
They will leave the city via the Avenida San Juan Bosco, towards La Guía and La Aljorra, heading inland to the western limits of the Murcia Region.
Vuelta organisers say the two toughest points of stage nine will be the Alto de Caravaca incline, an entirely uphill trek lasting 7.5 kilometres which will tax cyclists to such a point that only a minority are expected to make it, and the Alto de la Perdiz, at 855 metres above sea level – bearing in mind that they will be starting from a coastal city at barely 10 metres in altitude.
Once west of Cartagena, residents in Fuente Álamo, Mula, Calasparra and Cehegín should get at least a passing glance of the competition. The group will head for the 'Holy City' of Caravaca via the old Murcia city road, flanked by enormous banana trees, entering Caravaca de la Cruz via the Avenida Maruja Garrido, Avenida la Corredera, Avenida del Templete, and Avenida de los Andenes.
The descent, in the direction of La Barquilla, close to Collado de la Cruz, begins at the service station on the Moratalla road.
A supremely spiritual moment awaits those who make it to the finishing line: It will be close to where, according to legend, parts of the original cross Jesus Christ was crucified on were found, making Caravaca de la Cruz one of the world's five 'Holy Cities', of which three are in Spain.
Those who cannot get near enough to watch the race in person can follow it on a giant screen in the 'Vuelta Park', an open-air entertainment and fête zone near the fire brigade station.
Parking in Caravaca will be prohibited within a wide radius of the route from 22.00 on Saturday, and traffic will be unable to enter the Vuelta zone from 15.00 on Sunday. Alternative car parks, and a shuttle-bus to one of the strategic points of the Alto del Collado mountain pass have been arranged.
Where the Vuelta heads next
This weekend is the final part of the round-Spain cycle race that reaches key coastal residential areas, other than stage 16 which starts from the beach in Liencres, Asturias, in Spain's far north.
From Murcia, the peloton heads to centre-northern Spain, taking in the provinces of Valladolid, Zaragoza, Huesca, Navarra, and even making a brief incursion into France.
The competition ends with stage 21, on Sunday, September 17, at the finishing line in Madrid, starting out from the La Zarzuela Hippodrome within the city itself.
Related Topics
NOW into its seventh stage and a new calendar month, Spain's version of the Tour de France concludes its only incursion into coastal towns on Sunday,
The last of the 'Big Three' international cycling tournaments – after the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia – the Vuelta a España hit the Mediterranean seaboard on Tuesday (August 29), when the fourth stage took it from the principality of Andorra, a different country altogether, down to Tarragona, southern Catalunya.
Stage five began at the Mediaeval inland town of Morella in northern Castellón province, finalising in the coastal town of Burriana, via Onda, Nules and La Vall d'Uixó.
Australia's Kaden Groves won both these stages, with the first three being won by Italy's Lorenzo Milesi, Denmark's Andreas Kron, and Belgium's Remco Evenepoel, in that order.
Stage six continued through southern inland Castellón province, briefly diverting into that of Teruel in the neighbouring land-locked region of Aragón, covering Segorbe and Montanejos in the former and Mora de Rubielos and Sarrión in the latter, finalising at the astrophysical observatory in Javalambre, Teruel, a ski resort between December and March and a high-altitude (1,966 metres) hikers retreat the rest of the year.
Victory for stage six went to the USA's Sepp Kuss.
Stage seven has now left the western Valencia-province wine-region town of Utiel, and is expected to reach the province's southernmost coastal town, Oliva, at around 17.30 today (Friday, September 1).
Anyone who lives in a town the Vuelta is due to cross through should pay very close attention to local news, since road closures and parking restrictions will be significant. Not only will the route itself be shut to traffic and parking prohibited, but a much wider area, typically up to a half-kilometre radius of the route, is likely to be in the same situation: Cyclists' support teams and the world's media will need to set up stations, meaning the actual roads used by the peloton are only a fraction of space that needs to be cleared. Restrictions normally continue for several hours after the race has already passed through, to allow for the huge supporting and filming crews to move on to the next venue.
Stage seven (Friday, September 1): Utiel to Oliva (Valencia)
Cyclists left the start of the stage in Utiel – close to the regional border of Castilla-La Mancha – at exactly 12.52, with 165 cyclists taking part in one of the few largely flat race days of the tournament. The 201-kilometre trek across the province of Valencia is mainly along town and city roads, predominantly with a sea view, and the second-longest stage of the 2023 Vuelta.
Given the high altitude of most of non-coastal mainland Spain, the route to Utiel's neighbouring wine capital, Requena, and then on to the rustic, attractive village of Chera sits at over 660 metres above sea level, with a dramatic drop to 153 metres by the time the peloton reaches Pedralba.
Town residents concerned about parking, traffic restrictions and finding a suitable spot to watch the competition should be aware that the event crosses through Cheste, home of the Ricardo Tormo Circuit used for the final MotoGP date of every season, and then Torrent, in the dead centre of the region.
They are expected to arrive at around 15.30, before heading to Valencia – Spain's third-largest metropolitan area and its second-biggest coastal city – moving in a southerly direction towards El Perelló beach.
From there, the rest of today's stage takes in the entire Valencia-province coast, just days after this popular summer 'staycation' belt will have seen a major tourist exodus.
Cullera, a tasteful high-rise holiday enclave popular for its vast urban beaches, Aquópolis water park and the huge Hollywood-style letters of its name emblazoned along the mountainside below its Mediaeval castle, the quaint, modern-looking coastal village of Xeraco and the so-called 'Playa de Madrid', Gandia Beach – several kilometres by road from the district capital town of Gandia itself – are a strategic point for those few holidaymakers left before schools go back to catch some highly-Instagrammable photos whilst sunning themselves on the sand.
From Gandia, the peloton heads for the modern, pastel-coloured beach village of Daimús – a summer destination of choice for French nationals in particular – before hitting La Safor county's second-largest town of Oliva.
Now right on the province border – around five kilometres from that of Alicante – riders will take a well-earned rest before tackling a much more mountainous, but equally coastal, stage the following day.
Anyone in the Oliva area should know that the main N-332 inter-provincial highway will be shut, with the parts spilling onto the Ronda Sur and the Paseo Gregori Maians being the final leg.
Also, the AP-7 motorway will be closed at exit 61 (Oliva-Pego) for 24 hours, with diversions set up.
The peloton are scheduled to reach Oliva at around 17.30, crossing the finishing line minutes later.
Stage eight (Saturday, September 2): Dénia to Xorret de Catí, Castalla (Alicante province)
Assuming all 165 cyclists complete stage seven, they will be setting off from the district capital of Dénia at approximately 12.55, covering several town-centre streets along an urban circuit of seven kilometres.
Now just finishing its summer holiday season – which is largely dominated by holiday-home owners – this lively beach town of around 45,000 inhabitants is likely to be calmer than it was a week ago, but residents should still be extra-vigilant to road closures and parking bans that stretch well beyond the roads used for the race itself.
Streets listed as being along the route include the main Marqués de Campo boulevard, the Miguel de Cervantes seafront esplanade, the central C/ Diana, C/ Patricio Ferrándiz, Avenida Joan Fuster, Avenida de Alicante, Avenida Montgó, Avenida Valencia, the Ronda Muralles around the base of Dénia's central castle, and the CV-730 regional highway.
The northern Alicante-province coast is a massively popular retirement spot for northern Europeans, especially those from Germany, The Netherlands and the UK, meaning stage eight is likely to see the most international on-site audiences of the entire Vuelta.
Following Dénia's built-up Las Marinas coast road, taking in over 20 kilometres of beaches, the race cuts through the village of Els Poblets before heading inland to Pego, where it is likely that residents from the huge hillside urbanisation of Monte Pego will make the event a day out. Again, they should be careful of parking restrictions, and be prepared for a lengthy walk from wherever they manage to leave their cars.
Here, spectators will catch a glimpse of the world's top cyclists along the C/ del Mar, C/ Murla, Avenida Fontilles, and the CV-712 regional highway.
After an arrival in Pego expected between approximately 13.30 and 13.40, the flat sprint of the past three days comes to an abrupt end: Competitors will now make their way into the mountains, covering some of the best-loved hiking and endurance-cycling routes in the north of the province.
One of these, and the nearest to Pego, is the Vall d'Ebo, a valley with a village of the same name, a trekking route known as Hell's Ravine (Barranc de l'Infern), some fascinating million-year-old caves discovered by a dog out on a walk and named after his owner, and mountain orchards with dry-stone steps, cherry and almond trees, and giddy heights. The scenery is spectacular, but although these rural, almost-untouched areas are barely 30 or 40 minutes by car from the nearest bustling, busy beach town, they are suffering from a population exodus that leaves them in danger of complete extinction within a generation or two. Events such as the Vuelta are key to bringing in visitors, as well as encouraging tourists who seek to following in the wheel-tracks of the crème of the cycling circuit on their own bikes.
In fact, cyclists from across the province are likely to be setting off early to reach the summits so they can watch their heroes in remote mountain zones that the average spectator cannot feasibly reach.
Tomorrow, they will pass by the above-mentioned caves – the Cova del Rull – en route to the next valley, the Vall d'Alcalà. The village of the same name is split into two hamlets, Alcalà de la Jovada and Beniaia, both of which will see the peloton ride through, reaching them at approximately 14.10.
They then continue deep into the mountains towards the tiny village of Tollos, taking them on an entirely land-locked and high-altitude journey with several mountain challenges of an average gradient of 5.6%.
Gradually working south-west, the peloton is set to cover the out-of-town lanes through Fageca, Quatretondeta, Gorga, Benilloba, Benifallim, Torre de les Maçanes, and the Carrasqueta mountain towards the historic toy-making towns of Ibi, Onil, and Castalla.
The latter, a very traditional and historic but surprisingly international town with a significant European expatriate community, is the last in the Comunidad Valenciana, but residents will probably not witness the teams cross the finishing line. The stage ends on the Xorret de Catí peak just outside Castalla, then riders check out for the rest of the day ahead of their Sunday start in the south-eastern region of Murcia.
Stage nine (Sunday, September 3): Cartagena to Caravaca de la Cruz (Murcia)
Competitors are scheduled to set off from the Naval city, with its beautifully-preserved Roman theatre, at 12.20. As Cartagena is the central hub of coastal satellite towns and urbanisations stretching down to La Manga del Mar Menor, this cross-regional tour is likely to be another with a highly-international audience: Northern Europeans are attracted to this warm Mediterranean coastal haven, especially golfers and those fond of spa breaks.
Set off early if you plan to catch the Vuelta departing, since the Alfonso XII esplanade in Cartagena port is certain to be packed, as cyclists will be signing autographs and a 'Vuelta fête' will be in place all day.
Cartagena city council says the best view for spectators is from the Muralla del Mar, or sea wall, near the Escalinata Real (literally, 'Royal Steps').
Teams will race along the C/ Real towards the C/ Alameda and the Plaza de España, then cover the Avenida Colón and Avenida Juan Carlos I.
They will leave the city via the Avenida San Juan Bosco, towards La Guía and La Aljorra, heading inland to the western limits of the Murcia Region.
Vuelta organisers say the two toughest points of stage nine will be the Alto de Caravaca incline, an entirely uphill trek lasting 7.5 kilometres which will tax cyclists to such a point that only a minority are expected to make it, and the Alto de la Perdiz, at 855 metres above sea level – bearing in mind that they will be starting from a coastal city at barely 10 metres in altitude.
Once west of Cartagena, residents in Fuente Álamo, Mula, Calasparra and Cehegín should get at least a passing glance of the competition. The group will head for the 'Holy City' of Caravaca via the old Murcia city road, flanked by enormous banana trees, entering Caravaca de la Cruz via the Avenida Maruja Garrido, Avenida la Corredera, Avenida del Templete, and Avenida de los Andenes.
The descent, in the direction of La Barquilla, close to Collado de la Cruz, begins at the service station on the Moratalla road.
A supremely spiritual moment awaits those who make it to the finishing line: It will be close to where, according to legend, parts of the original cross Jesus Christ was crucified on were found, making Caravaca de la Cruz one of the world's five 'Holy Cities', of which three are in Spain.
Those who cannot get near enough to watch the race in person can follow it on a giant screen in the 'Vuelta Park', an open-air entertainment and fête zone near the fire brigade station.
Parking in Caravaca will be prohibited within a wide radius of the route from 22.00 on Saturday, and traffic will be unable to enter the Vuelta zone from 15.00 on Sunday. Alternative car parks, and a shuttle-bus to one of the strategic points of the Alto del Collado mountain pass have been arranged.
Where the Vuelta heads next
This weekend is the final part of the round-Spain cycle race that reaches key coastal residential areas, other than stage 16 which starts from the beach in Liencres, Asturias, in Spain's far north.
From Murcia, the peloton heads to centre-northern Spain, taking in the provinces of Valladolid, Zaragoza, Huesca, Navarra, and even making a brief incursion into France.
The competition ends with stage 21, on Sunday, September 17, at the finishing line in Madrid, starting out from the La Zarzuela Hippodrome within the city itself.
Related Topics
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