The city of Barcelona is in the final stages of preparations to host the Grand Départ of the Tour de France. According to the Councillor for Sports, David Escudé, during a press conference, approximately one hundred streets will be closed, 40,000 protective barriers will be installed, and an estimated 1.3 million fans are expected.
Today, the presentation of the 23 teams will include a parade of cyclists from the Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau to the Sagrada Família, passing through Avinguda Gaudí. The area around these two architectural gems will be restricted to traffic, affecting about fifty blocks in the Eixample district, with an expected attendance of 80,000 people.
On Saturday, traffic closures will follow the race route, which will cross the city from north to south. From 12:00 PM to 8:30 PM, important roads such as Avinguda del Litoral, Carrer d'Aragó, Carrer de Mallorca, Passeig de Gràcia, and Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina, among others, will be closed.
The Ronda Litoral will also experience restrictions at its exits 23, 24, and 25, with closures in various directions to guide traffic towards areas like Parc del Fòrum and Diagonal Mar.
On Sunday, the impact will be less significant and will mainly be confined to Montjuïc, where 300,000 to 400,000 people are expected. Streets such as Carrer de Collblanc, Travessera de les Corts, and Avinguda del Paral·lel will be closed for a large part of the day.
Preparation works for the event have included the resurfacing of 14 road sections, covering 85,000 square meters, including the marine platform of Fòrum and various sections of Avinguda Litoral and Passeig Calvell.
Road surface improvement tasks have also focused on the surroundings of Montjuïc, with work on Carrer de Tarragona, Avinguda de Rius i Taulet, and Passeig Olímpic, among others. The city council argues that these improvements will remain as a legacy for the city.
