The Tarragona region will host a top-level stage of La Vuelta on Wednesday, August 26th. The fifth stage of the cycling competition will link the Costa Daurada with Terres de l’Ebre, offering a route designed to showcase the area's diverse landscapes and tourist potential.
The course, spanning 173.4 kilometers, will start in Falset and pass through several towns including Marçà, Capçanes, els Guiamets, Móra la Nova, Ginestar, el Perelló, l’Ampolla, Deltebre, Sant Jaume d’Enveja, Amposta, Tortosa, Tivenys, el Coll de Som, Benifallet, l’Alt de Paüls, Xerta, before finishing in Roquetes.
This route promises to be particularly attractive, combining the wine-growing landscapes of Priorat with the natural richness of the Ebro Delta. The stage will feature the ascent of Alt de Paüls, a third-category climb of 3.5 kilometers with an average gradient of 7.1%, which could prove decisive before the final kilometers to Roquetes.
La Vuelta, which will start in Monaco and finish in Granada this year, is one of the most significant international cycling events. Top cyclists such as Tadej Pogačar, Primož Roglič, and Wout van Aert are expected to participate.
Enric Adell, president of the Tourism Board of the Diputació de Tarragona, highlighted the event's importance for promoting the region, emphasizing the opportunity to showcase its diverse landscapes from Priorat to Els Ports. Adell also noted the sustainable nature of cycling and its role in de-seasonalizing tourism.
The mayors of the involved municipalities agree on the event's benefits. Ivan Garcia, mayor of Roquetes, described August as historic for the town following the eclipse, viewing La Vuelta's arrival as another global promotion. Carlos Brull, mayor of Falset, sees hosting the start as a challenge and an opportunity for regional promotion.
Among the top-tier cyclists expected to compete in La Vuelta are prominent names such as Tadej Pogačar, Primož Roglič, Wout van Aert, Mads Pedersen, Richard Carapaz, João Almeida, Enric Mas, Mikel Landa, Felix Gall, Steven Kruijswijk, Kaden Groves, Mattias Skjelmose, Stefan Küng, Christophe Laporte, and Magnus Cort Nielsen.
