The province of Castellón becomes the focus of international formative cycling this week with the celebration of the 43rd Volta a Castelló. This edition is historic, as it elevates the race to the highest global competition for U19 cyclists by integrating into the UCI Nations Cup Junior.
The official presentation of the event took place in the Plaza de Las Aulas. From this Thursday until Saturday, Castellón's roads will be the setting for a top-level competition. The Deputy for Sports, Iván Sánchez, highlighted the scope of this edition, stating that it is “a historic event that will place the province of Castellón on the international map of youth cycling”.
The 2026 edition will bring together the 10 best national teams from the international scene along with leading teams. The peloton will be made up of 17 squads that will compete to win one of the most prestigious races on the junior calendar. Sánchez emphasized that “this edition will mark a before and after, not only due to the level of the participants, but also due to the international projection that the race will achieve, featuring the main global teams”.
The race will cover more than 300 kilometers spread over three stages and will pass through more than thirty municipalities in the province. The route is designed to combine coast, interior, and mountains, measuring the regularity, endurance, and tactical ability of the riders.
The first stage takes place this April 16 with start and finish in Castellón de la Plana over a course of 116.2 kilometers. It will be a day to start making differences, with ascents to the Alto de la Coma, the Alto de la Bandereta, and the Alto del Desierto de las Palmas.
The second stage will be held on Friday between Altura and Moncofa, with a 94.3-kilometer route. It will be a faster day, with a flat finish, which could begin to shape the favorites for the general classification.
The third and final stage will take place on Saturday with start and finish in Segorbe. It will be the most demanding day of the Volta, with 123.9 kilometers and 2,200 meters of positive elevation gain. The route will include the climbs to the Alto de Almedíjar and the Alto de la Nevera, both first and second category.
“"It will be a day that will offer participants a unique landscape through the interior of Castellón and will demand the best from each of them."
The head of Sports of the Diputación de Castellón also emphasized the promotional value of the event for the territory. “Castellón is synonymous with a cycling paradise. A unique territory that combines sea and mountains in a single route, and the Volta a Castelló is the best showcase to show the world our sporting, tourist, and landscape potential,” he affirmed.
Furthermore, he added that “events like this not only boost sports, but also generate economic impact in our 135 municipalities and project the image of Castellón as a reference destination for cycling throughout the year”.
As a culmination to the competition, on Sunday the XIV edition of the Víctor Cabedo Trophy will be held, also integrated into the UCI Nations Cup Junior and consolidated as one of the benchmark events in international junior cycling. The race will start and finish in Onda, will exceed 100 kilometers, and will accumulate 2,300 meters of positive elevation gain. Riders will face the ascents to the Alto de Villamalur and the Alto del Tajar twice, in a demanding day that will once again measure the talent and strength of the international peloton.
