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La Nucía to host the start of the Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana 1969 cycling race

 

La Nucía / 10 January 2026

 

La Nucía will host the official start of the Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana 1969 on Sunday, 25 January, with the peloton setting off at 12:15 pm from outside the Camilo Cano Olympic Stadium.

 

The race is a UCI 1.1 one-day event, part of the UCI Europe Tour calendar, and marks the opening of the European road cycling season. The 42nd edition will cover a distance of 199.5 kilometres, starting in La Nucía and finishing in the city of Valencia.

 

This year’s race is expected to feature a peloton of 160 riders from 20 teams, including six World Tour teams, the highest level in professional cycling. The confirmed World Tour squads are Bahrain Victorious, Movistar Team, Jayco AlUla, XDS Astana, Lidl-Trek and Soudal Quick-Step.

 

The 2026 route includes the iconic Coll de Rates climb and places a strong focus on the inland areas of the provinces of Alicante and Valencia, offering a challenging and varied course.

 

Among the headline riders is former Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España winner Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team), alongside Alicante-born cyclists Manuel Peñalver (Polti Visit Malta) and Héctor Álvarez (Lidl-Trek).

 

The presentation of the 2026 edition was attended by Rubén Donet, race organiser, and Bernabé Cano, Mayor of La Nucía and Provincial Deputy for Sports.

 

 

Start at the Olympic Stadium

The start area will be located in front of the Camilo Cano Olympic Stadium, where spectators will also be able to visit the teams’ paddock, situated in the stadium car park.

 

At 11:00 am, the official team presentation and signing-on ceremony will take place, allowing fans to see the riders and teams up close before the race begins. All activities are free and open to the public.

 

A race closely linked to La Nucía

The Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana returned to the international calendar in 2021 after a 16-year absence. The 2026 race marks the sixth edition of its modern era and the 42nd edition overall.

Recent winners include Marc Hirschi (2025), Dylan Groenewegen (2024), Arnaud De Lie (2023), Giovanni Lonardi (2022) and Lorenzo Manzin (2021).

 

Since its return, the race has maintained a strong link with La Nucía, hosting either the start or the finish every year, further consolidating the town’s position as a key venue for elite international cycling.