Local & Spanish

Local & Spanish


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.
Overview
This week across Benidorm, Altea, Albir, Finestrat, and La Nucía is mainly:
Weekly markets and street trading
Live music in bars and small venues
Early spring coastal tourism activity (boat trips, promenades)
Small cultural events and exhibitions
Gradual build-up toward May festivals in Benidorm
BENIDORM – Events and Activity
Markets and street life
Cultural activity
Nightlife and entertainment
Overall feel
Benidorm is in an active pre-summer phase with strong nightlife and steady tourist flow.
ALTEA – Cultural and coastal atmosphere
Live music
Sea activities
Overall feel
Quiet, scenic, and cultural with a strong focus on relaxation rather than nightlife.
ALBIR / ALFÀS DEL PI – Mixed expat and local activity
Markets
Live music
Cultural venues
Overall feel
Balanced area with both relaxed daytime atmosphere and active evenings.
LA NUCÍA – Local and sporting focus
Markets
Sports activity
Large sports complex hosting training camps, tournaments, and weekend events
Overall feel
Quiet residential town with activity concentrated around weekends and sports events.
FINESTRAT – Beach and market lifestyle
Markets
Tuesday and Saturday markets in La Cala area with a mix of local produce and goods
Beachfront activity
Entertainment
Low-key live music in beachfront bars rather than organised events
Overall feel
Relaxed coastal town focused on beach life and casual evenings.
OVERALL SUMMARY
Benidorm: busiest area with nightlife, markets, and entertainment
Altea: cultural, scenic, and relaxed
Albir / Alfàs del Pi: balanced mix of live music and expat social life
La Nucía: local, quiet, and sports-focused
Finestrat: beach-oriented and low-key

Local & Spanish


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