VOLTA A CATALUNYA
UCI World Tour Race run over 7 days, traditionally finishing in Barcelona. First held in 1911, it is the fourth-oldest still-existing cycling stage race in the world (the TdF, Giro and Tour of Belgium being older). Started by Miquel Arteman, editor of the Barcelona-based sports newspaper El Mundo Deportivo at the time. The last three winners being Richie Porte in 2015, Nairo Quintana in 2016 and Alessandro Valverde in 2017.
The records show the late Michele Scarponi as the winner for 2011, but only because being stripped of his win after his positive doping test in the 2010 Tour de France.

THE DOPING YEARS
Legend say's that going back to the year 2000, when the French were passing increasingly strict anti-doping laws, several riders of the US Postal fled the hills of the French Riviera and make their way to a more relaxed Spain. Yes we are speaking of  Lance Armstrong, George Hincapie, Tyler Hamilton,  Levi Leipheimer, Jonathan Vaughters, Tom Danielson, and Floyd Landis who all made the city of Girona their home. They also brought in Spanish doctors Pedro Celaya and Luis García Del Moral! Those days are well over and the rubbish bins are free of syringes, but as much as they did hurt the sport, they established Girona as a base for English speaking cyclists.

1984 - ONE RACE ONLY
No one will ever forget the 1984 UCI Road World Championships, held in Barcelona on the 1st Septmeber.
Why is it so unforgettable?
Well only one race was held, that being the Men's Road Race with the following results:

• Gold: Claude Criquielion (BEL),
• Silver: Claudio Corti (ITA) and
• Bronze: Steve Bauer (CAN).

Of course Belgium winning the overall medal tally!
The reason for only one race, was the fact that the Los Angeles Olympics were being held the same year