Just over 3 months ago, the city of Valencia and especially its surroundings were hit by the DANA, the natural disaster that caused over 230 deaths. There's no way to smile, but at least from February 5th to 9th, with the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2025, the territory will return to being the protagonist of great cycling. It will be a way to accompany the entire area in this long and expensive restart, to raise awareness and provide concrete support.

In particular, stages 3 and 5 will touch the areas hit by the disaster. The start from Algemesí in the third stage, with passages through Guadassuar, L'Alcúdia, Carlet, Turís and Cheste, and the start from Alfafar in the fifth, with transits through Beniparrell, Silla, Almusafes and Benifaió, all villages severely damaged by DANA.

THE HISTORY

The race has origins quite far back, given that the first edition dates back to 1929, although during the Franco era it was held intermittently. After disappearing in 2009, it returned permanently to the calendar in 2016 thanks to former professional cyclist Ángel Casero (Vuelta winner in 2001) and in recent years has always welcomed an absolutely prestigious lineup.

Italians have stood on the top step of the final podium 3 times, with Marcello Bergamo (1974), Dario Frigo (2003) and Alessandro Petacchi (2005). Since the race was reborn, two Azzurri have made the podium: Manuel Senni in 2017 and Giulio Ciccone in 2023. The defending champion is American Brandon McNulty.

THE ROUTE

The Volta Valenciana once again welcomes a team time trial, after proposing it in 2017 and 2018. This year's will be almost identical to the 2017 edition, 34 km from the center of Orihuela to Playa de la Glea. The completely flat stage is long enough to potentially create some interesting gaps between the general classification riders, who will hope to have some specialists by their side to not lose too much time. For Italians, good memories emerge from Orihuela, since in 2017 BMC won the team time trial and Senni flew into the leader's jersey, while last year Jonathan Milan sprinted to his first seasonal victory.

Unlike other stage races, the greatest difficulties will be concentrated especially in the first stages. The second stage, La Nucía - Benifato of 166 km, can already be considered the queen stage of the race, as the finish is uphill and the gradients are tough. In the last 42 km, the group will have to tackle the climb of Coll de Rates (5.7 km at 5.3%), the climb to Benimantell (5.5 km at 7%), and especially the climb leading to the Font de Partegat finish, which is 4.3 km at 9.5%. There will be no tactical games, because the general classification could already be largely decided here.

Beware, however, of the third stage, which will unlikely see the general classification riders remain idle, if only because it could be their last chance to try to do something. The Algemesí - Alpuente of 180 km becomes very tricky in the second part, particularly with the climb of El Remedio (7.9 km at 6.5%) to be crested 21 km from the finish. From that point onwards, there will be an up and down that will lead to the final 1200 meters at 7%. The battle could break out very early.

For the fourth stage, they'll move north of Valencia for the Oropesa del Mar - Portell de Morella of 181 km. This could be the first chance for sprinters, who will have to work hard since the first 100 km have not a single meter of flat ground. The last 80 km are more manageable, where sprinters will hope to still be in the group, or at least close enough to get back. Much will depend on how the 4 mountain passes of the first part of the stage are tackled.

If all else fails for the sprinters, there will be the final showcase, the Alfafar - Valencia of 104 km. The stage is completely flat and the finish is located at La Marina de Valencia, where sprinters can unleash all their power.

THE FAVORITES

The defending champion, Brandon McNulty, will also be at the start, who will be one of the captains of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, called to be, as often happens, the beacon of the race. With the American, there will also be João Almeida and Pavel Sivakov, which is why the Emirates team will undoubtedly aim for the big target.

There will be no shortage of opponents, because Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe will have both Aleksandr Vlasov, 3rd last year, and Jai Hindley, while Bahrain Victorious will rely on Pello Bilbao, Santiago Buitrago, 2nd in 2024, and the new arrival Lenny Martinez. Ineos Grenadiers can count on Carlos Rodriguez and Thymen Arensman, Jayco-AlUla on Ben O'Connor and our Filippo Zana. Also keep an eye on Joseph Blackmore and Alexey Lutsenko (Israel-Premier Tech), with the Kazakh at his debut in the new colors, and perhaps also Davide Piganzoli (Team Polti VisitMalta), who will certainly find suitable terrain to showcase his potential.

Speaking of Italians, there will be many at the start, although a good part will likely be called to work for their teammates. There will be Matteo Sobrero, Giovanni Aleotti and Gianni Moscon (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe), Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain Victorious), Filippo Baroncini (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar) among others, while Gianluca Brambilla, Walter Calzoni (Q36.5) and Luca Covili (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizan) might find more space.

No gregario obligations, however, for Jonathan Milan (Lidl Trek), who will have at least one chance to unleash all his power in the sprint and break the ice from his first seasonal outing. By his side will be the faithful Simone Consonni and challenging him will be sprinters like Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Gerben Thijssen (Intermarchè-Wanty), Ethan Vernon (Israel-PremierTech) and Iúri Leitão (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), but also Giovanni Lonardi (Team Polti VisitMalta) and Filippo Fiorelli (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizan), who however prefer sprints with not completely compact groups.