Yesteday the course for the Volta a la Valenciana which takes place from February 3-7, was presented at the headquarters of Banco Sabadell - which is a sponsor of the race as it is for the Tour of the Basque Country. The race is back on the schedule after eight years of absence.

The race will start on February 3 with an individual time trial of 16 kilometers from Benicàssim to Oropesa. The second day will end at the Alto de Fredes. The third will finish in Alzira Sagunto while the fourth stage is the queen stage with the summit finish of Xorret del Cati. The race will end on February 7 on a city circuit through the streets of Valencia. 

The decisive stages will be the time trial of 16 km and the Xorret de Cati stage. The final climb is 4km long and has an average gradient of 11% with peaks of 22%. The second stage will also offer a chance for GC riders as it ends with a 16km climb at an avergae of 4.5% and a maximum of 12%.

The Valencian race is now led by former professional, brothers Rafel and Angel Luis Casero - the winner of the 2001 Vuelta. Joaquim Rodriguez, Mikel Landa, Fabio Aru, Ion Izaguirre and Tom Boonen are some of the riders who have confirmed their presence. The Spanish teams Movistar Team, Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, Burgos BH and Euskadi-Murias will all be present.

The total list of teams includes Team Sky, Movistar Team, Astana, Etixx-QuickStep, Katusha, Cannondale, IAM, LottoNL-Jumbo, Cofidis, Roompot, Bardiani-CSF, CCC Sprandi-Polkowice, Caja Rural-RGA, Wanty-Groupe Gobert, Rusvelo, Team Roth, Murias-Euskadi, Burgos BH, Kinan and the Spanish national team.

The Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana was first held in 1929 and has had many names, Vuelta a Levante, Vuelta a Valencia and Vuelta a las Tres Provincias. It was held every year from 1954 until 2008 when Rubén Plaza won the race. Jalabert, Vinokourov, Olano, Zulle, Valverde and Petacchi are some of the recent winners.

February 3. Stage 1: 16km time trial from Benicassim to Oropesa del Mar
February 4: Stage 2: Uphill finish on Alto de Fredes
February 5. Stage 3: Sagunto - Alzira
February 6. Stage 4: Uphill finish Xorret de Cati
February 7. Stage 5: Valencia City Circuit