The army that makes the Tour possible: "We are responsible for a part of the competition”

BarcelonaWhen Lluís Pascual started cycling, he says he was practically the only one and had to cycle 100 kilometers to meet another cyclist. That's why now that he's 75 years old, he's so excited to see that the Catalan roads and paths are packed with bicycles, one of his great hobbies which he also shares with his brother Francesc. Together they have cycled every inch of the Pyrenees, the Alps, and have done the Taradell-Rome excursion three times, one every 25 years, the last one in 2025. Every year they eagerly await the celebration of the Tour de France, which they have seen pass through La Seu d'Urgell, Sort, and, when they were younger, Tona. But they would never have imagined it would pass through their town, and when they found out, they didn't hesitate to sign up as volunteers. "We've been assigned a stretch of street that we'll have to watch. We're responsible for a part of the Tour," says Lluís excitedly.

The Government announced in June that they had received over 7,000 volunteer applications for the three stages in Catalonia. "The number of registered participants has exceeded expectations: the Tour generates excitement and commitment throughout Catalonia, and shows the world the altruistic and service-oriented spirit that is part of the DNA of Catalans," stated the Minister of Sports, Berni Álvarez. The competition kicks off on Saturday in Barcelona with a team time trial and a route through the city's most iconic spots, from the waterfront to Montjuïc. The second stage starts on Sunday from Tarragona and arrives in Barcelona on a 178 km route through municipalities like Torredembarra, Sitges, or El Garraf, and on Monday the stage begins in Granollers and passes through Centelles, Vic, and Ripoll before reaching the Pyrenees. Lluís and Francesc will have to ensure that no one bothers the cyclists or occupies the road near Taradell. "We'll have to be very attentive, make sure nothing escapes us. Other times we've been spectators; it was different, this time we feel responsible, we can't let our guard down," he says confidently.

The brothers are founding members of the Cycling Union and the Taradell Mountaineering Centre. Lluís explains that they like to participate in and organize activities, which is why they are living their first Tour as volunteers with eagerness and enthusiasm. He acknowledges that without a passion for cycling, his relationship with his brother would be different, because whenever they go on an excursion, they talk for hours and see each other more often under the excuse of going for a ride. "It's beautiful because normally if the father rides a bike, the son also tends to have a hobby, and it has united us as brothers," he explains.

Although they are not as fond of cycling as the brothers from Taradell, Pedro and Ivette Sans are father and daughter and have also volunteered. They have a rural inn in Sant Martí de Centelles and the Tour will pass by. They have had clients for days now who are doing the race stages before it begins –mostly French– and they are practically full for this weekend. For them, the passing of the Tour is good news because they believe they will have good occupancy figures all summer. "I am very happy and my father is also excited, it's a way to put us on the map because we are a small town and we are not known," says Ivette.

In addition to protecting the cyclists and ensuring that no one occupies the road, father and daughter have a surprise planned for Monday. Since this week they have to mow, collect, and bale the hay from the field they have at the inn, they will make round and square bales to place them in such a way that a giant bicycle can be seen from the sky. This way, when the Tour's helicopter passes, it will be seen all over the world, she explains happily.

Seeing idols up close

Not everyone who volunteers, however, does so because the Tour is passing near their home. This is the case of Juan Zubioca, from Navarra, who has come to Barcelona especially to experience his first Tour firsthand. He is very eager. He will be at a section near the Sagrada Família on Saturday and at Montjuïc on Sunday. That said, he hopes that volunteers will be given some gift to remember their participation in the Tour and admits that he would really like to meet Tadej Pogacar, the current champion of the competition and the favorite to win this year, who could equal the historic record of Tour de France victories. "It's probably impossible, but if I meet other riders, I'll ask them for a team cap," explains Zubioca.

It is also the first Tour for Pilar Moreno, who, on the other hand, is a regular at other sporting competitions held in Barcelona. For example, she has been a volunteer at the Barcelona Marathon for 30 years and has helped in various triathlons, mountain races, and sports tournaments in a wide variety of disciplines. After the Tour, in fact, she will go to support Banyoles, which will host the European Triathlon Championship. "I would like everyone to enjoy the spectacle and for the people who come to experience it live to cheer on the cyclists as much as possible," says Pilar, who explains that she has always been linked to sport and that volunteering is a way for all people who are not elite athletes to participate.